It’s amazing how my outlook has changed lately simply by being DONE with in-school teaching for the year.  And for more than that.  Possibly forever.  I just wasn’t enjoying my work the past six months or so, and now that I am DONE with school, I am much happier and carefree.

If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you know this.  And April/May were particularly tough months for me, but now I feel lighter and more ready to face my future.

One of my favorite bloggers is running an online six week virtual summer retreat, and I first read about it a few weeks ago during a darker time.  And thought, wow that’s a perfect idea to get my spirits up!  This retreat started today.

This week’s theme:  Inside/out

Now, the retreat doesn’t require blogging about it, but I just wanted to touch on a few things that I thought of while working on today’s "assignment."

Writing assignment: we were asked to write down what an "ideal day" would look like.  In the spirit of the retreat—making it work for me rather than somebody else– I decided not to actually do this, but I did brainstorm some of my favorite activities and things that I love to do.  Basically, I love to read, cook and eat, and hang out with Chris and other friends.  The next part was to try to incorporate some of these "ideal day" activities into today.  EASY as it’s a holiday…I am basically having the perfect day!  I already read quite a bit and soon Chris and I are going to a barbecue with friends. The only thing perhaps missing is a long run with Jen to really feel alive, but I did that yesterday.  I even "meditated" for a few minutes and considered how to redirect my outlook on a few matters that have been causing a bit of trouble.  Yes, even though I make a lot of jokes, I do occasionally look seriously within myself—this retreat is part of that.

I also read the recommended reading "you’re already perfect" by zen habits. 

The author says "You’re already good enough, you already have more than enough, and you’re already perfect."

"You’re already perfect. Being content with yourself means realizing that striving for perfection is based on someone else’s idea of what “perfect” is … and that that’s all bullshit. Perfect is who you are, not who someone else says you should be."

It’s so true.  I forget how good I have it sometimes.  My life is pretty darned awesome, and I need to remember that all the time.  It’s so hard for me to NOT compare myself to others (and my competitive streak always kicks in then, because I want to be the best.)  Instead I should remember I am already awesome and perfect!  So I can relax. 

(It’s easy for me to say this right now, in a few hours I will likely be again comparing myself to everybody else and noticing where I come up short.  Such is the way my brain works.  Excuse me, my perfect brain.)

In addition to the daily assignment, the weekly assignment/goal is to ruminate on the following:

■ what really works for you?
■ when do you truly feel your best?
■ what gets in your way from making your ideal health practices a reality?

I’ll be thinking about these things all week. 

Want to join me on the virtual summer retreat?  There’s no cost and no commitment.  Let’s do it!

Looks like Franco is becoming our go-to restaurant.  Tonight:  caesar salad, grilled trout, crème bruleè, red wine.  Followed by a deep argument on facebook regarding the spelling of fiancé.  Or fianceé.  And which is the feminine and which is masculine.  And seriously, how does one make those ‘ marks without copy/pasting?  And (not to make another run-on sentence but it just can’t be helped) how does one feel to be in for the evening by 10 pm?  Is that a sign of growing old, or of being happy in one’s life and enjoying the company of one’s fiancé?

All right friends, I’m off to bed.  Tomorrow am:  a run (perhaps) followed by a wedding at the Sheldon.

Happy Birthday, Dad!  Hope you have a fantastic day!  I always love your birthday because it means mine is just around the corner 😉  And be sure to check your email if you haven’t for an important message (gift).  Love you!

By borrow I mean, of course, you know, for the wedding and all…

Part 2: Books and Goals

The burglary threw me for a loop on my reading goals (and all of my goals really, but I’ll get back to that in June, I think…), since two of April’s books were on my Kindle.  In any case, during that time I started a couple of other books, and then I was so stressed in May that I just decided to reread the Sookie Stackhouse series.  I also read Water for Elephants (yes, I didn’t read it until it came out in a version with a picture of Robert Pattinson on the cover.  Sue me.) which was fantastic!  I’m still working on the Sookie Stackhouse books, and after those I’m going to return to my more “serious” reading goals.

I haven’t been doing my goals and stuff.  The burglary put me in a very foul mood…really since the darned failure of a half-marathon that was the Go! race.  That was followed by a series of unfortunate events that I didn’t deal with that well and instead decided to fight with Chris a bunch.  Finally I feel that negativity is (mostly) behind me as now I am done with the stressful stuff and school is done.  Now it’s time to relax, plan the wedding, hang out with friends, and work out as much as humanly possible.

I ran into Joe (my old trainer) as I was leaving the grocery store today.  It was funny because I was carrying a bag and he teased me to show him what I had bought.  The funniest thing was, I was mostly embarrassed that I had purchased a bridal magazine.  Otherwise I simply had some lettuce, spinach, and salmon.  A bag of groceries any trainer would be proud of!  I felt kind of like a rock star after that…also since I had just run two miles on the treadmill in 18:30.  Even tried to widen my stride a bit.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to a relaxing Memorial Day Weekend.   Relaxing:  that’s been my life theme the past week.  So glad it’s summer!!