My own personal book challenge is one I tried last year...52 books in a year, one per week...and failed at. This year I'm more determined. To help me meet my goal, I'm joining several challenges hosted by different people. I'm hoping they will compliment the books already in my to-read pile while allowing for opportunities to discover more great books.
The first is the "WHAT'S IN A NAME" challenge by hosted Beth Fish Reads. There are only six books for this challenge, but the title of each book must have _____ in the title. Here are my books:
1. Evil: Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche (non-fiction)
2. Gem: Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History by Scott Andrew Selby
3. Number: One Day by David Nicholls (or maybe The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall)
4. Size: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
5. Movement: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
6. Life Stage: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell (I hope this one counts. It seems like it should, but it's kind of a stretch.)
The second is an E-BOOK challenge hosted by The Ladybug Reads. I don't have an e-reader (although at some point I feel I may cave and buy a Nook color, but that won't be for some time.) I do however have a smart phone with the kindle app. I also have the kindle software on my laptop. At Amazon, all of the books in the public domain are FREE, so my focus for this challenge will be the classics. I've signed up for the Addicted level (12 books).
Almost all of the books I plan on reading will be first reads, but I've decided to join Daemon's books in rereading the HARRY POTTER series.
This past year, for the first time, I read a lot of Young Adult and Middle Grade books, and I've enjoyed most of them. So I'm reading more and joining For the Love of YA's 2011 YOUNG ADULT reading challenge. I only signed up for the lowest level, The Mini (12 books).
I enjoy non-fiction books, especially ones about science, but I'm not going to limit myself to just one type of non-fiction. I'm joining Past as Prologue's NON-FICTION challenge. I'm going for Expert (7+ books) because I have 10 on my to-read list for this year.
FINALLY, I'm doing an AUDIOBOOK challenge hosted by Teresa's Reading Corner. I'm hoping to get to the Addicted level (12 audiobooks).
Some of these challenges may overlap, but I think that's okay. And although these seem like a lot of books, I think I can do it. Wish me luck.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
What are resolutions?
What's your view on resolutions? My opinion of whether to make them or not and even what they are has changed over the years, and I think I've finally come up with a definition that works for me. Many times in the past, I've failed at keeping my resolutions because it's just so hard to remember to do them. I've tried making short lists with just one or two things, hoping I will do better. But inevitably, they fall by the wayside. I get tired of feeling like a failure.
This year, I'm looking at my resolutions differently. I don't see them as something I need to be perfect at right from the start. I think that's unfair. My resolutions are habits I want to develop, but they aren't currently part of my daily routine. They are goals I want to progress towards. This view allows me to fall but also requires me to get up, dust myself off and try again. It's a process, a journey. Yes, the purpose is to reach your destination, but you've got to do some travelling first.
This year, I'm looking at my resolutions differently. I don't see them as something I need to be perfect at right from the start. I think that's unfair. My resolutions are habits I want to develop, but they aren't currently part of my daily routine. They are goals I want to progress towards. This view allows me to fall but also requires me to get up, dust myself off and try again. It's a process, a journey. Yes, the purpose is to reach your destination, but you've got to do some travelling first.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
My Resolutions
Adios 2010. We had some fond memories, but don't let the door hit your bum on the way out. I really won't miss you. HELLO 2011! We're going to be best friends, I just know it.
I was originally going to write one post per resolution, but I've changed my mind. I've decided I'm not going to have big, complicated goals this year. I hope my resolutions will have a noticeable impact on me by the end of the year, but they're going to be easy to follow. Some may seem silly, but I'm hoping to turn these little things into habits. I BELIEVE in myself.
1. Put on lipstick and mascara every morning. There's two things my picture-a-day project has taught me. The first is that I look better with my hair down. The second is that I really need to wear at least a little make-up, otherwise I'm completely bland and plain.
For YEARS when I got ready in the morning, I'd put my clothes on, pull my hair back, and head out the door. Rarely would I look in the mirror. I didn't care. But this picture project I started out of the blue and have somehow miraculously stuck with has changed my perception of myself. I have to see myself every day. I don't know why I used to look past my reflection in the mirror. Well, I do. I didn't like what I saw and but I didn't have the desire to change it, so why be disappointed on a daily basis. But times they are a-changing.
