101 in 1001: A Recap

The final days of my 101 in 1001 list are fast approaching. I don't remember what motivated me to start this project. I think I was bored, unhappy, and I never have liked the idea of having a set number of resolutions for a year. Plus, everyone was always skeptical about New Years Resolutions. This was my compromise, and what a compromise it's been.

I've learned some things about myself along the way, about who I am, what I'm interested in, and what matters to me, and that was the point. I've tried new things, re-experienced things I'd already done before, and stepped outside my comfort zone. Even if I don't end up checking off every box on the list, I give myself an A++ for keeping up with it and holding myself accountable.

Here are my top 10 lessons learned, if you want to call it that.

1. I'm not going to run 6 5k's. I am so totally OK with that. Instead, I've re-learned how to play a sport that I love, and dangit I'm really good at it.

2. I never was able to abstain from alcohol for a month. I guess I just like boozin' too much. Instead, I made more than 10 new friends in 3 years and went on plenty of dates.

3. I haven't gone to the Botanical Gardens or seen a movie at the iMax or visited Stone Mountain more than once or twice, but I did try new restaurants, challenge myself to new sports, and spend time traveling the world.

4. I made more than 10 new friends over the last 1001 days. I lost some of those friends - not in a sad, dramatic way, but in a way that we've both moved on. I've lost friends that I once considered extremely close. I've also maintained friendships that I never thought would last, and I'm better prepared to recognize when you just have to let go. Some friendships (and relationships...) aren't meant to be forever, and that's ok.

5. On September 25, 2012 (the day this all wraps up) I'll have been at my job for nearly 23 months. Same job, hopefully almost 2 promotions later, and I never imagined it was possible to be this happy at work. It's hard to believe that "Get Paid" was a part of my list. That life, that job, that dream, seems so far in the past, but is so much of what I have accomplished.

6. I have visited all my friends in their respective cities of residence save for one, on the west coast, but I managed to visit her in Argentina so we'll call it a wash. However, I didn't make it to visit family 3 times a year. In reality, that just wasn't practical, but how was I to know? It sounded great at the time! Trade-offs always occur, and in this instance, I chose to visit friends and visit other places with friends than to visit my family. Right wrong or otherwise, it's the choice I made and I don't regret it.

7. Life changes, and you have to roll with the punches. I started and then very quickly closed down a business, so those came off my list. I debated replacing them, but thought that leaving them there was a reminder to me of what my goals used to be and how far I had come. Same goes for taking the GRE - I actually don't think I understood the difference between the GRE and the GMAT, so really it should have said take the GMAT, and while it's still one of my goals (and pretty top of mind), it's just not going to happen in the near-term and I'm okay with that.

8. I don't have a tattoo. I stopped highlighting my hair (this is recent & still a little painful). I still bite my fingernails. Some things just aren't meant to be.

9. I may not have started to invest money or saved 30% of my monthly income, but I also don't have a flat-screen TV in my room, I didn't buy myself diamond studs, and the total I spent on new purses may exceed what I would have spent on 1 nice one, I have a lot more to choose from. The point was to spend wisely, and I think I have.

10. I didn't set out to accomplish 101 things in 1001 days, and good thing, because I sure didn't. But I set what I thought were realistic goals that weren't going to happen overnight and I carried many of them out. I held myself accountable, I stretched myself outside my comfort zone on many of them, and I'm really dang proud of myself.

I'm trying to figure out what my next "challenge" should be. Part of me thinks I might just wait until December 31, 2012 and spend the next 3 months figuring out goals for my next 3 years of life. Hard to believe that I might be writing another post like this in 2015, but that might just be the case.

Do you have any ideas? I've considered a few: this one (although I think I could do in conjunction); or this one? Totally different direction on both of them. Send me your ideas!

Faith

I don't talk about my religious beliefs or faith much, both in real life and through the interwebz. But, if you read between the lines you might have figured out that I am a) Catholic and b) a volunteer with high-school teens. Volunteering with the teens is one of the best decisions I have made post-college. It's up there with my decision to only go out 1 night per weekend. Somehow, those 2 things are greatly related. I'll let you figure out how... It's also been an incredible way to meet new friends and foster new relationships. I think it could even be described as a hobby :)

Anyway, I was incredibly involved with this group as a HS teen, and the program and the leaders had a huge impact on me at a time in my life when I had no idea who I was or what I wanted. Ultimately, I want to have that impact on someone else. I want to pay it forward, if you will. So I am. And it's awesome, rewarding, satisfying, exciting, funny, and a million other things. I love it.

