The Gym

Nothing is more important to me than getting in my daily physical activity. I have been going to the gym for over 7 years, and it is truly a passion and addiction of mine. In my eyes, even if I only have time for a 30 minute workout, it's 30 minutes of physical activity I wouldn't have had otherwise. I have fortunately had the opportunity to get there earlier than normal twice this week. And with all of the resolutioners taking ALL of the cardio equipment from around 4 PM until 6 PM, it's been a nice break for me! I can get the treadmill I want, and use the weights that I want without having to wait! To think I just wrote a blog on patience.... :) I have always loved going to the gym around 10:30 in the morning. It's usually dead around that time, and The View starts at 11, which makes for a better workout! I have recently started the workout routine that made me see success back in "the day". I do cardio Monday - Friday, with hopes of doing at least 40 minutes. Wednesday's are devoted entirely to cardio, with hopes of doing at least 60 minutes. On top of the cardio, I do 4 days of weight training. Mondays are for legs (so Chad, if you see me on the machines...leave me be!), Tuesdays are for chest, Thursdays for back and shoulders and Fridays are for arms. Other than my diet, which I'm beginning to battle, I feel great about having started this. In no way is this a resolution for myself. It's forcing myself to feel comfortable and get back into the groove. The best way to create change for yourself, is to believe in yourself. I feel 2009 is the year! I'll keep you posted!

Patience

Patience is defined on dictionary.com as "the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like." We are NOT born with patience. Patience is a learned quality that many people lack. When I was heading into my internship, my cooperating teacher asked me what my biggest goal was for myself during this time. Rather than speak of educational goals, I informed her that I was most interested in patience. Keep in mind that I am the oldest of 3 children. You learn to have that only child syndrome before a sibling is brought into the world, and even then, it's not like you become a patient person. You still believe you will get everything you ask for, or that all of the good things in life will happen to you before it does to any of your siblings. Well, it doesn't necessarily go that way! I don't know at exactly what point I learned to become a patient person. I think it started around the end of my first serious relationship. I FINALLY figured out that if I gave my boyfriend a chance to answer questions without prodding, he would come around. Then I turned 19 though and once again my life became all about me. Deciding to become a teacher was a huge decision. It was going to force me to put others before myself. This would mean working with a classroom full of children! Anywhere from 5-18 years old or even older! As a teacher your patience gets tested everyday. Many teachers don't have the ability to deal with certain issues that pertain to being a patient person. I on the other hand, have made it a personal goal to remain patient the majority of the time, which, it my eyes, almost defines their ability to be effective teachers. That is not to say that my patience doesn't get tested on a daily basis. I had a moment yesterday when one of my students sat down to work beside me. Daily he tests my patience. As a matter of fact, I don't believe we've had a good day since he started in my class. Lack of drive and motivation in students really bothers me, and I have had a hard time working with him for these reasons. Well, I decided to be patient and kind (I am kind to him everyday- don't read into that wrong) and work directly with him for a half hour. The amount of work he completed and his positive attitude honestly made my day! I mean, he is just a child! It was a great moment for me and moments like this remind me that I AM supposed to be a teacher. When they said "Patience is a virtue", they were not joking, and I feel that is a virtue that I possess.

The Biggest Loser....The Biggest Motivation

I don't know if I have ever watched a more inspiring and motivating TV show in my life. My friend Shelley got me hooked on the show last season, and it has become a Tuesday night tradition to sit, watch, laugh, and cry all at the same time. It's not like I'm 400 pounds, but the show truly inspires everybody to lead a healthier life. Any person who suffers from low self-esteem would benefit from watching this show. Any person who suffers from lack of motivation would benefit from watching this show. Any person who just wants to believe in themself a little bit more would benefit from watching this show. So I ask "What have YOU done today to make you feel proud?"

Winter Driving

Honestly, how do people drive in the winter with such ease? Is there truly something wrong with me that I can't drive without both hands on the wheel and my foot constantly on the break? Is it my driving or everyone else around me that I'm worried about? A drive from Regina to Calgary took me 9 hours today! How is that even possible? I see a flake of snow and I panic. Meanwhile, people are just flying past me like it's +40 and the roads are bare! I know this is a useless rant, but how do you overcome that fear?