lifeinflux

Plan of attack

// December 23rd, 2009 // Life

Last night I peeked at my progress on my 101 things in 1001 days list and, to be honest, it’s not great. Sure, I managed to juggle building my company and landing those first few, all-important contracts while running the Drama Club program at Drue’s school. And that is an accomplishment in and of itself. And I managed those long 60 plus hour work weeks without consuming a drop of soda. And I managed one Daring Cooks challenge back in late October but I did not have the time to really give the challenge a lot of thought and due diligence so I want to repeat the challenges for that month as well as take on November’s, December’s and January’s challenges during the month’s of January and February. Did I mention I’ve brought in two contracts for my company with an upcoming third and fourth contracts pending in the wings?   Granted, movement on them is slow since I am splitting my time between business development, filing paperwork to make this company a reality and the actual work of the company. I have a part time developer, may have found a full time developer (won’t say definite until he’s actually hired), and have a freelance graphic designer on stand-by for some upcoming projects in the spring. Sure, that’s pretty good but I know I’d be doing twice the work if I had been well for the bulk of my fall season.   The flu came a’ knockin in late October followed immediately by a double bout of bronchitis.  These two illnesses cut a swath though the time, energy and well-being of the Gloege family and I, for one, am sick of being sick.

Part of the problem is that I had too much momentum with the company to just sit around for a week and laze in bed. On the other hand, in early December, I finally realized that if I don’t take care of myself, Christmas will be spent the same way Thanksgiving was – in BED.   So I did not do much beyond what I had to do during the month of December.   And when I fell behind on, well, everything, nature gave me a helping hand by dumping so much snow on the ground that I could not deliver the CDs, goodie baskets and other items that were due by the 23rd.  Now, I have through the end of the first week of January which gives me plenty of time to create, bake, freeze, store or wrap what is needed by the 23rd. On the 26th, I head to California for ten days of FUN! with Drue.  And then, when I get back on the 5th, I’ll take a few days to wrap up everything that needed to be done by the 23rd and hand out goodies and presents and fun post-holiday.   Sure, that does not sound like the me.  The old Jeri would have pulled all-nighters, driven around in the snow and GOTTEN IT DONE.  But the new Jeri is a calmer, happier Jeri who understands that holiday cookies are sometimes better delivered during those dreary, post-holiday weeks rather than getting lost in the overwhelming round of yummies and desserts that tend to accompany the holiday season.    And to those people whose resolutions I’m wrecking by giving you goodie baskets on the 8th of January – SORRY!

2010 will bring about additional changes in my life.   So far, the changes have been small.   I’ve been taken baby steps but I’m okay with that.  Is there pressure to GET THIS LIST DONE?   Well, no, not really.  I think that is the point of taking 1001 days.   Do I want to procrastinate?   No, I don’t.  But I also want to live my life and incorporate all these new things into my life rather than make my entire life about completing my list.   I lose the experience, lose my focus and miss the moments I enjoy in my new and improved daily life if I just treat this list like a grocery list, something to grab and draw a line through.    And that feels like I am missing the point of doing 101 new things in 1001 days.  Don’t you think?

On the other hand, some focus and direction is a good thing.   Some of my list items require me to be in a lot better shape than I am in now to complete them.  Others have mini-goals hidden in them, like say, completing a triathlon when I don’t even know how to ride a bike…    So I will decide on the triathlon I am running – right now the Triathlon at Pacific Grove in September – looks good, register for it, commit to being there and competing and get on the triathlon training schedule when I get back from California.    I’m also going to start my picture posting on January 1st (Angela and Drue, don’t let me forget mmk?) and probably incorporate a few other items from the list in my daily life.    That way, next fall when I am overwhelmed with work and volunteering and running the Drama Club program, I’ll have made these items part of my wonderful, new and improved daily life.   They will be good habits by then and not new skills to learn or new items on my to-do list.   And hopefully, all of you will follow along and either cheer on my progress or remind me I am nuts for learning to ride a bike at the ripe age of 35.

I love being 35.  Did I mention that?  Oh, and if you’re willing to teach me to ride a bike, let me know.  I think it’s going to take a village on this one!