"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle

Monday, April 25, 2011

Everyone Gets a Second Chance...

Recent happenings among my friends have made me realize that everyone messes up, but in the end, second chances always happen. With this thought, I will confess that I have fallen off of the Running Horse. :( Two weekends ago, I went to a Circle K convention and I didn't have time to run. Then when I got back, Little 5 happened and everyone knows that nothing gets done during that week. The following week was just crazy with people visiting and a massive amount of school work. So, here I am, back at week one, trying this whole thing again. I'm starting the whole three week cycle again and I am going to try and commit myself once again. This starts tonight. At 9:30 pm. :)

In other news, I've been doing pretty okay. It's been a stressful couple of weeks with some fun mixed in there too. I only have a couple more things to do before the summer starts! They are rather big things though, like two finals, a paper, and a project. However, the number of things on my to-do list has gone down and that makes me feel so much better!

One more thing to make me feel better: a new car! I'm super excited! A little over a week ago, I got rear-ended pretty badly and my car was deamed totaled. :( It's going to be sad seeing Mr. Car go, but my new car should work pretty well. My dad chose a Honda Insight for me. It's pretty sweet. I enjoyed the test drive and I love the fact that it's a hybrid - great gas millage! I just can't wait until I'm home to start driving it!


So here it goes once again. Off to a new start!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Twenty-one

It takes twenty-one days to make or break a habit. At least, that's what I've heard. I'm only on day three of running, but that means I'm 1/7th of the way there! Jeff's book discusses a three-week plan that can either make or break a runner. If somebody completes his three-week plan, or any type of three-week plan, then those individuals are 85% more likely to continue running. And after six months, you're 95% more likely to continue. For my first goal, I'm trying to get to the three-week mark. This will be April 23rd. It seems like it's right around the corner, but I bet there will be days that it will feel like forever. I will make it to there!

Twenty-one isn't just a three-week period; I'm also looking forward to my 21st birthday. The countdown has begun: 122 days from today! I'm extremely excited about this part of my life. It's not all about being able to drink, but the social aspect is very important to me. It's difficult to have so many of my friends be able to go to the bar and experience events when I can't. It can make me feel very excluded and that's not a good feeling to have. I'm extremely happy to be able to be there and hang out with my friends.

While I'm talking about exciting times coming up, I should let you know that I love countdowns! I
have a countdown to almost everything. The end of school - 32 days; home for the summer - 39 days; vacation in St. Marteen - 46 days; Uncle David's Wedding - 55 days; Circle K International Convention - 80 days. I'm really looking forward to heading home for the summer. I haven't been to NJ since winter break and I'm feeling pretty homesick. I also can't wait to go to St. Marteen! I'm extremely excited to go away somewhere without internet or cell phones. It will be a nice relaxing break after the crazy year I've had.

But I can't just look to what's happening in the future, but I need to focus on the now. I have so many things to do before all of my countdowns become reality and I need to stay determined to finish the school year on a good foot. To do that, I need to start now and do some homework! :)

Friday, April 1, 2011

The First Steps Are Always The Hardest

Hey!

Thank you for checking out my blog. I know a bunch of people that love their blogs, so I figured I would try. I can't promise I'll have something that is always worth reading, but I'll try! :)

I have never been a runner; I've always hated running. But I think things have changed. I've seen so many great people that I know become runners, excellent ones at that. I had decided to try and become one of those runners. Although, I've tried to start this a couple of times, I figure blogging about it will push me to really succeed. I'm going to start off with smaller goals that will probably feel pretty epic to me.

I'm starting off with a walk/run method that I read about in Jeff Galloway's Running: Getting Started. Yes, I did read books about running before I actually started. This walk/run method will start off with a combination of walking and running that will allow me to build up the continuous running. I have heard that this method works well.

I work best under a goal than just trying something. I've started looking at smaller races and I'm planning to sign up for one once I have my summer schedule. This way I'll have more motivation for continuing the training and push myself to succeed in the race.

So, what's with the live and love? Today marks the day that I start my term as Indiana Circle K's Governor. Circle K's motto is "Live to serve. Love to serve." People succeed in thing that they are devoted to; that they live and love what they are doing. For this reason, if I incorporate running into my life and will learn to live and love it, maybe then I will be a runner.

Back to Circle K. This year will be quite an extraordinary time. I have so many ideas that I hope the district can help me accomplish. Working with such a motivating group of individuals really inspires me to do the best to help them in accomplish their goals. I'm sure this year will be stressful at times, but the rewards will be amazing.

I'm sure this blog will not only entail my running journal, but also things that are happening in Circle K and my life. I hope you enjoy it all and I would love encouragement along the way - everyone could use a little help sometime!