I am rotten at following through with my goals. And every time I begin the end of each enterprise I get terribly depressed about alway losing steam. It's true for so many things in my life. I start out so enthusiastic and really go for it and then a couple weeks in I slow down and something always happens (usually getting ill or some other stressful crisis) and I/it stops the steamroller. grr. So I've been desperately trying to figure out how to get back on track after one of these. You have to admit slowing down is inevitable sometimes. Your mind/body needs a break from the enthusiasm, if you will. I think I've figured out what will work for me though. Its the thought that (cheers to Prince Charming for laying the egg of this idea) if you want to change something about yourself (diet, refocus your efforts) or accomplish something important (like a Thesis project) you have to think about doing it every morning. You can only affect each day you live, its too hard to say you'll do it tomorrow as you don't know what tomorrow will bring. But, today you can affect. I want to remember every morning or while I'm drinking my tea, exactly what I'm trying to change about myself and how I will do that today. You may as well decide certain things are more important that day, but they have to be thought about at least to succeed. I may be unusual in this need, certainly my friends don't have as much trouble with their follow through, but I hope writing it down helps me at least! hahah. The other catalyst for these thoughts are a poem we found in my Grandmother's jewelry box after she'd passed away.
Salutation to the Dawn
Look to this day!
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course lie all th verities
and realities of your existence.
the bliss of growth;
the glory of actions
the splendor of achievement;
For yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow
is only a vision;
But today, well lived, makes every
yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day!
translated from the Sanskrit
1 comment:
YAY for setting aside "me" time. If I don't get a few hours to myself everyday, I literally shut down. When I was on drum corps tour, I had to spend some time cleaning my drum or stretching or eating by myself so I could just collect my thoughts. On the bus was never easy because there's no room on a charter bus and there's no way to sit without touching your seat partner. I honestly don't know how I lasted 10 weeks. Part way through the summer (I think in Missouri) I told my mom I would never do drum corps again. The next summer I did a 2 week tour with a much smaller corps where I was maybe the most experienced person in the band.
Also, I really like that poem. I was about to say - I bet that was translated from Sumerian or something, then it said Sanskrit...
-Prince Charming
P.S. You should watch 10th Kingdom (add it to the list!)
25 October 2007 02:50
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