The Unending Choring

I'm convinced that, when i die, i will be alone and i will have no possessions to my name. I will have no more accomplishments, save surviving as long as I have. I won't be remembered for doing anything great. Nothing will be named after me. I won't have anything to leave to my kids or grandkids. I will have consumed the empty shell i have carved out for myself, devoid of taste or fulfillment. I hope I'm wrong.

75 Hard? Nah. 63 Realistic? Sure.

I have a few very close friends who have completed the "75 Hard" challenge, where the participant agrees to crush workouts, family time, intellectual time, and other commitments for 75 straight days. Failure to comply once, no matter how far along, results in beginning the project at Day Zero. It's one hell of a feat, and I'm certainly not trying to take anything away from that accomplishment. At all. Two of the guys i know who have completed it are, i would safely say, different men than the guys I met years ago. Then again, so am i, and i haven't completed this challenge myself, but i have had kids and survived three summers as a line cook, so...

That being said, if time or money weren't constraints, i would love to participate in such a program myself. As it is, for funsies, I've made one of my own. Folks, I introduce "63 Realistic".

The Rules:

Every day for 63 days:

1. Pick a diet, stick to it, and make sure it's includes two days of easy comfort food and dessert. One drink here and there won't kill you, but stop smoking. 

2. Read 10 pages of any book you want.

3. Drink 32 oz of water, unless it's hot or you're working out. Then drink until your pee is clear.

4. Take a progress picture and a picture of something meaningful to you.

5. Workout for half an hour, once a day, 5 days a week. If you're like me and trying this out.

If you miss a day or two, pick up where you left off. Don't freak out. You can always add a week or two if you really feel bad. Maybe you'll be the first to break 1000 Realistic. Who knows?

I think I'm going to try it out and see what happens. Tomorrow is a Sunday. That's a good Day 1.

Matrimony

Today, i oversaw my first real wedding. It was simple, and my part was minimal. But it went super well, and everyone was beautiful. I love love.

Pain

My three-year-old broke his big toe today. He dropped a wood-splitting maul thingy on it. Hairline fracture, not compound. He's refusing to take any pain meds. Poor bugger. Sucks to see your little ones in pain, for sure.

Advocacy

Self-advocacy, specifically. People need to learn to be their own best friends. We need to learn to defend ourselves like we would someone we care about. It's okay to tell your boss that what they did was unfair or even bullshit. It's okay to tell your friends that you're hurt. It's okay to tell your parents you're struggling. It's okay to defend yourself. You can do it. Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they're yours.

The Shuffle

Started my day today thinking about getting rid of the most reliable car we have to get out of payments and to pick up yet another old shitbox that, with a little money and TLC, they can be reliable...

Radical Acceptance

The Serenity Prayer in AA goes something like asking for courage to do the right thing, strength to keep from doing the wrong thing, and wisdom to know the difference between the two. It's a transcendent prayer. It applies to us all.