An Invitation

This was part of the previous post, but this morning I felt like it warranted it's own post... so I just copied and pasted - then made a few changes. (:


I've been thinking a lot lately about the idea that consistent, sustained effort is better than flash-in-the-pan moments of greatness. I mentioned this idea to my parents tonight asking if there was a quote or something that I was thinking of but just couldn't remember that described this idea and my mom sent me this -

If a man has any greatness in him, it comes to light, not in one flamboyant hour, but in the ledger of his daily work.

~ Beryl Markham ~

I had a fireside this evening that focused on a Book of Mormon reading challenge. They handed out a schedule that shows you what you need to read in order to be done by Christmas (starting 1 September). I think it's mostly 4-5 pages a day. Easily doable. When I first looked at it I thought, 'I can get a huge jump start on that.' Then I realized that, once again, it's not about these bursts of enthusiasm, but consistent, daily effort. Since I haven't been reading the BoM with any regularity lately it'll be best for me to start with consistent, simple efforts.

I think doing scripture study - in this way - shows a 'ledger of daily work' that will lead to positive (and lasting) things.

ps - in the fireside, the speaker - Elder Warren G. Tate - asked us to invite family members, friends, co-workers, etc. to participate in this challenge with us, promising that doing it will bring us closer to our Heavenly Father, and bring us answers to questions we've had. So, if you're reading this, consider this my invitation. Member of the Church, or not, I invite you all to read the Book of Mormon.

One thing Elder Tate mentioned was having a personal daily devotional. I like that idea, and have never really done that. I think that sounds like a great break from the daily grind and a wonderful way to either start or finish (or both?) the day.

Thirty By 30

*update* i did the math wrong for the week (how embarrassing) but it's correct now (:

Remember when I posted this list of overly-ambitious-perhaps-with-slight-or-more-than-slight-delusions-of-grandeur-wow-the-list-has-gotten-way-out-of-control things I wanted to do before I was 30? Yeah... so do I.

I re-worked it in my head today.

The 30 things I want to do before I turn 30 = the lbs. I want to lose before I turn 30. And it's totally possible. I have 168 days (24 weeks) in which to accomplish this. AND I'M GOING TO DO IT.

That's an average of losing less than .2 lbs a day. Or 1.25 lbs. per week. Definitely doable. And healthy too. (:

Remember when I lost weight recently?

Remember when I gained some back even more recently?

Oh, you don't remember that?

That's because I didn't want to tell you.

But it happened.

Not cool.

So... I'm coming back.

30 before 30.

On your mark...

Get set...

just out of curiosity, I looked at the list to see if there were things I could check off.
here they are:

2 - run another half marathon
6 - finish my master's degree
(not quite done, but close!)
15 - try skiing
25 - have my first kiss

13.33333% of what I had planned to do.
and, I still have 24 weeks left.
who knows what will happen by then...

here's a quote i like from that original post:

The common conception is that motivation leads to action, but the reverse is true - action precedes motivation. You have to "prime the pump" and get the juice flowing, which motivates you to work on your goals. Getting momentum going is the most difficult part of the job, and often taking the first step is enough to prompt you to make the best of your day.

- Robert McKain

~ good thing to remember ~

Hmm... Good Idea.

I came across someone's blog listing 30 things they'd like to do before they turn 30. I thought it was a good idea, and since the time-frame is relevant to me (28 next month!), I thought I'd create my own.

Here goes:

(in no particular order)

1 - run another marathon (and complete it in under 6 hours - so run a second or third if that's what it takes to make the time goal)
2 - run another half marathon
3 - hike Mt. Timp.
4 - go on a Mediterranean cruise
5 - live abroad for a little while
6 - finish my Master's degree
7 - de-junk everything in my room (closet, drawers, etc.)
8 - find a place to do service regularly (or multiple places)
9 - fall in love*
10 - lose any and all extra weight that i am currently carrying
11 - keep said weight off
12 - go paragliding or hang gliding (or both!)
13 - read Les Mis (all of it this time)
14 - see Victoria Falls
15 - try skiing
16 - try snowboarding
17 - finish the blanket that I started almost a year ago
18 - find a job (after graduating)
19 - get a bike (and use it... by participating in a bike race)
20 - learn Spanish
21 - visit my relatives in Mexico
22 - re-learn to ride a motorcycle and take myself through the canyon, Park City to Provo
23 - actually use my SCUBA certification somewhere other than the Midway crater
24 - retain my HIV/AIDS instructor certification by teaching the required 1 class a year
25 - have my first kiss* (nope, that's not a mistype - in case you were wondering)
26 - settle into my own place (after graduation)
27 - take a dance class (ballroom perhaps?)
28 - use my sewing machine for the second time (more would be good too)
29 - make myself a cute dress (if I don't do that the second time I use the machine, I guess that guarantees a third usage)
30 - have an "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" marathon party with former roommates as we've discussed a few times

*perhaps these were silly to set as goals. i'm trying to think of other things i'd like to do and since this list was created spur-of-the-moment, i feel like i have a right to swap out any and everything that i want to swap out. until 1 jan. 2010. by then, i figure the list should be stable or i'll have no hope of completion. let me know if you have any suggestions for things to add!

The reason most goals are not achieved is that we spend our time doing second things first.

- Robert McKain

If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do and how to do it.

- Abraham Lincoln

The common conception is that motivation leads to action, but the reverse is true - action precedes motivation. You have to "prime the pump" and get the juice flowing, which motivates you to work on your goals. Getting momentum going is the most difficult part of the job, and often taking the first step is enough to prompt you to make the best of your day.

- Robert McKain