Summer 2013 Goals

In addition to the work I am doing this summer, I have a few goals I want to accomplish. Summer is the perfect time to catch up on all the "shoulds" and "wants" in my life.

1. Write more.
This one is easy and has already started with the creation of this blog!

2. Begin an at-home yoga practice.

I always have wanted to be "one of those people who do yoga." Thinking back to the time in my life where I did yoga 2-3 times a week, my body felt great, my stress was in control, and I felt a whole new appreciation for my body. The recent struggle has been finding the time and place for yoga. I'm tired of putting it off and have decided to begin practicing yoga in my home. My hope is that if I get into the habit this summer, it will be easier for my to keep when school starts again and my schedule becomes hectic.

3. Cook more recipes from this book.

My boyfriend got me this cookbook as a "just because" surprise and I really haven't been using it enough. It's time that I take advantage of this little extra time that I have and surprise him with a few home cooked and healthy meals.

4. Cross some books off my reading list.

Double Cross: The true story of the D-Day spies by Ben McIntyre
Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Other Typist by Susan Rendell
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
...among some others that have been highly recommended by friends

5. Relax. And finish an entire TV series on DVD with my boyfriend.

I think that we finally agreed on HBO's Deadwood.

Take 2

Those who know me, know that I tried "the blog experiment" once before, and those who know me really well, know that it was an interesting choice of medium for me, someone who doesn't yet own a smartphone or believe in tablets replacing books. But, my last blog helped me navigate a particularly interesting time in my life and now I'm glad to have the posts that captured those moments and thoughts.  

The "purpose" here is slightly different. Though I am the same person I was back then, just slightly more evolved, my goal is to live a balanced life, (so much so that I've been tempted, numerous times, to tattoo the word "balance" on my body in morse code). Trying this experiment again was inspired by my boyfriend who is forever in the process of bettering himself, and a few of my friends who refuse to let life pass them by, waiting for tomorrow. Also, being a teacher allows for some serious self-reflection time; time to bring it back to neutral and assess who I am today. 

I tend to be the person Marjorie Pay Hinkley refers to in the quote I placed as my blog header. The person who wishes her life away, filling her days with, "When X happens, I will do/be/feel Y." But the trick is to enjoy life now. To be happy now. To realize that this is life. And I wont be able to get to X or Y without today. I've learned that life is a matter of balance and that in order to be happy and healthy, I need to master of the art of the balancing act.