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I've decided to do some things that will be good for me: 1) write more neatly, 2) get back to being able to run 3 miles in 21 minutes (I used to do it in 20 minutes and some odd seconds) by July 31, and 3) stop swearing. If I want to be a secretary, I know that I won't write too often (since computers occupy most offices), but I'd rather have legible hand writing than be asked to leave on account of my chicken scratch. To do this I'm going to buy a 3rd grade trace-the-letters book and take some time to focus on my letter formation. This technique (buying a 3rd grade writing book when you are a senior) was recommended to me by a man I work with (who is also my boss but is more of a friend) who had to do it for one of his college classes. Now I know that the second resolution sounds nearly impossible, but 6th-8th grade I used to be able to do that. I could run forever and when timed, it was usually 3 miles and i could keep the same crazily insane fast pace for those 3 miles before I began to slow. After starting all this yesterday I tried to time myself and realized I couldn't eve run one mile. ONE MILE!!! It's insane. I had to walk 1/4 mile because I was too tired to try running that one mile again. I realized I can walk 1/4 mile in 7 minutes (that is how fast I'll need to run every mile to reach my goal). I went to BI-LO last night and bought several healthy foods (fruit bars, granola bars, sliced mangoes, etc.) that I like. I'm keeping track of everything I eat in a book. I'm also keeping track of how I feel because if I don't feel better than something's not right. My last resolution may seem ludicrous, but I do swear often and it has come to the point where I'm having to catch myself to keep from swearing around my 7-year-old sister. I love her dearly and I don't want to pollute her mind. She is very sweet. The way I'm going to go about this one is to chew on something when I start to get upset (which happens quite often). It could be gum or a bendy straw, and if worst comes to worst I'll stop and count to ten (I don't always have that time, so I'm going to try to make it).
The thing about these resolutions is that they are NOT New Year's Resolutions. That would be why I decided to make them yesterday (10th). In my mind, when I make New Year's Resolutions and I fail, I just quit. It's because I feel like I've already screwed the year up. If I take it day by day then I won't just give up. For example, to reach my "running goal (#2)" I resolved to walk 3 miles a day. Now once I got out there, I don't think I did 3 miles - I think I did much less. I couldn't thrown in the towel, but I'm starting over today fresh and new. With the swearing thing, I said s**t four times yesterday, but in mid word I caught myself every time. I'm still trying and I haven't let any profanities fly today. I will start over everyday till I reach my goals. If I manage to reach my running goal by July 31 or sooner, I will cut 30 seconds from the time until I reach 20 minutes and 30 seconds. Then i'll chop the time to 20 minutes until I reach that. I will strive to reach my goals. In the event I do not reach the goal by July 31, I will see how close I got and set a new date. I WILL REACH THIS GOAL.