This post is waaaay overdue, but I had to announce:
I am credit card debt free!!!!
It feels awesome. I still have my school loans to pay, but I am free of all debt that was generated as a result of poor fiscal management.
Next step is to keep it this way. As I now have some more free cash, I want to continue to be disciplined, responsible, and smart with my money.
Over the next couple weeks, I'll think more about some resolutions that will help me along my journey toward financial health.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
BE HEALTHY: I'm running HOW far?!?
One of my resolutions this year is to be healthy by doing things that are just generally good for my physical and mental health.
A bit of background: I've always considered myself to be an athlete; I've been swimming since I was 9, played soccer for a stint from 6th-8th grade, then switched over to water polo for high school and college. I love sports and excercise as it is a great way to relieve stress, keep the scale in a happy place, and I've always been blessed to have awesome teammates who were there for a laugh, a cheer, and a good kick in the butt when I needed it.
After taking a bit of a hiatus from the world of athletics after college (I tried the gym thing...we just really didn't get along. We've agreed to disagree), I'm back on the sports bandwagon! I've been part of the FINS Aquatics team for a year now, and had an awesome time playing Soccer and Softball (Yeah Master Batters!) last year.
...and now it is time for a new challgenge. On April 23, 2010 I will be running a half-marathon. Yes, that's right, I will be running 13 miles. The water girl is going amphibious in 2010. Watch out!
I'm totally scared and intimidated by the idea of running 13 miles (apparently I have to do it all at once...). But here's why kicked the fear to the curb and signed right up:
1) It's something new. I am stepping outside of my comfort zone. ("What do you mean I won't be in a pool!?!?") I suspect (and will report on later) that stepping out of my comfort zone in one area of my life will lead to the same in other areas of my life. Today: run 13 miles. Tomorrow: conquer the world!
2) It's something to work toward. After college, there are very few opportunities to set concrete, short-term goals for yourself. So all of that energy that I used to put toward college applications/midterms/finals/group projects/job applications, I will now be putting toward bettering myself and my heath. My Type A side is rejoicing.
3) Focus and Discipline. I'm going to be training for 12 weeks to prepare for the big race which will be an awesome exercise in focus and discipline. Especially on the days when running a breezy 7 miles seems unappetizing....
4) Better Health (a.k.a. Skinny Pants). As I will be running 10-20 miles per week for the next 12 weeks. I better lose some weight. Oh yeah, and improve my cardiovascular health and muscle strength which will help me to fight heart disease and osteoporosis later in life.
5) Cuz my crazy boyfriend asked me. Did I mention this was his idea? It'll be great to have the quality time with him while doing somehting fun and healthy...and he'll be there to give me a little push when I need it (literally...he's already had to push me up a hill!)
Well, stay tuned for progress reports!
A bit of background: I've always considered myself to be an athlete; I've been swimming since I was 9, played soccer for a stint from 6th-8th grade, then switched over to water polo for high school and college. I love sports and excercise as it is a great way to relieve stress, keep the scale in a happy place, and I've always been blessed to have awesome teammates who were there for a laugh, a cheer, and a good kick in the butt when I needed it.
After taking a bit of a hiatus from the world of athletics after college (I tried the gym thing...we just really didn't get along. We've agreed to disagree), I'm back on the sports bandwagon! I've been part of the FINS Aquatics team for a year now, and had an awesome time playing Soccer and Softball (Yeah Master Batters!) last year.
...and now it is time for a new challgenge. On April 23, 2010 I will be running a half-marathon. Yes, that's right, I will be running 13 miles. The water girl is going amphibious in 2010. Watch out!
I'm totally scared and intimidated by the idea of running 13 miles (apparently I have to do it all at once...). But here's why kicked the fear to the curb and signed right up:
1) It's something new. I am stepping outside of my comfort zone. ("What do you mean I won't be in a pool!?!?") I suspect (and will report on later) that stepping out of my comfort zone in one area of my life will lead to the same in other areas of my life. Today: run 13 miles. Tomorrow: conquer the world!
2) It's something to work toward. After college, there are very few opportunities to set concrete, short-term goals for yourself. So all of that energy that I used to put toward college applications/midterms/finals/group projects/job applications, I will now be putting toward bettering myself and my heath. My Type A side is rejoicing.
3) Focus and Discipline. I'm going to be training for 12 weeks to prepare for the big race which will be an awesome exercise in focus and discipline. Especially on the days when running a breezy 7 miles seems unappetizing....
4) Better Health (a.k.a. Skinny Pants). As I will be running 10-20 miles per week for the next 12 weeks. I better lose some weight. Oh yeah, and improve my cardiovascular health and muscle strength which will help me to fight heart disease and osteoporosis later in life.
5) Cuz my crazy boyfriend asked me. Did I mention this was his idea? It'll be great to have the quality time with him while doing somehting fun and healthy...and he'll be there to give me a little push when I need it (literally...he's already had to push me up a hill!)
Well, stay tuned for progress reports!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
BE OPTIMISTIC: Make Snow Cones
The saying goes - when life gives you a blizzard, make snow cones. Hahah...well, maybe that's not how the saying really goes, but that's what I did today!
We got somewhere around 20" of snow last night (final numbers till TBD, I think) and into this morning. I spent the better part of the morning in my apartment cleaning, rearranging furniture and passing the time. The snow slowed down around 2:30, and I decided to venture out to go see the beautiful transformation that inevitably comes with 2 feet of snow.
