Well, it's March.
This should prove to be a pretty entertaining month for me. In a few weeks, I'll fly to Phoenix to watch WrestleMania. And if I can muster the courage while I'm there, I'll accomplish one of my 08.01.09 Manifesto goals by jumping out of an airplane.
March means college basketball and spring training. The snow melts and the flowers bloom as the Earth shakes off its winter chill and the sun returns to us. March is a month to be enjoyed; a month to be...appreciated. And each day this month, I'll go out of my way to make sure that one of my Facebook friends feels appreciated. That's because each day this month I will select one of my FB friends and I will send them a very special message. In it, I'll explain what they mean to me; how they've affected me or inspired me; why I value them; what I appreciate most about them; etc.
These messages won't be a simple, "You're great and I appreciate you" notes. They will be heartfelt, long-considered and completely sincere. There are a lot of people in my life who I love dearly - family, friends, co-workers... Nearly every one of my FB friends has influenced me in some way, and I appreciate each of you dearly. I know that some people feel uncomfortable when presented with an honest assessment of the impact they've made on another's life. If you receive one of these messages, I hope that you read it in the spirit with which they are intended.
Most who receive the messages will probably not be surprised. But some will be. And my method for picking recipients won't be scientific, so please don't be disappointed if you don't receive one. While I care about each of my FB friends, there are but 31 days in March.
And at the end of those 31 days, I will have a new appreciation for the 31 people who receive these messages and for all of the people in my life. This, I promise.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
FINAL REPORT: February Mini-Manifesto Goal
As the cold winds of February make their final sweep across Northern Kentucky and the snow begins to melt into March, it is time to reflect upon my February Mini-Manifesto goal of a month-long vow of poverty. On Feb. 1, I committed to learning to appreciate just how lucky I am. I have a great job and I live pretty much like a king. I buy what I want when I want. But I often take that freedom and convenience for granted.
Not anymore. February taught me just how daunting the day-to-day struggle of poverty can be. I vowed to not spend one penny that wasn’t absolutely essential. There were movies I wanted to see but didn’t. There were nights when all I wanted was to go out for dinner a nice restaurant, but I couldn’t. No DVDs, no new toys, and lunch at home every day (because I only remembered to take my lunch twice all month – pathetic).
For me, it was a long 28 days. It was at times boring, sobering and nearly unbearable. But this month-long vow of poverty was not about me. It was about my friends who continue their struggle to find employment in this bone-dry market. It was about those I love who are forced to forgo movies, nice restaurants and toys every single day. It was about all those Americans struggling to merely survive in this stagnant economy.
And it was about appreciating the life I’ve made for myself. And it worked. I’ll no longer take money for granted. From now on I’ll appreciate the dinners, toys, movies and freedom. I’ll focus a bit less on all of the things I don’t have (and can’t buy), and more on the pleasures that come with financial independence. But I’ll always remember those who suffer through poverty not as a month-long personal growth challenge, but as a way of life.
And to that end, as I promised at the beginning of this month, I have looked at my bank statement for this month and compared it to the past few months to determine how much money I saved by eating at home and forgoing the nonessential expenditures in February. I figure I saved about $385 for the month on food and toys. First, let’s round that up to $400. And I took a little criticism for my decision that cancelling DirecTV for a month would have been more trouble than it was worth. Well, my monthly satellite bill is right at $100, so I’ve decided to add that in as well to bring the total to $500.
I’ve done my part. I suffered through self-imposed poverty for one month to save $500. Now it’s your turn. I’m going to donate that money to a charity of your choosing. So I invite you to comment on this note and recommend a worthy local charity. It can be a large organization or small. It can be the United Way or something I’ve never heard of. All I ask is that it be Northern-Kentucky based and that it focus primarily on helping people. After one week, I’ll compile the suggestions that meet these two simple criteria and then let my Facebook friends vote on which one should receive the $500.
Tune in tomorrow to find out what my March Mini-Manifesto goal will be. There are 31 days next month, and 31 of my Facebook friends will play a direct role in my Mini-Manifesto goal. Until then, I love you all, my Facebook family.
Not anymore. February taught me just how daunting the day-to-day struggle of poverty can be. I vowed to not spend one penny that wasn’t absolutely essential. There were movies I wanted to see but didn’t. There were nights when all I wanted was to go out for dinner a nice restaurant, but I couldn’t. No DVDs, no new toys, and lunch at home every day (because I only remembered to take my lunch twice all month – pathetic).
For me, it was a long 28 days. It was at times boring, sobering and nearly unbearable. But this month-long vow of poverty was not about me. It was about my friends who continue their struggle to find employment in this bone-dry market. It was about those I love who are forced to forgo movies, nice restaurants and toys every single day. It was about all those Americans struggling to merely survive in this stagnant economy.
