Wednesday, July 7, 2010

DAY 332 Defend Your Journey!


Hello Journal & Friends,

How embarrassing! How utterly frustrating!


For days I've been spouting off all about this great new challenge... Deb's  Freedom Challenge. And I was sooo excited to get started... all charged up, rearing to go.


Day One, Monday went fantabulous! I made myself a little chart, and as silly as it sounds, I got such a kick out of X-ing off stuff from that list as I accomplished them.

Day Two, Tuesday, was a TOTAL BUST! I am not exaggerating... it was ridiculous. 

It was FRUSTRATING! 

And... if I'm honest with you, I am embarrassed. Because while I would like to say it was outside my control, I still had choices.

Tuesday was He-Who-Shall-Remain-Nameless's day off this week. And right before bedtime on Monday night, he innocently said he needed my help on Tuesday running the machine that blows insulation into the attic. He can't be in two places at once, so would I be the Switch Master. He had to return the rented machine that same day. My help would save him many, many trips up and down the ladder into the attic.

"Sure, Honey, I'd be happy to help you. What time?"

"6 am, before it gets too hot in the attic."

"WHAT???!!!!"

Okay, I wasn't quite that brief in my response.

You have to understand... I have been a night owl all my life. For reasons too long to go into right now, I decided to work on getting up earlier. I have worked it consistently back to getting up at 8:00 am, and was sooo proud of myself for going to bed on time fairly often recently. My bedtime right now is Midnite.

Getting shorted by 2 hours was no big deal in my "youth". But now, it ruins the day. Physical pain multiplies, and I drag all day, and yes, I did allow it to affect my attitude. Little Miss Sunshine turned into the Wicked Witch of the West. I tried, really I did. But... okay, enough excuses.


Bottomline, Tuesday I did NOT do well on my goals for the Challenge:

1. I did my Bible reading... reluctantly. 
2. I went over my calorie budget of 1600 by about 200 calories.
3. I only got 5 1/2 hours sleep (this is the only one that I felt I couldn't change).
4. There were 3 things to do on my Exercise list; I did one.
5. I drank water/tea, but didn't keep track, so not sure if I drank it all.
6. Feelings: all over the place! Frustrated, resentful, embarrassed, discouraged, annoyed..but definitely not proud of myself.

What is the take-away for me from that whole fiasco??


Never give up. Never surrender!

(From Galaxy Quest)

It's so easy to let a stumble sidetrack us, if we let it.

But I had to choose between making excuses, and blaming Him-Who-Shall-Remain-Nameless for sabotaging my day (by giving me no advance warning so I could plan for this)... and accepting that I DID have a choice as to attitude. 

I could have done better. It was a choice.

So today, I am defending my journey from all saboteurs... even from myself! 

I can get right back into the swing of it... let go of yesterday and get ON with it. Admit that I goofed up and made lazy choices full of self-pity and frustration. And learn from it!


Today will be a GOOD DAY!


From Dr Phil's book: "Challenge your faulty thinking."

My verse for today: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord."

My quote for today: "I hated every minute of training, but I said, Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." --Muhammad Ali

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta
=^..^=


10 comments:

Shawn said...

You are doing great!!! You are holding yourself accountable.. Today is a new day!!! Keep up the great work Loretta and thanks for being such a great motivator for me!!! I can help cheer you on too...

Shawn

Anonymous said...

I love the quote from Ali....I'll have to remember that when I go to the gym tonight and face those horrid weight machines!! Thanks for this post...sometimes we all need the reminder that, yeah, sometimes we can't change what life throws at us, but we can control our attitude. Sometimes, I let my attitude rule me, not the other way around.
Great post Retta!!!!

Retta said...

Hi Orange Kitteh!
Blogger still won't let me leave comments on your blog, so it's nice to hear from you. I'm enjoying hearing about your and Black Kittehs gym adventures... too funny!

I liked that Ali quote, too. It's fascinating and surprising to think that he would say that... and I am impressed by what he accomplished by choosing to just DO it anyway.

Loretta
=^..^=

Anonymous said...

hahaha! I read your comment on my blog before I headed over here--I've been at the sprinkle park with the grandkids. Alll 3 of them. I forgot how heavy and froopy jeans get when soaked...

Anyway, hahaha. What a sweat--maybe not for you--confirmation, huh?! W're gonna do this thing! I'm expecting a BIG payoff at the end.

For freedom!


Deb

Anonymous said...

Such a great post! I loathe getting up early. I consider 6 am the middle of the night...lol. Not really, but I would be a grumpy mean lady that early. Thanks for reminding us it is all about choices!!

Christine said...

I want a chocolate bar...I want a chocolate bar....I want a chocolate bar....
But I didn't have one.
I will be happy about it in five or six days when I get my one pound pay off..but right now it is pissing me off.
Good post.
lol.
Some days are just like that.

Anonymous said...

well your blog offered me some clarity of why I find it so hard to stick to any diet and exercise plan. Imagine 4 he-who-will-nt-be-nameds sucking your energy and time, guiltlessly of course and generally expecting you to be happy about their needs. blegh. its not an excuse, its a reason.

dailyseeking said...

Great rebound! Emotions are such a sticky substance; they will hold us down if we let them!

M Pax said...

One off day does not a lifetime make. Or, it doesn't have to be the norm. The goal is to make sure it becomes an infrequent thing. If you do that, victory is in your grasp.

I am a crankly lass on a lack of sleep. With my weekends up at PMO and trying to get up at 7 during the week to work, my body does not know which way is up. Aaa!

You're going to be fine. I'm quite sure. You've got your attitude on right.

M @ The Woes and Throes said...

Your "Bottomline Tuesday" mirrors my weekend. (But mine wasn't just one day.)

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