I made goals at the beginning this year. I'm not going to mention how well I'm doing at achieving them, but let it be known that I'm not failing at them all :-) Just most of them...
Anyway, I was thinking today about goals, and I realized that maybe a way to keep my goals on the top of my mind is to set goals each month instead of each year. (I can still set yearly goals, but maybe make my monthly goals more specific and make sure they help me achieve my long-term goals.)
So I read a good post about posture the other day and realized that I need to improve mine. Then on my way to the adlab today I realized I should also find ways to improve my memory (because it's terrible unless I'm dealing with numbers). Then I thought, "well I've got a 'body' goal and a 'mind' goal, why not have a 'spirit' goal too?" Then I thought, "but if I have all those, then I won't be able to have a more fun goal, like learning to juggle, typing the right way, or whistling loud. But what would I call that?"
So now I have my very own "Body, Mind, Spirit, and Miscellaneous" self-improvement system. I'm going to come up with a goal in each one of those categories, and try to improve that part of my life for a month. My hope is that it will become habit by the end of the month, and I can move on to another goal. (For example, I won't have to consciously think about improving my posture, but will hopefully do it out of habit.)
(As a side note, I can do as many goals in the "Miscellaneous" category as I want in a month. I can also go above and beyond in any of the categories if I want.)
So in August we have:
Body - Improve my posture. I am going to keep my back straight when I sit and stand, and keep my head up as I walk. It help me to think about how not slouching stops my ribs from cramming my stomach organs forward as it talks about in the Art of Manliness blog referenced above. Cause that's just gross. And this way I'll probably have even more of a rippling 6-pack than I already have. Yes... the one I already have...
Mind - Improve my memory. Whenever someone tell me their name, I'm going to remember it. I'm not 100% sure how I'm going to accomplish this yet, but I think the Wilk actually holds little classes/gives suggestions on how to improve your memory skills, so I may just go look into that.
Spirit - Improve my scripture study. I've always been very on and off with scripture reading. Instead of focusing on the amount of time I read every day, I'm going to read for at least 5 minutes every day, but also write at least one sentence down about something I learned/felt while reading. I hope to be able to increase the time/amount that I write in the future, but for now this will suffice.
Misc. - Read more. Other than scripture study, I want to read more. I've been doing alright this past week in reading, but I know once I finish the book I'm on I'll have to have another one waiting for me or else I may not continue. I would like to read at least a book a month, even when things get crazy in the Fall.
There you have it. Feel free to stay on top of me with these and ask me how they're going. Maybe a little accountability is what I need to keep me going.
Also, if you read all the way through this post, please leave me a quick comment, even just to say "I read it all." I would like to know who actually reads my blog! :-) Thanks!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Humor
In reflecting on what it is that attracts me to certain people and not others, I think I've finally found that a good sense of humor is the personality trait for me that can make all the difference! What a great realization. I've always known it was important, but I was recently thinking about people I was initially attracted to, and then I lost interest in. I was wondering what it was about the person that turned me off to them. And today it finally clicked!
I wonder what it is about someone with a good sense of humor (which I realize is very likely a relative term) that attracts me so much? Maybe it's a charisma thing? Maybe it shows intelligence, or "easy-goingness", or "she-just-gets-it-ness"? Maybe I value my own sense of humor more than other personality traits of mine, and therefore I value it more in someone else too?
There's people I can think of now, people I still associate with, that I think are really attractive. But as I've gotten to know them I find that I'm not interested in more than friendship, and I now believe that humor is the factor that changes it all for me.
Sometimes I get torn though. Sometimes a girl just has so many good qualities that I appreciate, and when I'm not with her I think "I really should try to see if so-and-so and I would be a good match." Then when I'm around them I either feel uninteresting/boring, or uninterested/bored. I hate it, but I can't help it. It's not her fault, and I don't think it means she has a bad sense of humor, just that it doesn't mesh well with mine.
I can think of 6 girls off hand that I think I would be a good match with, and all of them are girls whose sense of humor I really appreciate. There are 3 girls I can think of off hand that I think have some great qualities, but don't have my kind of sense of humor, and that I don't think I'll pursue. (Although friendship still sounds great, but does that ever really work?)
Anyway, I've reached the point where I'm just beating a dead horse.
p.s. I'm not telling you who the girls are, so don't ask.
p.p.s. Then again, I may have just had my backside delivered to me by this. Make sure to read the whole post. (I had to click "continue reading" the first time, but I don't know if you will need to or not...)
I wonder what it is about someone with a good sense of humor (which I realize is very likely a relative term) that attracts me so much? Maybe it's a charisma thing? Maybe it shows intelligence, or "easy-goingness", or "she-just-gets-it-ness"? Maybe I value my own sense of humor more than other personality traits of mine, and therefore I value it more in someone else too?