And it was about appreciating the life I’ve made for myself. And it worked. I’ll no longer take money for granted. From now on I’ll appreciate the dinners, toys, movies and freedom. I’ll focus a bit less on all of the things I don’t have (and can’t buy), and more on the pleasures that come with financial independence. But I’ll always remember those who suffer through poverty not as a month-long personal growth challenge, but as a way of life.
And to that end, as I promised at the beginning of this month, I have looked at my bank statement for this month and compared it to the past few months to determine how much money I saved by eating at home and forgoing the nonessential expenditures in February. I figure I saved about $385 for the month on food and toys. First, let’s round that up to $400. And I took a little criticism for my decision that cancelling DirecTV for a month would have been more trouble than it was worth. Well, my monthly satellite bill is right at $100, so I’ve decided to add that in as well to bring the total to $500.
I’ve done my part. I suffered through self-imposed poverty for one month to save $500. Now it’s your turn. I’m going to donate that money to a charity of your choosing. So I invite you to comment on this note and recommend a worthy local charity. It can be a large organization or small. It can be the United Way or something I’ve never heard of. All I ask is that it be Northern-Kentucky based and that it focus primarily on helping people. After one week, I’ll compile the suggestions that meet these two simple criteria and then let my Facebook friends vote on which one should receive the $500.
Tune in tomorrow to find out what my March Mini-Manifesto goal will be. There are 31 days next month, and 31 of my Facebook friends will play a direct role in my Mini-Manifesto goal. Until then, I love you all, my Facebook family.
Monday, February 1, 2010
February Mini-Manifesto Goal: Realize How Lucky I Am
OK, it's Febraury and that means it's time for a new Mini-Manifesto Goal. Last month, I challenged myself to burn 15,000 calories at the gym and came through like a champ (if you missed it, read more at http://tinyurl.com/JanManifesto). This month will be a lot easier, and harder. This month, I'm challenging myself to realize how freaking lucky I am. I have a great job, and frankly I live pretty much like a king. If there's something I want, I buy it. (Hence the 1,000 DVDs, my HD TVs and the countless other toys overtaking my 4-bedroom house.) Basically, life ain't bad for me right now.
But these are hard times for so many. This economy sucks, and so many of my friends and family are struggling right now. It's easy to forget that. But I can tell you this, I won't forget it in February.
This month, I challenge myself to not spend one penny that isn't absolutely essential. I think back to my days in Colorado when I was making barely over minimum wage. Lunch was usually a bologna sandwhich. Dinner was often less. This month, there will be no DVDs, no trips to the movie theater, no BW-3's. I'll pack my lunch every day and I'll eat at home every night. And no matter how tempting, no new toys.
And here's the best part - at the end of the month, I'll look at my normal budget and calculate how much I saved by living this way. And then I'll let you - my Facebook family - decide to which local charity I should donate the money saved.Yes, this month I will realize how lucky I am. This, I promise.
But these are hard times for so many. This economy sucks, and so many of my friends and family are struggling right now. It's easy to forget that. But I can tell you this, I won't forget it in February.
This month, I challenge myself to not spend one penny that isn't absolutely essential. I think back to my days in Colorado when I was making barely over minimum wage. Lunch was usually a bologna sandwhich. Dinner was often less. This month, there will be no DVDs, no trips to the movie theater, no BW-3's. I'll pack my lunch every day and I'll eat at home every night. And no matter how tempting, no new toys.
And here's the best part - at the end of the month, I'll look at my normal budget and calculate how much I saved by living this way. And then I'll let you - my Facebook family - decide to which local charity I should donate the money saved.Yes, this month I will realize how lucky I am. This, I promise.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
FINAL REPORT: January Mini-Manifesto Goal
As January winds down, it’s time to reflect for a moment on my January mini-Manifesto goal of burning 15,000 calories at the gym this month. Fifteen thousand calories. Sure sounds like a lot. Originally, my goal was 12,000 – and I remember at the time thinking I was nuts and I’d probably never be able to achieve that. It would mean burning 400 calories at the gym every single day in January (the gym was closed on New Year’s Day, so I had 30 days to work with). But four hundred doesn’t sound nearly as daunting…until you think about it every single day, with no rest days.
But the workouts began in earnest on Saturday, Jan. 2. Each day was essentially the same – bike for about an hour, treadmill for awhile. There were a few off days (when I’d hurt my knee or was sick), but they were few and far between. And, to my own astonishment, I began to approach 12,000 and started to realize I’d even reach it early, with several days left in the month. So I modified my goal to 15,000. Some thought I was nuts, but I was determined.
It took all 30 days to get there, but today I celebrated my first mini-Manifesto victory – I reached 15,000 gym calories for the month (actually, I went over and finished the month with 15,500). If you’d have told me last July that I’d burn 15,500 calories at the gym in January, I’d have laughed at you. But I did it.
