Promises, Promises

Some days I can blog about everything that comes to mind. Other times, I find putting the things that matter most to me in my life right now hardest to put in print. Perhaps because writing them puts them out there and makes it harder for me to ignore.

I consider myself a fairly honest, straightforward person. But, the person I am most likely to dishonor is me. It's mid-November and I've made quite a few promises to myself throughout 2009 and realize I've yet to follow through completely on any of them. Sure, I have some success, but I seem to fall just short of completion. I realize my own stalling tactics are the hardest hurdles of all. So, this month, I've been working hard to address those issues, get myself back on track and accountable to myself for seeing things through.

One of my goals was to incorporate regular exercise into my day - which I've consistently achieved since early Spring. I picked up "The Automatic Diet" book by Charles Stuart Platkin a few months ago and started reading. His basic approach is to swap out unhealthy habits for healthier options until they become automatic. Walking has become part of my daily routine, just like making the bed. That's not to say I wake up every morning eager to put on my sneakers! Some mornings I feel like hitting the snooze button and skipping the walk altogether - but the realization my neighbor and walking buddy will be pounding on my back door in minutes if I'm not outside prevents me from slipping back into my more sedentary ways.

Another goal is to lose weight and improve my overall health. The Automatic Diet covers this too, suggesting you create a blueprint for achieving your goals. I've worked hard on creating my short term, medium term and long term goals, yet I find myself not quite completing my game plan for how I'm going to achieve my goal. I realize by not completing this task, I'm blocking my own road to success - allowing my fear of failure to leave me in some sort of holding pattern. When discussing this with my co-worker, she simply replied - "you just need to get off your fanny and do it!".... She is right (thanks, T). I am resolved to overcoming this hurdle and hope that I will be writing an update on how far I've come since today's confession!

While I'm unburdening myself, I'll confess I still have not completed the office re-organization - another emotionally uncomfortable task I have been avoiding. Several self-imposed deadlines have passed and I've extended them so many times, I've lost count. But, again, the only way for me to enjoy the tranquil, inviting creativity space I've envisioned in the room I refer to as my home office is to get on with it. [your thoughtful suggestions and inspirational pearls of wisdom gladly accepted]

So, it is my sincere intent to work harder at keeping promises I make to myself. I want to achieve these important goals I've set for myself. I want to prove to myself that I am truly a person of my word, just not someone who's all talk. Wish me success!