#Reverb10: Prompt 11, the blog-along
Today, chemgal18, Sunflowerakb, and I will all weigh in on the #Reverb10 prompt I mentioned last week:
What are 11 things your life doesn't need in 2011?
How will you go about eliminating them?
How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life?
We've agreed to update on our progress at the end of each month in 2011; you can find ChemGal's list here and Sunflowerakb's list here.
This prompt appealed to me because I think I’m more aware of what needs to be added to my life; I know I’ll need to do some subtraction to make room for new things, but I’m less clear on what needs to go. It’s also interesting to realize that it’s easier to admit what’s missing in my life than what’s taking up space in my life.
So, here’s what I’ll be getting rid of:
1. Twenty pounds. I have no idea if this is do-able, but ten of those absolutely must go, and the next ten are insurance against another rough patch. It would also put me at a weight that I know looks healthy and feels good. And…might as well be honest…it’s what I weighed, the last time I was happy. Losing weight won’t make me happy, I know that, but getting back into form for happiness seems like a good goal. (I've agreed to run a 10K with the Ace Gang at the end of April, hoping this will motivate me to get started.)
2. The spare tires. Okay, this will likely have to be part of #1, but no matter what I weigh at the end of next year, I can’t carry my weight like I do right now. It’s very dangerous from a health standpoint, it’s part of the reason that clothes-shopping is so difficult, and it’s becoming clear that I’m very, very self-conscious about the way I carry this weight (which makes me kind of obnoxious to be around). I'm going to have to learn to use the weight equipment at HipHoodFitness. S would say it's about time.
3. Bras. Not all of them, but the gross ones and the falling-apart ones. I don’t need a dozen, but I do need to know when I have less than…say five…good ones. Perhaps, if I get close to accomplishing #1 or #2, I’ll get properly fitted so I know which ones I really need to keep.
4. Too-old gym t-shirts. I can’t do anything about how much I sweat (okay, I’m kind of proud of it), but I don’t have to subject all of HipHoodFitness to pit stains.
5. Math-Teacher books. I’ve already sold some of these, and I’ll probably try to sell a few more, but some can just go to K (who teaches a fair number of low-income students), to S (who can command fewer review copies than the rest of them), and to the rest of the gang. I’ll keep some of the stuff that’s useful for tutoring, and the things that I will need for reference (stats books), that I truly enjoy (really, there are a few), and a few things I’m sentimental about (the topology book that belonged to UndergradAdvisor and her husband, for example). I need the storage space for all of my actuarial texts.
6. Magazine clippings, recipes to try, and whatnot. I’ve been keeping a digital file of recipes (much easier to search), and plan to keep updating that this year. I also read a neat trick on a blog-instead of keeping sentimental odds and ends, take pictures with a digital camera. This seems like a great idea for ratty souvenir t-shirts and New Yorker cartoons (which could then be sent digitally to the appropriate friend), as well as a few sentimental odds and ends from my days at GSC.
7. Old glasses. I’ll keep the most recent abandoned pair for debacles like last month’s encounter with the Pearle Vision clerk from hell, but the others can be donated.
8. My Paste Magazine collection. I’m totally keeping my subscription-love the samplers!-but the articles are archived and I really don’t re-read the magazines. I might keep a few issues…or just take pictures of the stuff I like!...and will let go. (Hey…anybody want five years’ worth of Paste?)
9. Details will gross you out, but let’s just say I have a foot issue that is perceived as cosmetic but can in fact be quite painful. I have information and supplies to try a set of natural remedies, but keep putting it off (the “better living through chemistry” remedy is expensive, has a low success rate, and a high probability of liver damage). I’m going to do what I can to get rid of the issue…it’s interfering with my running (and my Dansko-wearing).
10. Let’s say “fear.” I really have no idea what I’m talking about, but coming up with a list of eleven things is kind of impossible. Sounds good, right?
11. We’re going to call it “ambivalence” that I plan to leave behind, and I don’t have to tell you any more than that. I really don't know how this one should turn out, but I promise to think about it a lot in 2011.