And for those who are having a hard time picturing exactly what 15,000 calories looks like, let me give you some help. To burn 15,500 calories at the gym on the recumbent bike (my weapon of choice), it’s about an hour each day at level 10 (uphill). Sixty minutes, up a hill, every single day. For 460 miles. That’s the equivalent of riding my bike to Ontario (Windsor), Canada, and back – uphill both ways – this month. Crazy.
But just when I started to feel pretty good about what I’d accomplished, I started thinking about what else 15,000 calories might look like. Yea, sure it’s a lot of sweat on a bike. But what did it look like BEFORE my decision to get healthy. Well, before Nov. 9 (when I started on this path to a healthier lifestyle), 15,000 calories might have looked like five large Papa John’s Meat Lovers pizzas. Five. That's it. Or just under 7.5 boxes of Little Debbie’s Oatmeal Cream Pies (one of my all-time favorites). Or almost 7.5 bags of Cool Ranch Doritos. Or about 52 Mountain Dews (just over 1.5 20-ounce bottles per day in January). Crazy.
As I continue on this journey, I will have victories and I will have setbacks. I will love the gym and I will curse it. But each day I will remember that it was a lifetime of my own bad decisions that got me here. I think back to how many large pizzas I’ve eaten and how many snack cakes, Doritos and sodas I’ve consumed.
In the spirit of my 08.01.09 Manifesto, I promise this: when I am tired and want to quit, I’ll think about this month – the hours and hours at the gym, the buckets of sweat and all the aches and pains. And then I’ll think about five large pizzas. And I’ll peddle on. I know now that it was a lifetime of bad decisions that got me where I was, and the only thing that will bring me back is a lifetime of good decisions. For those who are on a similar journey – trying to lose weight, trying to stop smoking or drinking or whatever it is that makes you need, no, DEMAND a change – stay strong.
Change isn’t easy, but it’s definitely worth the struggle.
Tune in tomorrow to see what my February Mini-Manifesto goal will be. It's an interesting one, and it has nothing to do with my getting healthy. Until then, I love you all, my Facebook family.
But the workouts began in earnest on Saturday, Jan. 2. Each day was essentially the same – bike for about an hour, treadmill for awhile. There were a few off days (when I’d hurt my knee or was sick), but they were few and far between. And, to my own astonishment, I began to approach 12,000 and started to realize I’d even reach it early, with several days left in the month. So I modified my goal to 15,000. Some thought I was nuts, but I was determined.
It took all 30 days to get there, but today I celebrated my first mini-Manifesto victory – I reached 15,000 gym calories for the month (actually, I went over and finished the month with 15,500). If you’d have told me last July that I’d burn 15,500 calories at the gym in January, I’d have laughed at you. But I did it.
And for those who are having a hard time picturing exactly what 15,000 calories looks like, let me give you some help. To burn 15,500 calories at the gym on the recumbent bike (my weapon of choice), it’s about an hour each day at level 10 (uphill). Sixty minutes, up a hill, every single day. For 460 miles. That’s the equivalent of riding my bike to Ontario (Windsor), Canada, and back – uphill both ways – this month. Crazy.
But just when I started to feel pretty good about what I’d accomplished, I started thinking about what else 15,000 calories might look like. Yea, sure it’s a lot of sweat on a bike. But what did it look like BEFORE my decision to get healthy. Well, before Nov. 9 (when I started on this path to a healthier lifestyle), 15,000 calories might have looked like five large Papa John’s Meat Lovers pizzas. Five. That's it. Or just under 7.5 boxes of Little Debbie’s Oatmeal Cream Pies (one of my all-time favorites). Or almost 7.5 bags of Cool Ranch Doritos. Or about 52 Mountain Dews (just over 1.5 20-ounce bottles per day in January). Crazy.
As I continue on this journey, I will have victories and I will have setbacks. I will love the gym and I will curse it. But each day I will remember that it was a lifetime of my own bad decisions that got me here. I think back to how many large pizzas I’ve eaten and how many snack cakes, Doritos and sodas I’ve consumed.
In the spirit of my 08.01.09 Manifesto, I promise this: when I am tired and want to quit, I’ll think about this month – the hours and hours at the gym, the buckets of sweat and all the aches and pains. And then I’ll think about five large pizzas. And I’ll peddle on. I know now that it was a lifetime of bad decisions that got me where I was, and the only thing that will bring me back is a lifetime of good decisions. For those who are on a similar journey – trying to lose weight, trying to stop smoking or drinking or whatever it is that makes you need, no, DEMAND a change – stay strong.
Change isn’t easy, but it’s definitely worth the struggle.
Tune in tomorrow to see what my February Mini-Manifesto goal will be. It's an interesting one, and it has nothing to do with my getting healthy. Until then, I love you all, my Facebook family.
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