30 Day Blogging Challenge – Day 17

And here we go…I will finally be caught up on the blogging challenge.  Hurrah!

Today’s post is all about the highs and lows of the last year. I’m going to try to keep this simple–a quick top 3 of each.

Lows:

1. Health and Fitness.  I really hoped I would be able to shake off some excess weight and get back to being super fit again.  Alas, it never happened.  I would be good for a stretch and then life happened and the progress I made would disappear. It’s a low because it frustrates the bejesus out of me that I can’t seem to get any real consistency going and at times, it makes me feel like crap.

2. The two dates (would’ve been three if I didn’t opt out in the end) that an acquaintance set me up on–brutal set ups and they made me feel like crap about myself and my single status for some time especially in light of all the weddings and babies announced and photographed on Facebook.

3.  Making progress on my life goals and yet losing site and/or sabotaging them in the end.  Similar to number one…I get into a good routine of saving my money or eating healthy and then life gets crazy and my good work stops and I have to start all over again.  I know that setbacks happen, but it’s getting a smidge tiresome.

Highs:

1.  I am more comfortable with myself then I have ever been in my entire life.  I can spend time alone without having to fill my time with something and I am much better at saying no to people (though that one will always need improvement).

2. I tried new things.  I got set up on dates (even though they were horribly unsuccessful and made me feel like crap about myself for a while), I tried Cross Fit, I flirted with the opposite sex, I did a bunch of random acts of kindness for people, I have hired a matchmaker, I ran a half marathon without training, I even broke out of my clothing comfort zone and started wearing bright colours and generally taking a lot more care in how I present myself.  And it’s all made me feel like at this point, I can handle and do anything.

3.  Learning that I really need to take more time for myself and not be running off and doing everything for everyone else.  I lost site of that over the past few months, starting with Christmas and hitting its peak over the last few months.  Now that I am more comfortable with myself and having “Leesah” time (as per number one on this list), I now know I need that time and I can’t be over-scheduled anymore without it having massive impacts on everything in my life.  Oh and more importantly, taking that time for me is completely OK.

What are some of your highs and lows of the year past?

Much luv,

Leesah

Puttin on those big girl panties again

Allo Everyone!

Even though August is over, I’m still trying to live up to my end of the fear challenge that was set out my Angela on Oh She Glows.  I had lots of trouble trying to find “fears” to face on a daily basis…so I figured I would just kinda go with it and tackle things that bugged me as they came.

I know I have mentioned the idea of buying my first piece of real estate and trying to control my spending….and now I’m finally…FINALLY getting around to it.  I have two, count ‘em TWO appointments to meet with a financial planner this week (one today and one tomorrow).  I am thinking of switching over my banks and investments and seeing what they have to offer.  I am also wanting advice on whether or not it is in my best interest to do a service buy back for my pension transfer from my old work to my newish place of employment. 

It’s equally scary and fun because, well, I finally feel like I am being accountable.  I have even accurately tracked the ridiculously expensive month of August for all of it’s expenses…down to parking meter money…and I’m sorta pumped that I have been able to do this.  It’s been interesting to see where my money has been going…and for the record–way too much of it on iced coffee.

It also feels, however, like the end of an era…the end of youthful indescretion when it comes to where my money goes is gone.  I am going to have a “fun” account…a travel account….a car repair/savings account…as well as a continued savings plan for upping my house downpayment.  Serious. Real. Goals.  ACK!  I’m excited for the challenge but I’m also afraid I am going to fail–the lure of pretty skirts and lululemon sale items may prove to be too much for my shakey willpower.

Another fear that I am tackling on Friday is that I am going to attend my first, real Cross Fit class–not one that is an onramp program nor a personal training style session to get me up to speed….a proper class.  I’m scared and intimidated and excited.  Ack!  I know, deep down, I can make it through the class and soon I’ll be in the mix and everything else will be a breeze, but right now, at this moment, it seems horribly impossible to make it through….to feel the (imagined) judgement of me being in a Cross Fit class because I’m not as fit or strong…but..this is the fun part…I can only get better and soon I will be amonth them…the fit….the strong…at Cross Fit.  I can’t wait.

Have you tackled any fears today?  If so, share in the comments!

Luv Leesah