2. Eat more fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains. Eat less fast food. Drink more water. Self-explanatory, I think. I eat out for lunch almost every day. This needs to stop for both health and fiscal reasons.
3. Start walking. I'm not really the type to go to the gym, but I think I can handle walking. I'd like to be able to work up to running without getting winded. Ideally, I'd like to run a half marathon (13.1 miles) by my half birthday (March 4th). I'm not sure that'll happen, but I'll try. If nothing else, I vow to walk a half marathon. Of course that will be many, many hours of walking. On second thought, how about I play the half marathon thing by ear.
4. Read one book a week. There are so many books I want to read, but I never get around to them. I figure I can read at least one book per week.
5. Write thank-you notes. I've never been good at this. I need to learn to be more courteous and grateful to others.
6. Take more pictures.
7. Stop procrastinating and be on time. I'm a master at putting things off and waiting until the absolute last minute, which usually means I show up 15 minutes late to just about everything. I really dislike this characteristic about myself. I think it's disrespectful to other people to show up late or to not put everything you can into something you've promised to do.
8. Get organized. I have too much stuff for the size of my home. A lot of things need to find a new place to live, either in the trash, Good Will, or in someone else's house.
9. Serve others more.
10. Pay cash for as many of my purchases as possible.
There's my list. It's long, but I think it's doable, and it represents changes I sincerely want to make in my life. ::raises glass:: Here's to a fabulous New Year!
I was originally going to write one post per resolution, but I've changed my mind. I've decided I'm not going to have big, complicated goals this year. I hope my resolutions will have a noticeable impact on me by the end of the year, but they're going to be easy to follow. Some may seem silly, but I'm hoping to turn these little things into habits. I BELIEVE in myself.
1. Put on lipstick and mascara every morning. There's two things my picture-a-day project has taught me. The first is that I look better with my hair down. The second is that I really need to wear at least a little make-up, otherwise I'm completely bland and plain.
For YEARS when I got ready in the morning, I'd put my clothes on, pull my hair back, and head out the door. Rarely would I look in the mirror. I didn't care. But this picture project I started out of the blue and have somehow miraculously stuck with has changed my perception of myself. I have to see myself every day. I don't know why I used to look past my reflection in the mirror. Well, I do. I didn't like what I saw and but I didn't have the desire to change it, so why be disappointed on a daily basis. But times they are a-changing.
2. Eat more fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains. Eat less fast food. Drink more water. Self-explanatory, I think. I eat out for lunch almost every day. This needs to stop for both health and fiscal reasons.
3. Start walking. I'm not really the type to go to the gym, but I think I can handle walking. I'd like to be able to work up to running without getting winded. Ideally, I'd like to run a half marathon (13.1 miles) by my half birthday (March 4th). I'm not sure that'll happen, but I'll try. If nothing else, I vow to walk a half marathon. Of course that will be many, many hours of walking. On second thought, how about I play the half marathon thing by ear.
4. Read one book a week. There are so many books I want to read, but I never get around to them. I figure I can read at least one book per week.
5. Write thank-you notes. I've never been good at this. I need to learn to be more courteous and grateful to others.
6. Take more pictures.
7. Stop procrastinating and be on time. I'm a master at putting things off and waiting until the absolute last minute, which usually means I show up 15 minutes late to just about everything. I really dislike this characteristic about myself. I think it's disrespectful to other people to show up late or to not put everything you can into something you've promised to do.
8. Get organized. I have too much stuff for the size of my home. A lot of things need to find a new place to live, either in the trash, Good Will, or in someone else's house.
9. Serve others more.
10. Pay cash for as many of my purchases as possible.
There's my list. It's long, but I think it's doable, and it represents changes I sincerely want to make in my life. ::raises glass:: Here's to a fabulous New Year!
My New Year's date
Sammy was less than enthused about getting a New Year's kiss and posing for a pic. It was all I could do to keep from laughing.
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