Improvements, changes, etc... (in no particular order. Feel free to suggest additions):
-Stop being so goddamn lazy:
this could be the whole list by itself, but the main focus is on just doing the small things that need to be done, especially since 'it' only takes 2 minutes and won't be in the back of my mind every time I'm around 'it'.
-Watch less TV
-Play less video games:
already happening actually
-Read more:
I actually started a book (see right hand column). I actually enjoy reading, but I just don't do it because I spend too much time watching TV. Stupid. I'm ready to read and educate myself.
-Educate myself:
I don't want to turn into one of those people that spends hours online pouring over news articles, but I'm waaaayyyy to apathetic right now, and could use a little more information in my life. Not just educate myself on current events either, but on life and philosophy and other things. The book I'm reading now is quite good so far, and the kind of thing I've been wanting to read for quite a while. Good ol' Naturalism.
-Eat less fast food:
I enjoy dinning out, it is my biggest vice and money guzzler, but as long as it is decent food, I don't see the problem. However, I still eat more fast food than I should, and I would definitely like to cut more of that out.
-Cook more:
I enjoy cooking, it is just hard to find time for it. I use climbing as an excuse a lot, since I go to the gym after work then get home around 8:30, who wants to cook? But really, climbing is only a few days a week, and I should have leftovers from the other nights.
-Cook healthier, real meals:
A lot of times when I do 'cook', it is Chef Boyardee or Hamburger Helper. Is that really cooking? Although I like that stuff, and there is a time and place for them, in general, I need to start cooking lighter, healthier meals; not because I'm trying to lose weight or anything, I just feel that I could be a much healthier person, which would give me more energy, which would make me want to do more, which would make me less lazy, which would...oh, you get the idea.
-Drink less soda (pop):
I drink WAAAY too much soda right now. By no means will I cut it out completely, because man, do I love me some soda, but it has gotten a bit ridiculous.
-Take better care of my body:
See above. Also, I finally started taking my vitamins. Day 1.
-Start taking better care of my teeth:
I have decently healthy teeth (surprisingly...knock on wood), but I really need to start flossing. Tonight will be night 3 of flossing out of the past 5. Not bad right? (it won't ever become an every night ritual, but it's better than once every 2 years).
-Get more done around the house:
I definitely need to contribute more to the overall cleanliness of our apartment.
-Get to work on time:
I have gotten in a bad habit of rolling into work late. Not just 5 minutes, but sometimes up to 20. Some of that is because I can get away with it (for now...who knows how long that would last), but I need to take charge and stop taking advantage. It really isn't that hard: just get to bed at a decent time by not watching so much TV and wake up well rested so I don't have to hit snooze 15 times...
-Be more considerate, less self-centered:
Sometimes I can hide it, sometimes I can't, but deep down, I'm a pretty selfish person, and I don't like that. I definitely spend too much time thinking about me. 'If I do this for someone, then I won't be able to do this (read watch TV) for myself.' How crappy is that?
this could be the whole list by itself, but the main focus is on just doing the small things that need to be done, especially since 'it' only takes 2 minutes and won't be in the back of my mind every time I'm around 'it'.
-Watch less TV
-Play less video games:
already happening actually
-Read more:
I actually started a book (see right hand column). I actually enjoy reading, but I just don't do it because I spend too much time watching TV. Stupid. I'm ready to read and educate myself.
-Educate myself:
I don't want to turn into one of those people that spends hours online pouring over news articles, but I'm waaaayyyy to apathetic right now, and could use a little more information in my life. Not just educate myself on current events either, but on life and philosophy and other things. The book I'm reading now is quite good so far, and the kind of thing I've been wanting to read for quite a while. Good ol' Naturalism.
-Eat less fast food:
I enjoy dinning out, it is my biggest vice and money guzzler, but as long as it is decent food, I don't see the problem. However, I still eat more fast food than I should, and I would definitely like to cut more of that out.
-Cook more:
I enjoy cooking, it is just hard to find time for it. I use climbing as an excuse a lot, since I go to the gym after work then get home around 8:30, who wants to cook? But really, climbing is only a few days a week, and I should have leftovers from the other nights.
-Cook healthier, real meals:
A lot of times when I do 'cook', it is Chef Boyardee or Hamburger Helper. Is that really cooking? Although I like that stuff, and there is a time and place for them, in general, I need to start cooking lighter, healthier meals; not because I'm trying to lose weight or anything, I just feel that I could be a much healthier person, which would give me more energy, which would make me want to do more, which would make me less lazy, which would...oh, you get the idea.
-Drink less soda (pop):
I drink WAAAY too much soda right now. By no means will I cut it out completely, because man, do I love me some soda, but it has gotten a bit ridiculous.
-Take better care of my body:
See above. Also, I finally started taking my vitamins. Day 1.
-Start taking better care of my teeth:
I have decently healthy teeth (surprisingly...knock on wood), but I really need to start flossing. Tonight will be night 3 of flossing out of the past 5. Not bad right? (it won't ever become an every night ritual, but it's better than once every 2 years).
-Get more done around the house:
I definitely need to contribute more to the overall cleanliness of our apartment.
-Get to work on time:
I have gotten in a bad habit of rolling into work late. Not just 5 minutes, but sometimes up to 20. Some of that is because I can get away with it (for now...who knows how long that would last), but I need to take charge and stop taking advantage. It really isn't that hard: just get to bed at a decent time by not watching so much TV and wake up well rested so I don't have to hit snooze 15 times...