There's people I can think of now, people I still associate with, that I think are really attractive. But as I've gotten to know them I find that I'm not interested in more than friendship, and I now believe that humor is the factor that changes it all for me.
Sometimes I get torn though. Sometimes a girl just has so many good qualities that I appreciate, and when I'm not with her I think "I really should try to see if so-and-so and I would be a good match." Then when I'm around them I either feel uninteresting/boring, or uninterested/bored. I hate it, but I can't help it. It's not her fault, and I don't think it means she has a bad sense of humor, just that it doesn't mesh well with mine.
I can think of 6 girls off hand that I think I would be a good match with, and all of them are girls whose sense of humor I really appreciate. There are 3 girls I can think of off hand that I think have some great qualities, but don't have my kind of sense of humor, and that I don't think I'll pursue. (Although friendship still sounds great, but does that ever really work?)
Anyway, I've reached the point where I'm just beating a dead horse.
p.s. I'm not telling you who the girls are, so don't ask.
p.p.s. Then again, I may have just had my backside delivered to me by this. Make sure to read the whole post. (I had to click "continue reading" the first time, but I don't know if you will need to or not...)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Men
Randomly scrolling through the comments on a very good Zen Habits article I saw one of the girls commenting had a cute picture, so I clicked on it. (Sue me)
I've often found that when women write about men, they're usually venting some kind of emotion, and therefore say a lot of things they don't really mean, don't actually believe, or haven't quite thought all the way through. (Clearly this isn't always the case, and clearly men do the same thing.)
This article was a really good one though! I'd say for the most part it is very accurate and well thought-out. (The cleanliness one doesn't really apply to me. When I am messy, I'd say it's more clutter than dirt. And besides, most of the girls I know keep public areas of the house quite clean and everything else... well let's just say not as clean.)
Maybe I should venture to write a "10 things I've learned from dealing with women," but since I've only ever lived with a few (sisters) I probably couldn't contribute too much that wasn't already general knowledge. Maybe I should opt for co-ed housing in grad school (assuming I'm not married by then)?
Nah.
I've often found that when women write about men, they're usually venting some kind of emotion, and therefore say a lot of things they don't really mean, don't actually believe, or haven't quite thought all the way through. (Clearly this isn't always the case, and clearly men do the same thing.)
This article was a really good one though! I'd say for the most part it is very accurate and well thought-out. (The cleanliness one doesn't really apply to me. When I am messy, I'd say it's more clutter than dirt. And besides, most of the girls I know keep public areas of the house quite clean and everything else... well let's just say not as clean.)
Maybe I should venture to write a "10 things I've learned from dealing with women," but since I've only ever lived with a few (sisters) I probably couldn't contribute too much that wasn't already general knowledge. Maybe I should opt for co-ed housing in grad school (assuming I'm not married by then)?
Nah.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
My own medicine
In my dating life, I've always been turned off by the idea of competing for a girl. I've always thought that I should be able to woo someone I'm interested without having to be just a little bit better than someone else. I guess in my mind that means that she would like me for who I am, and not just because I'm the best option at the time. (Even though those two can go together... if that makes any sense.)
I was talking with a friend about how I just kind of drop things if I find out a girl I'm interested in might be interested in someone else. "But what if she's a really great girl then? Is she still not worth fighting for?"
To me that seems like quite a loaded question. Nevertheless, it made me start to rethink my perspective on dating. Maybe I should follow my own advice instead of give up so easily. If it's something I want, that doens't mean I should give it up just because someone else might want it to.
Just a thought. Sorry if my self-inflicted dating woes bore you. You'll live.
I was talking with a friend about how I just kind of drop things if I find out a girl I'm interested in might be interested in someone else. "But what if she's a really great girl then? Is she still not worth fighting for?"
To me that seems like quite a loaded question. Nevertheless, it made me start to rethink my perspective on dating. Maybe I should follow my own advice instead of give up so easily. If it's something I want, that doens't mean I should give it up just because someone else might want it to.
Just a thought. Sorry if my self-inflicted dating woes bore you. You'll live.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Own up
So I was at Smith's the other day; one of those in-and-out deals where I have one item to go through self checkout and leave. Understand: I have had lots of fun standing in line waiting for a self-checkout machine watching other people try to use them. This particular time there was a man who had just one item also, and was trying to get through fast.
I can understand trying to get through fast. When you have just one thing, you don't want it to take the same amount of time as 10 or 15 things. However, sometimes in the rush to be even faster, people sacrifice logic.