If you'd like to join in--just with a list of 11 things, or for the full, year-long, series of updates--please leave your url in the comments section!
What are 11 things your life doesn't need in 2011?
How will you go about eliminating them?
How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life?
We've agreed to update on our progress at the end of each month in 2011; you can find ChemGal's list here and Sunflowerakb's list here.
This prompt appealed to me because I think I’m more aware of what needs to be added to my life; I know I’ll need to do some subtraction to make room for new things, but I’m less clear on what needs to go. It’s also interesting to realize that it’s easier to admit what’s missing in my life than what’s taking up space in my life.
So, here’s what I’ll be getting rid of:
1. Twenty pounds. I have no idea if this is do-able, but ten of those absolutely must go, and the next ten are insurance against another rough patch. It would also put me at a weight that I know looks healthy and feels good. And…might as well be honest…it’s what I weighed, the last time I was happy. Losing weight won’t make me happy, I know that, but getting back into form for happiness seems like a good goal. (I've agreed to run a 10K with the Ace Gang at the end of April, hoping this will motivate me to get started.)
2. The spare tires. Okay, this will likely have to be part of #1, but no matter what I weigh at the end of next year, I can’t carry my weight like I do right now. It’s very dangerous from a health standpoint, it’s part of the reason that clothes-shopping is so difficult, and it’s becoming clear that I’m very, very self-conscious about the way I carry this weight (which makes me kind of obnoxious to be around). I'm going to have to learn to use the weight equipment at HipHoodFitness. S would say it's about time.
3. Bras. Not all of them, but the gross ones and the falling-apart ones. I don’t need a dozen, but I do need to know when I have less than…say five…good ones. Perhaps, if I get close to accomplishing #1 or #2, I’ll get properly fitted so I know which ones I really need to keep.
4. Too-old gym t-shirts. I can’t do anything about how much I sweat (okay, I’m kind of proud of it), but I don’t have to subject all of HipHoodFitness to pit stains.
5. Math-Teacher books. I’ve already sold some of these, and I’ll probably try to sell a few more, but some can just go to K (who teaches a fair number of low-income students), to S (who can command fewer review copies than the rest of them), and to the rest of the gang. I’ll keep some of the stuff that’s useful for tutoring, and the things that I will need for reference (stats books), that I truly enjoy (really, there are a few), and a few things I’m sentimental about (the topology book that belonged to UndergradAdvisor and her husband, for example). I need the storage space for all of my actuarial texts.
6. Magazine clippings, recipes to try, and whatnot. I’ve been keeping a digital file of recipes (much easier to search), and plan to keep updating that this year. I also read a neat trick on a blog-instead of keeping sentimental odds and ends, take pictures with a digital camera. This seems like a great idea for ratty souvenir t-shirts and New Yorker cartoons (which could then be sent digitally to the appropriate friend), as well as a few sentimental odds and ends from my days at GSC.
7. Old glasses. I’ll keep the most recent abandoned pair for debacles like last month’s encounter with the Pearle Vision clerk from hell, but the others can be donated.
8. My Paste Magazine collection. I’m totally keeping my subscription-love the samplers!-but the articles are archived and I really don’t re-read the magazines. I might keep a few issues…or just take pictures of the stuff I like!...and will let go. (Hey…anybody want five years’ worth of Paste?)
9. Details will gross you out, but let’s just say I have a foot issue that is perceived as cosmetic but can in fact be quite painful. I have information and supplies to try a set of natural remedies, but keep putting it off (the “better living through chemistry” remedy is expensive, has a low success rate, and a high probability of liver damage). I’m going to do what I can to get rid of the issue…it’s interfering with my running (and my Dansko-wearing).
10. Let’s say “fear.” I really have no idea what I’m talking about, but coming up with a list of eleven things is kind of impossible. Sounds good, right?
11. We’re going to call it “ambivalence” that I plan to leave behind, and I don’t have to tell you any more than that. I really don't know how this one should turn out, but I promise to think about it a lot in 2011.
If you'd like to join in--just with a list of 11 things, or for the full, year-long, series of updates--please leave your url in the comments section!