Yes, well…..hmmm. I have been struggling to get myself back to a routine and get busy on my goals again. It’s this dreary winter weather. I love winter, but all I want to do is curl up with a blanket and a good book. Hibernating…I fight the urge daily. But I walked a couple of days last week, and I’ve already gotten up early and walked both days this week so far…although it’s a battle between my will and my body wanting to stay snuggled under the nice warm flannel sheets and comfy comforter. I will conquer! Here’s the update on goals:

Romans – Um, yeah. I haven’t memorized a single verse in two months, but today I started reviewing the first chapter, and hopefully by Friday I will again be able to say the first two chapters. I have a group of ladies that are all committed to some spiritual study, then we blog our goals and accomplishments to be accountable to others for our efforts. That starts next Monday, so it will help me tremendously!

Health and Weight- It always feels like two steps forward and one step back when it comes to my weight. I get so discouraged at times. I’m pretty much where I was when the holidays started, so at least I didn’t slide all the way back down the hill I have struggled to climb, but it is so HARD to stay away from junk food for me. Sunday night I ate a bunch of Fritos with salsa and paid dearly for the brief pleasure. Monday morning, my stomach woke me up with some major heartburn/reflux at about 2 am. I laid there trying to sleep until 3, then had to get up. My stomach felt like it had a rock in it all day yesterday, so I learned an important lesson. As much as I love Fritos, my stomach just doesn’t tolerate that much grease any more…this is a good thing, although it makes me sad. I will keep reporting in, but I won’t tell my weight until I’ve lost at least 5 more pounds.

Art in the Park – I must complete at least 6 paintings that I like well enough to present with my application for Art in the Park by March 1, when the application is due. That’s about one per week, people. I’m not sure I can do it, but I’m going to try. I have one almost completed, and I’m going to go ahead and start the next one at the same time, since they’ll be in different stages. I’ll post the one I’m working on when it’s finished.

Novel – When I transferred the novel I’m writing from my laptop to this PC, I did a word count and realized that I have over 10,000 words. I’m very excited about that. Of course, with the big push to paint, the writing will have to take a back burner for several weeks. But I’m going to try really hard to write at least a little bit every day. We’ll see.

I’m trying something new (for me). I’m keeping a spiral notebook in which I make a list on Monday of what I want to accomplish for the week. Then I break it down into tasks for each day and try to cross things off each day. This way I have long term goals (the year-long ones), mid-term goals (6 paintings by March 1), and short-term goals (daily list) to concentrate on. I put too many things on the list every day, but I’ll feel good if I can get at least some of them crossed off! I’m not an organized person, and my whole being balks at schedules, but I’m trying to compromise and keep a loose one that leaves me wiggle room. We’ll see. I refuse to give up…..although I honestly feel like it at least once a day. My Eeyore side is always whispering in my head (you have to hear THAT voice when you read it), “What’s the point? You’re never going to finish all those goals. And even if you do, it won’t be worth anything, and nobody cares anyway.” Ugh! I hate that voice! It doesn’t matter if NOBODY cares but me. It doesn’t matter if NOBODY will buy my paintings. It doesn’t matter if I can’t sell my novel. It doesn’t even matter if I have absolutely no talent, that my paintings and novel are total crap. I still MUST do it. I must keep going. I HAVE TO DO THIS. So there.