This man, when I found him standing there, began to beat at the machine and say "maybe if I hit the machine enough someone will finally come." Granted Smith's employees are sub-par, and the "please wait for an attendant" voice usually means "go get an attendant because you won't be helped anytime soon." That being said, the man was still holding the item in his hand and I could see on the screen from 20 feet away the message to "please place the item in the bagging area." He didn't need an attendant, he just needed to follow directions. I think that in trying to be faster, the guy forgot that the machine needs to make sure he isn't putting 2 items in his cart for every 1 item he scans...
I don't know how many times I've thought something along the lines of "this machine messed up," "I got the question wrong because the calculator gave me the wrong answer," "there must be something wrong with [insert something or someone else here]." Fortunately I think I do a pretty good job of recognizing when it just might be my fault rather than someone/something else's. Calculators are never wrong.
Similarly, it seems to me that about 95% of the time people say "someone stole my [keys/wallet/etc.]" that they were really just misplaced by the person. (Matt - this isn't directed at you, I promise :-P I just now remembered about your bag at the Law College.)
On the mission, it's always that your companion is the hard-to-deal-with one. In high school it's always that the teacher doesn't like you. And I'm sure you've noticed that everyone who drives slower than you is an idiot and everyone who drives faster than you is a maniac, right?
"The woman thou gavest me, and commandest that she should remain with me, she gave me of the fruit of the tree and I did eat.
"And I, the Lord God, said unto the woman: What is this thing which thou hast done? And the woman said: The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat."
(Okay, that last one was just a joke. It was just the first thing that came to my head when I thought about putting blame elsewhere. Don't get offended.)
Let's own up to our mistakes. Oh, and don't forget to do what you're supposed to and not get distracted by wanting to place the blame somewhere it isn't due. In the rush to find a scapegoat, it seems we neglect little (but important) details, like placing your item in the bagging area.
I can understand trying to get through fast. When you have just one thing, you don't want it to take the same amount of time as 10 or 15 things. However, sometimes in the rush to be even faster, people sacrifice logic.
This man, when I found him standing there, began to beat at the machine and say "maybe if I hit the machine enough someone will finally come." Granted Smith's employees are sub-par, and the "please wait for an attendant" voice usually means "go get an attendant because you won't be helped anytime soon." That being said, the man was still holding the item in his hand and I could see on the screen from 20 feet away the message to "please place the item in the bagging area." He didn't need an attendant, he just needed to follow directions. I think that in trying to be faster, the guy forgot that the machine needs to make sure he isn't putting 2 items in his cart for every 1 item he scans...
I don't know how many times I've thought something along the lines of "this machine messed up," "I got the question wrong because the calculator gave me the wrong answer," "there must be something wrong with [insert something or someone else here]." Fortunately I think I do a pretty good job of recognizing when it just might be my fault rather than someone/something else's. Calculators are never wrong.
Similarly, it seems to me that about 95% of the time people say "someone stole my [keys/wallet/etc.]" that they were really just misplaced by the person. (Matt - this isn't directed at you, I promise :-P I just now remembered about your bag at the Law College.)
On the mission, it's always that your companion is the hard-to-deal-with one. In high school it's always that the teacher doesn't like you. And I'm sure you've noticed that everyone who drives slower than you is an idiot and everyone who drives faster than you is a maniac, right?
"The woman thou gavest me, and commandest that she should remain with me, she gave me of the fruit of the tree and I did eat.
"And I, the Lord God, said unto the woman: What is this thing which thou hast done? And the woman said: The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat."
(Okay, that last one was just a joke. It was just the first thing that came to my head when I thought about putting blame elsewhere. Don't get offended.)
Let's own up to our mistakes. Oh, and don't forget to do what you're supposed to and not get distracted by wanting to place the blame somewhere it isn't due. In the rush to find a scapegoat, it seems we neglect little (but important) details, like placing your item in the bagging area.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
This time it was calculated
So I just got offered a job as a software tester for NextPage in Bluffdale. It pays $11/hour and has very flexible hours.
I turned it down. But this time my decision was calculated.
I have had a bad habit in the past of missing opportunities. This time I actually thought about my schedule and realized that taking this job in the Fall would mean I couldn't do anything in the Ad Lab. I would basically leave class to go to work, work for 4-5 hours, then come back. And I would be doing that for 4-5 days a week. Once I got home I would do all my homework, and then basically wind down for the night. Sounds like a good plan, right?
Except the Ad Lab has proven to be a great way to break into the advertising world for past students. If my primary objective is to get experience, then doing advertising for real clients is going to be better than testing software for NextPage. And the Ad Lab gets crazy busy in the Fall. (I'm actually somewhat looking forward to having it take over my life.) I honestly don't think I'd be able to do all that.
