Take Two

My first week of resolutions have gone fairly well.  The no shopping thing is hard, but I'm holding on - if only by a fine thread.  Supposedly it takes 21 days for a new pattern to become a habit so only two weeks to go.

Since I have been successful to date, I have decided to up the ante.  It is time to add a few fitness goals.  I know everyone makes the standard - lose 20 pounds, go to the gym more, and start "insert exercise x" here, but I wanted to be very specific and hopefully attainable.

My Fitness Goals:

1 - Get up at the same time everyday to do cardio in the morning.  Supposedly it is best for your metabolism to get your body moving in the morning.  I personally prefer evening work-outs, but I want to do a little something every morning to get things started.

2 - Run a half marathon in under 2:15.  I am already signed up for two, but suspect I will need to add another to obtain this goal, but I'm willing.

3 - Obtain my scuba certification.  Okay technically this is probably not fitness, but it will get me in a wetsuit which has to be a motivator for staying healthy.

4 - Tennis lessons.  I took them while in Nashville and really enjoyed it.  Want to learn enough to be able to actually play a game.

5 - Start cycling.  My ultimate goal is a triathlon, but have given myself my 40th birthday to obtain that one, but I need to start cycling if I hope to be successful.  Therefore, this is the year.

I have a very good feeling about 2012.  Not sure why, but I think that this is definitely my year.

I'm seeing a pattern

A fair number of surgeons reportedly have alcohol problems.  I am starting to understand why.  When I finished my clinic this morning, I had been given 3 bottles of wine and a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka - that's right Vodka.  Do my patients think I am badly in need of a drink?

Lame, sad or pathetic

I just walked in the door following a very long day, and even though the clock only says 8 pm - I really, really want to go to bed.  The conversation going on inside my head is quite amusing if one viewed from a third person perspective.  I have tried justification (ridiculous day), bartering (get up early in morning) and bribery (Starbuck's coffee), but at the end of the day perhaps I should just call it what it is - lame, sad and pathetic.

Naughty Chair

So I got to spend some time in the naughty chair today.  After I finished my cases today, my plan was to quickly stop by my office, grab my coat and run over to the other hospital.  However, my assistant seemed to have other plans.  She followed me into my office, with her arms crossed.  Never good.

"I know it was a bad week last week, but . . ", she began.  She then listed all of the charts, billing, signatures, patient phone calls, and path reports that needed my attention - some now for quite some time. You noticed that giving up procrastination was not one of my resolutions.

Alas, four hours, and much complaining on my part later, I had atoned for my sins, and was again allowed free reign of the hospital.  Would like to say that I learned my lesson, but unlikely.

End Run

Supposedly 75% of all resolutions are broken by noon on January 2nd.  Therefore, I decided to make an end run around that little dilemma - I'm making my resolutions now - a full 6 hrs after everyone else abandoned theirs.

I am somewhat hesitant to write some of these resolutions down as I have already told a few friends, and they laughed at me, but I'll resolve to be brave and carry on.

Since as you will soon see some of my resolutions are quite ambitious, I have also included a few more easily attainable ones.  (No need to kick myself while I am already down.)



                                                                     2012 Resolutions

1. No shopping for the month of January.  I'll pause for a minute while you all stop laughing.  Even my mother scoffed at this one, but just so you know all the doubting is making me even more resolved to keep this one. 
2. Open myself up - be it to new ideas, adventures or people.  I want to become more open to whatever life has in store for me.
3. Release control - it is no secret that I have a little control issue.  Perfect strangers seem to pick up on this about me.  I want to relax a little and trust that life will continue on perfectly well without me in the driver's seat.
4. Floss daily - I hate to admit it, but I get a little lazy when it comes to flossing.  It seems that everything I read these days is hawking the benefits of flossing - for your heart, your immune system, etc.    Even worse, I have genetic predisposition to gingivitis so even more important for me.  
5. Daily stretching - To my surprise as much as everyones, I have become somewhat addicted to working out.  It has become my protected me time.  Everyone knows not to bother me when I am at the gym unless it is an emergency.  However, all this working out (and quite possibly the aging) are making me a little stiff.  This year not only do I want to get into yoga, but I need to start making it a point to improve my flexibility.

2012 - Finally!

I have never been so glad to see the end of a year as this one.  The year 2011 was not my best year, and the frustrating thing is it could have been.  I am healthy, possess great friends and family, a job that I enjoy and allows me to buy really cute shoes, and I live in a city where the sun almost always shines.  Why was this year not better?

I am still struggling with the answer to that question, but with reason or not I found myself ending 2011 feeling a deep discontent.  Mid-life crisis?  Possibly.  Simple realization that life is hard, complicated, and so very far from fair?  More likely.

Regardless, it is time to make some changes and stick to them.  Therefore, I am starting this new year, one filled with endless possibilities with the Serenity Prayer:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.