Two plus two equals...

....a truth (that I had not acknowledged/been aware of/appreciated).

I had a really interesting conversation with a new friend the other day.  We met after she opened her studio down the road from my penthouse, I walked in one afternoon, not long after she had opened and we got chatting.  We have common ground in that we both graduated from Gray's School of Art in the early naughties...and over the past couple of months, after I found out that she makes an afa fine (good) cuppa coffee, it's now my local!! :)

Her studio and the people I've met there have inspired me to start being creative again and I'm LOVING it.  But I digress...the conversation we were having the other day revealed that we have another thing in common - we are both really fast learners BUT are really crap at retaining the new skill/knowledge/information for very long.

I suppose it's quite strange to think that at the mature age of 28½ (yes, that's right, I've aged) that I'm still learning things about myself.  I always knew that I was quick to pick things up (I don't mean other peoples' possessions - that would be theft - I mean skills) but I also knew that over the years I had 'learnt' that I didn't really enjoy sticking at things, I like to move on.  I love learning new things and experiencing different aspects of life.  There's nothing wrong with that in itself - but it wasn't until that conversation that I had with new friend that I realised that my attitude has been borne out of experiencing the high, pride and enjoyment of being praised for the speed at which I pick up new skills to then living through the disappointment of not being able to maintain that level of expectation, both from myself and others, when I next go back to whatever it was that I learnt...and, quite frankly, being rubbish at it.

I never put two & two together before...and to be honest I'm not sure that I enjoy counting anymore!!

So it appears that I have another 'weakness' to add to my list...sitting right along beside marshmallows (which incidently I've introduced new friend to...coffee & marshmallows...hmmmmmm).

How to fall flat on your face...more than once!

  And yes, of course, I mean that both metaphorically and physically.


Metaphorically

Some times I find it easier to be me than at other times.  This past month or so, I've not being doing a very good job (deliberately being ambiguous about just how long...definitely no need to be specific).  I've no sense of routine or achievement at the moment and I've fallen off a few bandwagons.

For one, I appear to have re-found my love of marshmallows - but to be fair on myself, there is no Marshmallows Anonymous to give the me the support I need when I hit a weak patch.  I have managed to go 3 days without buying or eating any (who am I trying to kid, I don't think I've ever bought a pack and not eaten them, so there really was no need to list 'buying' and 'eating' separately as they are one and the same in this instance.

I've also not been as strict with my food as I should be - but am now paying the price.  Thankfully I hit a 'whatthehellamIdoing' moment this evening, so shall start afresh tomorrow.
And for numerous reasons my routine of going to the gym has been patchy.  This week I was booked into a heap of classes, but unfortunately I woke up last Saturday with a stinking cold and I haven't managed to shift it at all this week.  This has meant that I haven't gone to the gym this past week and I feel poop because of it.

Work - I need to be very disciplined to get on with my job as I work from home.  I think I've managed to clock about 9.5hrs this week and that in itself speaks volumes (guess who's going to be putting in hours over the weekend!?).


Physically


Before my cold arrived, I managed to go to the gym a couple of times.  A week past Thursday I ran on the treadmill for a bit before joining my TRX class.  Admittedly, it's been a wee while since I've gone along to the TRX class...and I was rubbish...really, really rubbish.  Unfortunately, due to lack of upper body strength and a momentary lap of focus...I fell flat on my face.  However, I am quite a determined person (when I set my mind to it) so I got up (yes, of course I was yabbering on the whole time) and tried again...only to fall at the same hurdle and down I went!

So, are there any lessons to be noted from this chapter of my life?

Yes there are...and that is that some chapters need to be shorter than others...here's hoping this is one of them.  (And it could be beneficial to learn how to fall on ones face in a slightly quieter manner...especially when in a gym, surrounded by lots of people).

After a wee commercial break...

...I'm BACK!!  :)

I feel like I've just had a commercial break from my usual 'life' over the past two months.  In May I spent the majority of my time in Morocco, then in June I've faffed about doing stuff - dog sitting, visiting the studio in Torry Village (which I seem to think is a coffee shop!!), having a 10 day 'relationship' (am thinking with a bit of practice I might manage to get relationships down to a week!!!  Maybe I should write a book, could be an international best seller.....?!), weekend in Norway etc.

All been most splendid, but I realised at the end of last week that I need to get back into my routine.  I need routine to function properly...to make sure that I work enough hours in the week, to make sure that I'm going to the gym regularly...to make sure that I actually achieve all the things I want to achieve.

By the beginning of May I had lost 10.4kgs.  I'm happy (& rather shocked) to announce that I've kept the weight off...but I've let my fitness drop (found out the hard way when I went along to the gym today).  I've still want to lose another 15kgs or so and improve my fitness levels a LOT so time to refocus.  I have booked myself into all the classes I want to do and have my plan on how I'm going to step it up a gear once I'm ready.  I've also got my 'markers'...wedding in August and another in October.

So I was sitting here all smug with myself, when it hit me – what am I going to do next?  What am I going to focus on once I’ve achieved the weight loss and fitness that I’m aiming for???

This is quite typical of me, fretting over something that’s not yet an issue…and some might say that I should focus on achieving my current goals…but what do they know?!  So if anyone out there has any ideas on what I could make as my next goal(s), drop me a line. 

In the meantime I’m pleased to report that my ‘live life like a tourist’ mantra is working out rather splendidly.  Lots of fun ~ which of course my mates may disagree with when I’m constantly sticking my camera in their faces…but someone has to suffer for my art, and I don’t think it should be me!!