Tag: Summer of Self

Summer of Refinement

meisajDaily Life

08272010AJCI made last summer the “Summer of Self.”

Basically I the goal was to read books, draw, get my finances in order, and get in better shape.

On the read books goal, well I’ve read a few books over the last year, but sadly not as frequently or in whole as I wanted.  I more or less end up reading half a book, stop at a natural break in the story, and end up picking up another book a few weeks later.  So I’m reading (and I read the news and various comic books daily).  So I’m a nerd more than a literary fiend.  It is ok.

Drawing – I’m about a month behind in drawings, which, all things considered, is pretty good.  At one point I was 100 drawings behind.  I’m slowly catching up.  We’ll put this one in the “ongoing progress” category.

Get Finances in Order.  Well I have no credit card debt, but do still pay student loans and have a car payment.  But those are manageable.  Getting rid of credit card debt was huge.  Its been a goal for years.  So that’s a check in the done category.

Getting in Better Shape.  Well, January 2012 I weighed almost 200 pounds.  Which is nuts for my frame and who I am.  Today I weighed in at 170.5.  Not bad.  I weighed 185 in July 2012 and 170 by the middle of October 2012.  Which is when my regular biking ended.  So the fact that I’ve maintained 170 (ish) since then is really good.  I’m back to biking regularly and my goal is to get to 160 and maintain there.  So I’ll put a check in the done category (being that exercise is a routine as opposed to a rarity now) with some more refinement to be done.

I think I did pretty good with my goals.  I’ll have to keep working on them as I figure out some new ones for this summer.

Summer of Self?

meisajDaily Life

So this is the Summer of Self? Or maybe Summer of Shape? I haven’t decided what sounds less catchy.

Basically I’m using buying a new car as impetus for making steps to better myself. Both shape-wise, monetary-wise, and generally. New car means new monthly payments (hate monthly payments) and higher car insurance (yay!) but its all within my budget, as long as I don’t go crazy. In the last year all the times I was close to broke was because I just dumped a huge chunk of change on my car getting it road worthy. That’s no longer an issue, but I’ll still be pouring money into it over time now as opposed to giant lump sums.

And I’m back on my “I need to get in better shape” kick. I had told Yousey on my fateful Hawaii trip that I was glad I was in the shape where I can up and run five miles at a decent pace without having ran in the past year or so. I mean that’s pretty good. I don’t care about being ‘cut’ or hugely muscular, that’s just ridiculous, but I would like to be in slightly better shape. So I’m going to exercise everyday, and do push ups and sit ups every morning. Not a lot, not crazy many, but exercise.

I’m also going to try and draw every day to catch up in my Daily Drawings (still behind by a little), and write one blog post every day. Just for the hell of it. And read three books in July. Two of my choosing and one professional book related to the education field.

Suck it Life. I’m mastering you.