Showing posts with label 30 day challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 30 day challenge. Show all posts

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Distractions


Recently I had a long conversation over the phone with my Mom.  
When we talk I hang up a better person.  Our conversations start out superficial; she asks me what I’m doing.  My response is always: “Cleaning the kitchen.”
Then somehow brilliance hits me and I find myself yapping away over all the thoughts that have been shut up in my head.
I’m basically spewing at the mouth while she patiently listens or eggs me on.

Our conversations are rarely short.  
I love them.  
They are like the hug you didn’t know you needed until you are wrapped up in caring arms.
It’s so refreshing.

During our last chat I realized what my new 30 day challenge is going to be.

I do a lot of work on the computer for Rising Star Outreach during the day and I always end my days journal writing/Blogging.
What my kids see is mom sitting at the computer.  Not mom working on the Lifting Leprosy campaign in India.

I could (and would) spend hours at the computer.  I LOVE what I do, but I can only avoid my mothering/housekeeping duties for so long.
I would rather send emails to reporters to publish stories about Rising Star than unload my dishwasher.
I would rather update my blogs than go to the grocery store.
I feel so much of my life is choosing BETTER or BEST.
I can talk myself right into justifying my time is well spent at the computer.  It’s for a noble cause, right?
Unfortunately, it’s sending the wrong message to my family.  I don’t want them to remember me as always being on the computer.  I would rather have them remember me as always being in the kitchen!  

I realized, while talking to mom, that I can be distracted by so many things when what I should be doing isn’t as ”FUN“ as what I want to be doing.

I know there is a healthy balance to both my passions of motherhood and Rising Star.  I just have to be smart about it.
So, my 30 day challenge is to be MOM when the kids are home.  
Not "mom on the computer."
Abi is still a great sleeper.  She takes 3-4 hour naps each day, so while she sleeps I can sneak some time during the day.

I feel so lucky to be conflicted between BETTER or BEST.  To me I have the best 2 jobs on earth, but there is a flaw that will destroy both.
Distraction.
Starting each day on my knees and in the BOM is good armor. 

Friday, January 20, 2012

30 Day Challenge (sort of)


I like to listen to K-LOVE radio.  In fact, that’s the only music I listen to.  I really like it because there are NO commercials.  NONE!
Some of the songs are lame, but for the most part I really enjoy the music.  

Jarom and I were listening on the way to basketball one day and he mentioned he liked it when the DJ’s are on the air.  He said they always have interesting things to talk about.  I agree with him.  
Positive, Encouraging, K-Love is their motto.  That’s the way we like it.

I don’t have worry about my kids being exposed to language, lyrics, or news I find offensive.  I actually get the exact opposite.  

My kids get to hear other adults, they find funny, talk about Christ making a difference in a life.  They hear songs that encourage faith and love and they hear scriptures being applied to REAL LIFE!  

At the onset of New Year’s K-LOVE began a 30 day challenge of only listening to Christian music for 30 days.  Then after 30 days evaluate any difference you feel in your life.
I didn’t find it necessary to accept the 30 day Challenge because I already did that- and I LOVE the difference!  I mostly listen to the radio only in the car.  But I noticed the difference right away.  I loved the feelings and thoughts I had while driving.  

I’m sold on it.

I like this concept of a 30 day Challenge.  They explained that giving yourself 30 days to try something new fosters better habits and confidence in goal planning.  Instead of saying your going to be a vegetarian from now on- they suggest you give yourself 30 days.  If you enjoy the change after 30 days go on with it.  If it didn’t turn out to be what you expected AFTER 30 days you stop.  

I want to try a 30 day challenge of keeping my fridge clean!  I really wonder if I can so it!  How often does one clean out the fridge?  It usually sneaks up on me and I’m so disgusted by it I call in an emergency cleaning squad (that would be ME) and do a major clean up.
This happened to me yesterday.  I dove in and worked a number on the fridge!
Now, how hard is it to keep it clean and organized for 30 days?
We shall see...

Oh wait!  I’m a fresh start girl.  I have to start something like this at the beginning of the month.  Turning the page on a calendar does wonders to me!  I LOVE a fresh start!  

I will do this fridge thing for 11 days!  That’s all I have left in Jan.  I guess we’ll call this a pre-run.  Then Feb. 1st I’ll start a NEW challenge!!!