thinking

so, i have taken up walking around our neighborhood in the evenings with john. it's amazing how much of a difference it makes just taking a brisk walk outdoors. i feel better and it doesn't take too long to see results physically. why is it always so difficult to maintain a routine? beau and i are both guilty to getting lazy and tired when it's just our slovenliness that makes us so. such is the cycle.

over 2 years ago, i made some belated new year's "intentions." interestingly, i never bothered to look back and see what i accomplished, but i'm kind of feeling the bug now. so, here goes . . .

1. focus on friends and family. i remember feeling depressed about losing contact with so many friends over time. while i have improved on maintaining contact with my family, keeping in touch with friends has continued to prove difficult. getting beyond the e-mail only status is just difficult with busy jobs, lives, and distance.

2. find a great job. fortunately, i can say with much satisfaction that i have come a long way toward this goal. granted, i continue wistfully thinking about other non-legal things i could do, but perhaps i'll always be looking for the next great thing. i am at least in a position where i can say that i am happy with my job and i don't drive to and from work in tears.

3. spend time creating a welcoming space. ugh. right now i am so far from that goal, but i blame the temporary living situation. before i moved in with john, my apartment had come along pretty nicely. now that we are moving into a house, i'm so excited to buy "adult" furniture and really make it home.

4. take care of my dogs. i really have improved on this one. we have a local dog park nearby that we go to all the time, which i am going to miss terrible one we move. but, i still plan to haul the babies there; it shouldn't be too bad. my pups really have enjoyed hanging out with john's dog. they have so much fun together, and the biggest perks about the new house are the large backyard and the fact that i can stop by during lunch to let them out. it's the little things, i guess. :)

5. focus on yoga. ok, so not so good at this one. i think about yoga all the time, and during my month off between jobs i was so good about daily practice. alas, i have currently regressed back to neglect. i hope, hope, hope, that our upcoming move will bring me closer to studios that i can get serious about.

6. focus on teaching yoga. this one has been completely on hold while i focused on getting a job in my first career that i can actually get through without crying all day. baby steps. first i need to focus more on number 5, but i am always intrigued by the idea of teaching and helping others.

7. reunite with an old flame (ballet). i've gone so far as to look at a local ballet school's adult schedule, but have not gone so far as to don tights and a leotard and struggle though a class. haven't given up on it, but just haven't really done anything with it.

8. take a painting class or two. now, i had done a little bit of painting before i moved in with beau, but now there's no space and i just haven't made time to continue playing around with it, much less take a class. still something i would like to do. plus, i've been scouting out places to take beading classes so i can make awesome jewelry.

so, that's it. i think overall i've made some progress. i definitely feel better than i did two years ago - about myself, my situation, and my future. i still have a ways to go and time is a'ticking.