So really, how do we play this?

I made a list, well, several lists actually, because I’m kind of a list nerd and crossing things off of a list that I previously made is one of the most satisfying things around, right up there with popping bubble wrap and those times when you pull into a parking space at the grocery store and the space across is also empty so you can pull all the way through to the far side so that when you leave you can just pull out going forward and not have to back up because in a crowded lot that is a huge time and effort saver.

Anyway, I made some lists (yay!) trying to decide what I wanted to write about, and how to organize things, and what other blogs that I’ve seen do, and what I like, and what I want to do differently, and what I finally realized was that I needed to stop making lists and just write some posts. So I’m just gonna go for it, and assume that the universe is gonna have my back and will help me figure out how to organize all this as we go along. There is nothing like on-the-job training, right?

Except this isn’t a job, so right off the bat my metaphor is a mess, but you might as well know early on that I’m a disaster when it comes to mixing metaphors. And of course that isn’t even a metaphor, but shut up. Also I have a tendency to quote things randomly. I’m wondering how many people caught the Madeline Kahn reference in my first post. It is from the movie Clue, which we should all probably watch again soon. It isn’t even a particularly good use of that quote, but things like that just come out of my brain and sometimes I just have to go with it, because once you start disrespecting your brain, then Molly, you in danger girl.

As I’ve said, there are a lot of things I’d like to do. Basically, I want to be happy, healthy, rich and traveling. Not always necessarily in that order, depending on my mood at the time. I’ve done fairly well so far, but I know I can do better in all areas. And it is funny how well they all string together. On my last backpacking trip, I lost over 25 pounds over six months without any effort whatsoever. It was kinda awesome. But I was active, happy, eating arguably better, and doing exactly what I wanted to be doing every single day. It is little wonder my health improved. (And yes, I just admitted that I got a little fat before I left on that trip. Damn, I’ve gotta watch what I say, this blogging thing is dangerous.) Unfortunately I haven’t achieved the “rich” goal yet, so perpetual backpacking really isn’t my best option for maintaining my health at the moment. I’ve got to find some better solutions to fit with city life.

[Note: “rich” is relative. My goal is not to have millions of dollars. I don’t need nearly that much. And even if I haven’t yet reached my financial goals, my life is still rich in many other ways.]

I guess that goes with all my goals. Times change, and so do we. What works at one stage of our lives won’t at another. Even the goals will change. I have to constantly be reevaluating my direction and my progress to really optimize the time and energy and money I have to spend. And that, my friend, is the essence of my strategy to reach my number one goal.

1. Be Awesome.

Notice my goal isn’t to be good. I didn’t write Be Neat. Or commendable. Pleasing. Satisfying. These are all perfectly good words, but they are middle of the road. And I want to be better than that. I want to be original. Exceptional. Extraordinary. In a word, Awesome. Whether I reach it in all areas isn’t as important as whether or not I’m striving for it. Hard. Constantly. With vigor.

I was going to say with vim and vigor, because I know people say that, but frankly I have no idea what the heck “vim” is. I’m sure it is a perfectly good thing to be, but I’ll stick to what I know for now.

There are many paths to lead us to Awesome. Some of those paths may intertwine, some may stay personal. For me, it usually means saying “yes” more often. Except to cookies.

Well, sometimes I can say yes to cookies, but not all the time. Definitely not as often as I would like to say yes to cookies. Especially not the chocolate chip oatmeal cookies that I could probably make without glancing at the recipe. Dunked in milk. For dinner.

But I could say yes to running more. Or going to a park/museum/monument. Free concerts. Finding a new recipe to make for dinner. Having a date night for under $10. There are lots of things I could do that would make me happier, healthier, and richer. (I’m a frugal fanatic and love the challenge of finding cool free things to do.) I just have to do it.

Who’s with me?

 

Photo credit: Andy Robinson