Do it for you.
I made a commitment to myself.
I made a commitment to myself to ride the Peloton 10 days in a row.
Here’s why I decided to do it, and how I stuck with it.
I’ve already blogged my praise of the book, Girl Wash Your Face. But there’s one chapter that has really stuck with me the last month – “I’ll Start Tomorrow.”
Can we take a moment and be real with ourselves … how many times have we said that?! I’ll start tomorrow!! I seriously can’t even count.
As Rachel Hollis says in her book, “We talk about the things we’d like to do, be, try and accomplish, but once we get to the moment of actually doing it, we fold faster than a card table after bunco night.”
I try so hard to keep my word and my commitments to other people, but I easily cancel on myself without even a second thought. I’ll skip my workout when I told myself I was going to do it after work. I’ll eat another piece of cake when I said I wouldn’t. I’ll listen to music on my way to work when I told myself I was going to use that time to pray.
I know I have the self-discipline, but I’m choosing not to use it. Why? I decided to try harder to stop breaking promises to myself.
So I started with something small. We have a constant supply of peanut butter M&Ms downstairs in our office, and it’s a huge issue. (Did I mention they are PEANUT BUTTER M&Ms?!) Grab a handful here and a handful there. No harm in that right? Uggggh. Well, I told myself I wouldn’t grab any handfuls all week, and guess what – I did it!
Okay, next commitment – ride 10 days in a row on the Peloton, culminating in a mother-daughter trip to Chicago to see Taylor Swift.
Y’all – I’m 9 days in, and I’m so proud of myself! I would be lying if I said it wasn’t hard, because there were several days I was so close to quitting. Like that day over Memorial Day weekend when we’d been out in the sun all day and I was drained and it was 5pm and I still hadn’t ridden. I almost broke down. I almost canceled on myself, but I didn’t.
The other thing I’ve been teaching myself through this is – this commitment is for me. No one else. You might be reading this thinking, “10 days? That’s nothing.” And maybe for you, it’s not, but for me it is a challenge. Husband rode 30 days in a row and has already done a 60 min ride. I’ve done 9 days in a row and just did my first 45 min. But guess what, that’s okay! And not only is it okay, but I should be happy for his accomplishments and he should be happy for mine even though they’re completely different.
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt
My current favorite quote, and one we should all remind ourselves of daily.
So, I’ve got 1 more ride before my early flight to Chicago tomorrow, and I’m not canceling on myself now.
And then, it’s time for a mimosa.
xo xo
Let it rain.
“The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.”
— Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“What a lovely surprise to discover how unlonely being alone can be.”
A funny thing has happened since I’ve been married. I’ve forgotten how to be alone.
In college I cherished my alone time. Living with 2, 3 or 4 other people was often too much for me to handle. I wanted to go to my room, shut my door and be alone.
Until recently, I’ve always been someone who recharges by being alone (the true definition of an introvert they say.)
I’m so used to being with my husband that when I’m not, I don’t know what to do with myself. Being with him has become my new recharge. I still need my “alone” time, but now my alone time means me and husband time.
On a recent work trip, I spent a full day and night alone. I wasn’t traveling with anyone so I didn’t have anyone to talk to in the airport or eat dinner with. I didn’t have anyone to “get away from” and go into my room and shut my door. It was so lonely. I couldn’t enjoy the peace with myself. I couldn’t enjoy myself.
This weekend, husband was busy all day Saturday and Sunday so again, I was alone. But I did something I haven’t done in a long time, I took myself on a “me” date and spent some good quality time with myself.
I did exactly what I wanted to do – I went to Barnes and Noble. I chose 3 books I was interested in and sat down and read the first chapters of each. (How I decide which book to buy) I was in no rush. I had no one to answer to. I just sat and read. After that, I did my favorite me activity – shopping. Then, before I was ready to head home I did something else just for me – went to TCBY.
What a rewarding, comfortable, enjoyable afternoon that was. God opened my eyes to the importance of me time and gave me an opportunity to see how valuable it can be.
Tuesday nights are officially me nights now. Husband has karate for several hours so I can spend it as I please. It would be so easy to take this time to clean, do grocery shopping, be busy (which I’m so good at), etc. but instead I’m going to relax and do what I want to do.
I’m sure in a few years when I have kids, I’ll be dying for alone time. Time to just sit on the couch with a glass of wine and a good book. So tonight, I will do just that and enjoy.
xo xo
Inspire Me: Oscar Wilde
Every once in a while you find a quote that just really fits everything you believe in, a life mantra so to speak. For several years now I’ve adopted one from Oscar Wilde as my own. “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.”
While that one is a favorite, there are quite a few others I truly love as well. I hope the quotes below inspire you just as much as they did me.
xo xo
“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”
“The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on. It is never any use to oneself.”
“Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.”
“Women are made to be loved, not understood.”
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.”
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
“With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?”
You might also enjoy: Women – You Can’t Live With ‘Em, You Can’t Live Without ‘Em, Inspire Me: Stormy Tuesday, Fail Better
Inspire Me: Saturday
Amen. Enjoy your SATURDAY.
xo xo
p.s. have you checked out Kate Spade Saturday, yet? love, love. ❤
You might also enjoy: Inspire Me: Rainy Tuesday
life lately.
life lately: bi-weekly posts that give you a peek into my world of late.
{celebrating // with the in-laws, at work, with the girls}
{marveling // at Crystal Bridges for an innovation conference}
{playing // Sunday Funday with the pups + hubs}
{inspiring // new favorite quote}
{eating // mini chicken + waffles at work Super Bowl party}
{enjoying // personality profile via}
* * *
After finishing my Three Week Cooking Challenge, I’m determined to challenge myself in other areas as I’ve realized blogging is a great accountability partner. But what should I do, fitness? fashion? reading?
Let me know what you think!
xo xo
m.davis xoxo 