I am telling you this because I am looking for some new, creative, exciting ideas to incorporate into some of our planning sessions. Have you heard any songs lately that could apply to a religious teaching? I have -- Never Alone, by Lady Antebellum. Have you seen any inspirational YouTube videos? Seen any emails that have a great lesson inside them? High school kids are so plugged in, so we want to relate to them on their level. I'm also looking for ice breakers, games, and fun activities to play. We do a weekly Minute to Win It challenge that I love!

I guess the whole purpose of writing this was two-fold. I'd love to hear about your beliefs, religious, spiritual, or otherwise, and how you implement them in your daily lives, and your ideas for reaching out to a bunch of teenage punks!

How Do You Know...

...when to eat the last cookie? (and when not to?)
...when to tell the friend the harsh truth? (and when to sugarcoat it?)
...when to buy flowers for yourself? (and when to let someone else buy them for you?)
...when to spend the whole day in bed? (and when you should get your lazy butt up?)
...when to play in the rain? (and when it's not worth it to get wet?)
...when to spend your last $5? (and when to save it for ice cream later?)
...when to leave a toxic relationship? (and when to stand by someone who needs you?)
...when to head out of town on a spontaneous trip? (and when to plan out your whole day?)
...when to be confrontational? (and when to pick your battles?)

These are all thoughts that occurred to me today. It has been one of the most fantastic holiday weekends I have had in recent memory, and that is due in part to my friends, my family, myself, and the universe. I laughed, I cried, I gave a hug, I received a hug, I celebrated a relationship moving forward and mourned a relationship lost. I learned more than I ever expected to, thanks to the people who made the weekend so wonderful. It has never been more clear to me that I am on the right path, and that my life is moving in the direction it is supposed to be.

Now if only my ankle stopped hurting, my knee stopped throbbing, and I could walk without a limp. Hey -- I never said the weekend was perfect :)

A Low-Key Friday Night

It is Friday, post-lunchtime, and I can't wait to go home. I'm sure you are now wondering what my big plans are for tonight.

They include making an awesome coleslaw, maybe making some chocolate covered strawberry footballs (but first I would have to go to Costco and get some strawberries... which doesn't sound like the worst idea!), and maybe even going to see Dear John ALL. BY. MY. SELF. And I really couldn't be more excited about it. Oh yeah, and as I was getting ready for work this morning I decided the apartment needs a solid scrubdown ASAP. And by apartment I mean primarily my bathroom and shelves. The dust bunnies are starting to roam at night. Scary.

Since the start of 2010 my weeks and weekends have been whirlwinds of traveling, drinking, parties, cleaning, friends, and cooking, and it has been nothing short of fun, but man am I ready for a low-key Friday night in my pajamas. Even if I go out, I think I am still going to wear pajamas. The thing is, I would have a great time if I went out tonight, but for the first time in as long as I can remember, there is something going on and I don't feel obligated to go for fear of missing out. My friends will still be there tomorrow, the fun will still be there tomorrow, and while yes, I am missing what is supposedly a fantastic band at East Andrews Upstairs tonight... I'm okay with that! I'm so proud of myself. I've come such a long way with my FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).

I hope you also enjoy your low-key Friday nights. And don't fret - tomorrow will be far less low-key because a group of us are participating in the Virignia Highlands Snuggie Pub Crawl. I am not a proud owner of a Snuggie, but the ad said bathrobes were welcome, so that is what I will be donning. And don't forget Super Bowl Sunday and all the festivties that go along with it.

Maybe this weekend won't be quite as low-key afterall... but at least I've got my Friday night to enjoy all by myself! What are you doing tonight?

It's Gameday!

It's the last gameday of what might have been the longest football season of my life (and of Georgia Tech's since I've been a fan!) While I am sad to see the end of football season, I am glad to have my Saturday's to do whatever I wish, and I'm glad that tailgating has ended (for more than one reason). I made it to all but one home football game this season, and traveled to Tallahassee, FL and Tampa, FL to see the Jackets take on Florida State University and Clemson (for the 2nd time this season)! What are your favorite memories from the 2009 football season? Some of my favorite (and not-so-favorite) memories of 2009 stem from football season -- rushing the field after beating #4 Virginia Tech, tailgating on the 5th Street Bridge, a pathetic loss to the University of Georgia, and a memorable weekend in Tampa.

So today, I am proud to be a Yellow Jacket and will say for the last time in the 2009 football season, "I'm a ramblin' wreck from Georgia Tech and a helluva engineer!" Go Jackets!

Two thousand ten.

I love the new year - it makes me feel like I have a clean slate and can start from scratch. I made a 101 in 1001 list that starts Friday, January 1, 2010 and ends sometime in September, 2012. I think it is competely do-able with some things that are a bit of a stretch. I guess that list is my resolution list, and I'm okay with that. Next year I think my resolutions will also be on the same list, because 101 things are a lot of resolutions for just 365 measly days.