And I'm so glad I did! Leaving the warm comfort of my apartment was totally worth it! Jocelyn came with me to Rittenhouse Square, and we walked around watching the people and enjoying the view. I got a bunch of great photos:
We got somewhere around 20" of snow last night (final numbers till TBD, I think) and into this morning. I spent the better part of the morning in my apartment cleaning, rearranging furniture and passing the time. The snow slowed down around 2:30, and I decided to venture out to go see the beautiful transformation that inevitably comes with 2 feet of snow.
And I'm so glad I did! Leaving the warm comfort of my apartment was totally worth it! Jocelyn came with me to Rittenhouse Square, and we walked around watching the people and enjoying the view. I got a bunch of great photos:
trying to be artsy-fartsy with the B&W setting on my camera
amazing color among all of the whiteness
This one reminds me of the lamp post from Chronicles of Narnia
this adorable little boy took a face plant while shoveling snow
Days like this make me appreciate Philly, in spite of the crazy weather. There's lots of beauty when you stop to enjoy it.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
INSPIRATIONAL SNACK
If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost. That is where they should be. Now put foundations under them.
-Henry David Thoreau
-Henry David Thoreau
About Goals and Resolutions
As previously mentioned, the primary purpose of this blog-venture is to chronicle my progress toward my 2010 Goals and Resolutions.
In contrast,a goal is:
1) the terminal point of a race
2) the end toward which effort is directed : aim
Goal indicates something with an end or a limited time frame, whereas resolution does not. (Kind of interesting since we "make resolutions" once a year...) Resolution implies a process, a transitive state. Resolution, in short, is about making things simpler and bringing things into harmony.
Why Goals and Resolutions? Well, as very astutely observed by my clever boyfriend, they are two very different things. To elaborate:
According to the dictionary, resolution is:
According to the dictionary, resolution is:
The act or process of resolving: as
1) the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones,
2) the act of answering : solving,
3) the progression from dissonance to consonance
1) the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones,
2) the act of answering : solving,
3) the progression from dissonance to consonance
In contrast,a goal is:
1) the terminal point of a race
2) the end toward which effort is directed : aim
Goal indicates something with an end or a limited time frame, whereas resolution does not. (Kind of interesting since we "make resolutions" once a year...) Resolution implies a process, a transitive state. Resolution, in short, is about making things simpler and bringing things into harmony.
Keeping this mind, my 2010+ Resolutions are on-going efforts that will bring more simplicity and harmony. And they are:
1) EMBRACE THE GRAY: News flash - there is a whole lot of gray area in life. While this can be unsettling, it is also where the good, juicy stuff is. There will be ups and downs, the happy days and the sad days, excitement and boredom, but all of these experiences balance eachother out and add depth and color to life.
2) BE PRESENT: This means focusing on the here and now (appreciating all of the wonderful things that I have in my life and not worrying so much about the things that I don't have). This doesn't mean losing sight of future plans and things that I want to accomplish, simply recognizing that they will come in time (See #1).
3) BE OPTIMISTIC: This means trusting that everything will work out for the best - trusting in the positive force of the universe and trusting in the goodness of others. There is a great line from The Last Lecture that sums this up nicely (i'm paraphrasing): "Give people enough time, and they'll always impress you." This will be one of my new mantras.
4) BE HEALTHY: It wouldn't be new years if I didn't give a nod to the ol' health resolution. Basically, this means do things that help my body, not hurt it. Eat good food, get sleep and exercise, so on and so forth.
5) BE FINANCIALLY HEALTHY: Just like #4, this means doing things that help my bank account, not hurt it. With my credit card recently paid off (yes! Debt = $0), I want to create healthier money habits and spend money on things that will create a healthier me.
6) KISS: KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID: Stolen from a marketing term, this means stop worrying about the details. I tend to feel like I have to have it all figured out in advance, and that's not really true. A lot of stuff you can figure out as you go along. Start diving in...just like with this blog!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Advancing Confidently
I am a first-time blogger, and I am very excited about this blog-venture. This blog will largely chronicle my efforts toward my 2010 Goals and Resolutions (more on this later), and I hope that this will serve as a forum to get suggestions and inpirations from my dear friends around the globe
In addition to just jumping on the blog-wagon (everyone has one these days, no?), I decided to start this blog for a few reasons:
1) Accountability: I hope that reporting periodically on my progress against my Goals and Resolutions will help me to stay more committed. I will be able to celebrate my successes and solicit help in challenging times. I think this will also be a great record of the progress that I have made over the course of the year.
2) Community: If there's one thing that I've learned over the past year, it is that it is both impossible and unnecssary to do things alone. I hope that my dear friends in CA, CO, NY, Korea, and PA will continue to be a source of strenght and motivation for me, and that this blog will serve as a forum for that community.
3) Do Something New: Why not?
So here's to "advancing confidently"...in which direction remains to be seen!
In addition to just jumping on the blog-wagon (everyone has one these days, no?), I decided to start this blog for a few reasons:
1) Accountability: I hope that reporting periodically on my progress against my Goals and Resolutions will help me to stay more committed. I will be able to celebrate my successes and solicit help in challenging times. I think this will also be a great record of the progress that I have made over the course of the year.
2) Community: If there's one thing that I've learned over the past year, it is that it is both impossible and unnecssary to do things alone. I hope that my dear friends in CA, CO, NY, Korea, and PA will continue to be a source of strenght and motivation for me, and that this blog will serve as a forum for that community.
3) Do Something New: Why not?
So here's to "advancing confidently"...in which direction remains to be seen!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
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