-Be more considerate, less self-centered:
Sometimes I can hide it, sometimes I can't, but deep down, I'm a pretty selfish person, and I don't like that. I definitely spend too much time thinking about me. 'If I do this for someone, then I won't be able to do this (read watch TV) for myself.' How crappy is that?
I'm sure there are plenty more things that I could and should list here, but it is getting late and I need to get to bed so I can get to work on time. PLEASE help keep me on track! Call me, text me, Facebook me, whatever, and ask how my progress is going. Don't be afraid to scold either. If you happen across something you find interesting that relates to the fields above, please pass it along.
I know all of these things won't happen overnight by any means, but I feel like they are definitely doable, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens. I'm not sure where this motivation came from, but I have a couple of ideas. Lately, I've been so busy with work and other things that I really haven't had time for much TV or video games, and I just saw that I can actually live without those things and not miss them all that much. Also, in two short months, I will be moving into a new apartment, either by myself, or with a roommate, but the plan is to carry all of these changes into my new home. I'm not even going to get cable when I move. I'm sure that I will watch some TV shows on my computer, but I don't need an actual TV with cable...it just creates problems. Finally, someone recently came into my life that accepts me as I am, but at the same time, has made me want to become a better person, the person I know I can be. I just needed a reason to do it.
- I'm not trying to change who I am...just what I do. -
-Quotes that have jumped out at me from the Aldo Leopold book I'm currently reading:
"A March morning is only as drab as he who walks in it without a glance skyward, ear cocked for geese. I once knew an educated lady, banded by Phi Beta Kappa, who told me that she had never heard or seen the geese that twice a year proclaim the revolving seasons to her well-insulated roof. Is education possibly a process of trading awareness for things of lesser worth? The goose who trades his is soon a pile of feathers."
"The drama of the sky dance is enacted nightly on hundreds of farms, the owners of which sigh for entertainment, but harbor the illusion that it is to be sought in theaters. They live on the land, but not by the land."
"How like fish we are: ready, nay eager, to seize upon whatever new thing some wind of circumstance shakes down upon the river of time! And how we rue our haste, finding the gilded morsel to contain a hook."
"A March morning is only as drab as he who walks in it without a glance skyward, ear cocked for geese. I once knew an educated lady, banded by Phi Beta Kappa, who told me that she had never heard or seen the geese that twice a year proclaim the revolving seasons to her well-insulated roof. Is education possibly a process of trading awareness for things of lesser worth? The goose who trades his is soon a pile of feathers."
"The drama of the sky dance is enacted nightly on hundreds of farms, the owners of which sigh for entertainment, but harbor the illusion that it is to be sought in theaters. They live on the land, but not by the land."
"How like fish we are: ready, nay eager, to seize upon whatever new thing some wind of circumstance shakes down upon the river of time! And how we rue our haste, finding the gilded morsel to contain a hook."
4 comments:
Hey Devin,
I loved this post. I have always thought you were such a great guy and it's very impressive to see you want to be an even better person. I know you will succeed. I wish you much luck and, of course, will be interested in your journey.
Love, Auntie Janet
Hi Bro -
Nice work, my friend, I'm excited for you. Aunt Janet's right, you are a fantastic person and I am so proud to call you my brother. You're smart, funny and more considerate than you think you are.
What's great about your goals is that once you get the hang of them, they become so easy and you realize how much you don't miss things you once thought you couldn't live without. It's an awesome feeling. Then when you do those things (eat out, play video games) they become so much more pleasurable than before because you don't do them all the time.
Some of them may seem simple (flossing) but I think of the big picture: the more I floss, the less money I'll have to spend on dental work in the future and I'll have more to spend on X. Or getting up earlier: it's hard to get out of bed, but if you have time to eat breakfast, you can sit and relax at the table and read, or just look out the window and enjoy the sun but actually feel like you were productive in the AM.
It's all in your mindset.
There's a quote by a Greek Stoic philosopher Epectitus said "wealth consists not in having great possessions but in having few wants." I keep that stuck to my computer because it is applicable for all of life, not just about money and possessions but about time and behaviors too.
I can't wait to hear how your goals are going. Have fun!
Love,
Sis
Great quote, Jacinda...
Auntie Janet
Hi Devin,
Great blog! As your aunt and sister said, you are a great person with a lot to offer others. It may seem overwhelming with so many goals, but in actuality, they all go hand in hand with each other. As you accomplish one goal, it leads into some of the other ones and soon, you have a whole new life style.
Before you two were born, your dad and I didn't have a TV for a couple years and it was great. I didn't miss it at all and have often wished to get rid of cable now so as not to spend mindless hours watching. (although I have to say, I never turn it on until evening)
I often say I feel bad for not encouraging you to help in the kitchen more and learn to cook. I know you can do it and like Jacinda said, going out to eat is much more fun when you do go out. And just think of the savings. You never know what you might like to save for- apartments, furniture, plane tickets to Japan!! Or France, or Italy, or anywhere.
Regarding being self-centered, I don't think it is that as much as being lazy. It is easy to make excuses of why you didn't do this or that for another person-busy at work, etc., but overall you just need to think ahead and think about how other people feel. You are already doing better calling home, now you just need to improve your card sending- it would be nice if you remembered family birthdays, anniversaries, mother's and father's day. You get the picture!!
Anyway, good luck on your quest of self improvement. Your dad and I know we raised a great son and you will be able to accomplish your goals.
Love always, Your Mother
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