2011 Makeovers

This year, I have determined that it is time to make myself over. There are three areas that I will be focusing on: physical health, spiritual/mental health, and financial health. These three areas are the nearest and dearest to my heart and they encompass a lot. However, I am trying to make the "overall" change that will last as opposed to the "crash diet" change that only lasts a few months, if that, and then is done. I want to change overall, not so much my personality because that's nearly impossible or my inner self but my outer self and do some improvements on my inner self.

This has been coming on for a while now. It started when I turned 30, although I was too lazy or not motivated enough to do it and keep it up. Now, I'm going to be 34 in 21 days and it's time to get my butt in gear, literally and figuratively. There are many things that I would like to accomplish and/or do in my life that require me to be in better overall shape so I'd better get to it. I think that part of my "problem" previously is that I felt like I had forever...then I woke up and I was 33...LOL. I'm really loving my 30's but it seems that I've hit a fork in my road and I have to make a choice. Yeah, I've sat at this fork for 3 years now but it's time to move on and 2011 is the year that I'm going to do it.

First of all, this physical health makeover will encompass many areas. I am going to work out more. I have joined Planet Fitness and plan to work out at least 5 days a week if not more, depending on my schedule. I am also going to make better food choices overall. That is not to say that I will never drink another coke or eat anymore dessert, that's just stupid. I actually, physically, crave chocolate so my solution is to keep the dark chocolate kisses in my freezer and when I'm having a craving, I can go get 4 or 5 and eat them. I can even eat more than that if I feel like it but I will limit myself to 10. Usually, in the past that has satisfied my craving just fine and it keeps me from eating a candy bar or going and getting a cinnamon roll or something equally fattening. I am very much on a balance kick in my life and I want that to bleed over into my working out and eating habits. Obviously, this is going to take some work but I am willing to do it. I want to be healthier by May of this year when I graduate. I want to be in good physical condition so that it will be easy to get pregnant. I also would like for my knees and back to stop hurting constantly and losing weight will help. It may "fix" my back pain but it won't "fix" my knee pain. My knees are shot and have been since I was about 12...I don't have any cartilage left, I don't think and haven't since then. I was told by an orthopedic surgeon that I saw when I was 14 that I had the knees of a 72 year old. So...that means they're dead! ;-) I know that losing weight and strengthening my leg muscles will help though. I'm certain that eventually I will have to have surgery but I'm going to do everything in my power to postpone it for as long as I can. I'll need to keep taking glucosamine chondroitin in some form as that helps to rebuild cartilage and I notice a difference when I take it.

That leads right into my next makeover, my financial makeover. This is going to be a tough one. I like to spend money and there's really nothing wrong with that. However, one has to make money in order to spend it and needs to have a little self control. That's usually my problem, I am definitely an instant gratification type of person. I have very little patience, especially when I want something. However, I am going to make an effort to change that. When I graduate and get a nursing job, I will be making very good money. It will be very easy to go crazy and spend money like it's going out of style but I'm going to have to reign myself in. The reality of it is, I can buy pretty much whatever I want, if I save for it. That's what I'm shooting for, to be able to pay cash for most things. I don't know if I want to, or have the will power to save to pay cash for a house, I seriously doubt it. However, I do want to have a sizeable down payment for my house so that's something to save for. We're planning on building our house somewhere in Colorado so that will take a sizeable down payment. We have to, yes have to, build to get what we want. Generally, unless you buy a custom home, things are not the way we want them. We are both tall and there are some things, such as cabinet height, that I am not willing to compromise on. There are things that I will obviously have to compromise on but we'll figure that out as we go. We know people who work for contractors and they're trustworthy so at least we'll be able to get some good advice as we go along.

It hit me the other day as I was looking at craigslist how easy that the financial change can be if I put my mind to it. I was looking at the jewelry, which is a vice of mine and I thought, "If I were working as a nurse, I could save up and buy that". Granted, that exact piece might not have still been there, but a similar piece could be and I'm sure that there would be something that I like out there! Trust me, when it comes to jewelry, I'm not that hard to please! :-) I would like to own nice jewelry, not necessarily super expensive jewelry, but nice jewelry. I like luxury things and there's nothing wrong with that. I want things like a Louis Vuitton purse and being a nurse, I'll be able to afford it as long as I save for it. I don't want to have a bunch of credit cards because I don't want to live my life in debt. If I must have debt then it can be either on my house or a car. These are two big ticket items that I am willing to be in debt for, those are the only things however. There is not one reason for me to be in debt for a washer and dryer or tv or any appliance. Again, my salary should be sufficient that I am able to save for a few months and then go pay cash for those things. I watch things around me and I see people going into debt for anything and I just don't want to be one of those. Now, that being said, I am not passing judgment on people in debt. I'm in debt right now. I owe about $15,000 to the federal government thanks to student loans. Truthfully, I owe more than that because I plan to combine our student loans. What I'm trying to say is that I want to make responsible financial choices and the career that I have chosen will afford me that. Some of you are probably thinking, "Honey, you can't have luxury and be debt free" but I can. Yes, I want a Louis Vuitton but I am going to save and pay cash for it. If I want a pair of diamond earrings, I'm not going to run to the nearest Jared's and buy them on credit, I'm going to save and go pay cash for them. I guess I feel like I'm contradicting myself by saying I want to be debt free and have luxury but I truly believe that I can do both and I'm going to make a conscious effort to do so.

Now for the part I don't really want to talk about, the spiritual/mental health part. Truth be told, I have some serious anger issues. I'm not a violent person though, I just get angry, more than I should. It's something that I can't really pinpoint the cause of but I'm trying. When I listen to myself, I am a little shocked at how entitled I think I am. It's seriously disturbing...especially when I drive. I expect people to know that I'm in a hurry and get out of my way. Well there you go...how is someone else supposed to know that I'm in a hurry. I don't have a blinking sign on the top of my car that tells them...so how can I expect them to know? I don't know why I think that they can tell but I guess I do...and don't even get me started on senior citizens...they make me absolutely insane. Honestly though, there's no reason for that and I worry myself because I get pretty worked up...ask anyone who's ridden with me. I'm sure that it can be scary at times. I guess what I truly need to work on is my sense of entitlement. Most of the time, I'm pretty sure that the world does actually revolve around me...but I don't know why I think that. My parents certainly didn't perpetuate that and neither does my hubby, nor should he or they. Everyone around me encourages me and loves me and pushes me to my potential but they don't constantly stroke my ego so I can't really figure out why I'm such an egomaniac. Yuck, even typing that word made me cringe...but it's true. So it's something that I have to deal with. I'm sure that a lot of my anger stems from that...so it's something I have to work on. I just have to make a conscious decision that I am NOT the most important person on the planet and that other people have the right to be here too. Wow, I sound like the worst sort of person when I say it that way...and I'm not...all the time...but I can be at certain times.

Anyway, that's enough self scrutiny...it's making my stomach churn. I'm going to need some accountability here so I will blog about this once a week. I'll have to work pretty hard during the semester to do all of this but that will make me a more efficient time manager.

Have a great 2011 everyone!!!