I told the guy that I would love to work for them for July and the bit of August that I'm in Utah, but that I think my schedule wouldn't allow me to work for him. By saying that, I realized I was putting the Ad Lab as a higher priority than work, which I'm alright with.
Anyway, I almost feel like I'm trying to justify myself, probably because I am. I still feel a little sick from turning down a good job, but a little comforted that I think my plans are starting to fall into place.
Now I just need to get crackin' on some Ad Lab stuff so that turning down the job is worth it. Motivation?
I turned it down. But this time my decision was calculated.
I have had a bad habit in the past of missing opportunities. This time I actually thought about my schedule and realized that taking this job in the Fall would mean I couldn't do anything in the Ad Lab. I would basically leave class to go to work, work for 4-5 hours, then come back. And I would be doing that for 4-5 days a week. Once I got home I would do all my homework, and then basically wind down for the night. Sounds like a good plan, right?
Except the Ad Lab has proven to be a great way to break into the advertising world for past students. If my primary objective is to get experience, then doing advertising for real clients is going to be better than testing software for NextPage. And the Ad Lab gets crazy busy in the Fall. (I'm actually somewhat looking forward to having it take over my life.) I honestly don't think I'd be able to do all that.
I told the guy that I would love to work for them for July and the bit of August that I'm in Utah, but that I think my schedule wouldn't allow me to work for him. By saying that, I realized I was putting the Ad Lab as a higher priority than work, which I'm alright with.
Anyway, I almost feel like I'm trying to justify myself, probably because I am. I still feel a little sick from turning down a good job, but a little comforted that I think my plans are starting to fall into place.
Now I just need to get crackin' on some Ad Lab stuff so that turning down the job is worth it. Motivation?
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Myself
I want to be myself as much as I can, but sometimes I wonder if I even know who I am most of the time.
The conclusion I've come to is that who I am is always changing. I try to be easygoing, but sometimes I'm not. I try to go with the flow but sometimes I get stuck in my ways. I try to learn new things but sometimes I just get lazy. Maybe instead of seeing myself as always short of who I want to be, I should be happy for the progress I've already made. Maybe that way I can find ways to change the things I want to, but not get down on myself when I fail. After all, it seems like it would be hard to be happy with change if you never feel good enough about it.
I noticed the other day that not only do I try to have certain qualities, but I try to avoid other qualities. I spend too much time worrying about who I don't want to become that I sometimes forget to work on becoming who I DO want to be.
For example, I often find myself thinking, "I want to [insert something that takes you out of your comfort zone, like asking a girl/guy you just met out], but I don't want to be one of THOSE guys/girls." Well what if I don't want to be one of those guys but I still want to do that uncomfortable thing? What if I think it'll help me grow?
A roommate and I were talking about how a tactic I read a little while ago. It's meant to be a way to get over the awkwardness you feel when trying to approach a total stranger. Basically stated, you practice. You go to a mall and just approach strangers and try to strike up a conversation. When I first hear that I think "well I want to be able to talk to random people and make friendships, but I don't want to be one of those guys..." Is any of this making sense?
Conclusion: less worrying about what other people think. Less worrying about what I think of other people. More risks to take, since I pretty much only have something to gain.
The conclusion I've come to is that who I am is always changing. I try to be easygoing, but sometimes I'm not. I try to go with the flow but sometimes I get stuck in my ways. I try to learn new things but sometimes I just get lazy. Maybe instead of seeing myself as always short of who I want to be, I should be happy for the progress I've already made. Maybe that way I can find ways to change the things I want to, but not get down on myself when I fail. After all, it seems like it would be hard to be happy with change if you never feel good enough about it.
I noticed the other day that not only do I try to have certain qualities, but I try to avoid other qualities. I spend too much time worrying about who I don't want to become that I sometimes forget to work on becoming who I DO want to be.
For example, I often find myself thinking, "I want to [insert something that takes you out of your comfort zone, like asking a girl/guy you just met out], but I don't want to be one of THOSE guys/girls." Well what if I don't want to be one of those guys but I still want to do that uncomfortable thing? What if I think it'll help me grow?
A roommate and I were talking about how a tactic I read a little while ago. It's meant to be a way to get over the awkwardness you feel when trying to approach a total stranger. Basically stated, you practice. You go to a mall and just approach strangers and try to strike up a conversation. When I first hear that I think "well I want to be able to talk to random people and make friendships, but I don't want to be one of those guys..." Is any of this making sense?
Conclusion: less worrying about what other people think. Less worrying about what I think of other people. More risks to take, since I pretty much only have something to gain.
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