WolfDreamer

Thank you both for this. I actually like drinking from a stainless steel water bottle. It's more along the lines of remembering to fill it up and to drink from it, which sounds weird, I know, but it's a true challenge. I'll even glance at the empty bottle and think, Oh, I need to refill that. And then I don't. I have a job interview tomorrow that I am really nervous about. It is for an assistant principal position at one of the toughest high schools in the county. What is it they say? My anxiety just shows how much I really want it? Honestly, what I want is to nail the interview, whether I get the position or not. This is the beginning of my future as a school administrator. If I do well at the interview and don't get the position, at least members of the board and other principals are aware that I am interested in administration positions, which may help get me hired elsewhere. For my next challenge, I am looking at this challenge on My Challenge Tribe inspired by the book, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior, which I just finished listening to. You can click the link and read the challenge expectations, but I'll be posting them in full once the new challenge boards go live. Also, assume I am still implementing the disciplines I built during the DEF Reset while dialing in my water intake habits.

I haven't checked, but is Better World Books on that list? Discounted/used books, and for every book you buy they donate a book to a literacy program.

Yes, it was me. I've been eyeing that book for a few years now and feel it's finally time.

Weeks 3 and 4 were equally meh as far as challenge goals. I've been mostly consistent other than Sugar Coated Lies and Hydrate or Die. I don't understand why I struggle to drink water. It's so simple. But altogether, I feel good about the entire DEF Reset challenge. I'll be shifting gears soon to something else while maintaining the habits I have built through the DEF Reset. The good news is my upcoming challenge idea will also stress the importance of drinking plenty of water and avoiding processed sugary foods.

Sorry for the lack of updates. I'm holding at 187, which isn't as discouraging as if I had gained, I guess.

Things are well. It's just been a busy week and a half. My daughter got married today, and Friday is the court date for our son's adoption. So things are going really well, just busy. I'll post an official update soon.

Awesome. Send me a friend invite!

Are you saying I'm old? I'm kidding. 😆

Awesome! I'm comparing our books right now. We have a very similar diverse taste in books, it seems. I have to point out that some of the books I enjoyed more than you, I was listening to the audiobook versions. As an example, I listened to Ready Player One, which is narrated by Wil Wheaton, which added to the impact of the nostalgic 80s-90s pop culture references. Glad to have you along as a friend!

Just click here and send me a friend invite.

I use Goodreads, as well. @Artemis Prime, are we friends on GR? If not, we should be! I'm slowly working my way through Anam Cara. It is challenging mostly because so much of it sparks introspection and contemplation, and I literally cannot just read through it like I do some other books. I also started listening to Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman.

I'm up a little bit to 189, but the good news is that a few of my shirts feel snug in the right places (chest, shoulders, arms), so some of that might be muscle gain since I've been strength training.

Yesterday was a long day. My son had basketball practice until almost 9:30, so last night was a late night because I stayed up later than I should have. That's not typical. Most of the time I'm in bed by 10:00.

W3D2 GOAL 1: woke up to my alarm at 0430 GOAL 2: took the kids to the park because they wanted to check out the new skate park; took advantage of this time and did a variation of Simple and Sinister with a variety of kb sing combos and 5 Turkish get-ups, followed by 15 step-ups onto a picnic table bench. hiked three miles with my kids GOAL 3: three priorities; executed them all successfully: 1) catch up on laundry 2) prepare for two podcast interviews 3) put bags of excess clothing in attic GOAL 4: drank 120 oz of water GOAL 5: breakfast -- oatmeal with peanut butter, protein shake lunch -- leftover meat loaf dinner -- pepperoni pizza, protein shake GOAL 6: avoided sugary foods and drinks GOAL 7: read an entry from Consolations, as well as a few pages of Anam Cara. listened to Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman sat in quiet contemplation for 10 minutes this morning GOAL 8: I was grateful for: familiar trails seen through new eyes, clearance deals, my wife's laugh

I have one of those, too!

Many people are. What can I say? I love the early morning. Why do people keep asking to see God’s identity papers when the darkness opening into morning is more than enough? Certainly any god might turn away in disgust. Think of Sheba approaching the kingdom of Solomon Do you think she had to ask, “Is this the place?” -Mary Oliver W3D1 GOAL 1: woke up slightly before my alarm at 0422 GOAL 2: since Sunday is a "rest" day, I used Pavel's "Grease the Groove" technique and alternated sets of 5 kettlebell snatches and presses throughout the day, every 15-30 minutes or so. also found out I can overhead press my 9 year old son for about three reps before I lose form and risk dropping him walked 3.3 miles with my dog GOAL 3: three priorities; executed them all successfully: 1) clean kitchen 2) put clothes away 3) catch up on grades GOAL 4: drank 120 oz of water GOAL 5: breakfast -- Perfect Bar (peanut butter), three fried eggs, New York strip steak lunch -- orange chicken from a local Chinese restaurant dinner -- my wife cooked meat loaf and mac and cheese GOAL 6: avoided sugary foods and drinks GOAL 7: read an entry from Consolations, as well as a few pages of Anam Cara. listened to an episode of the Nomad Strength podcast sat in quiet contemplation for 10 minutes this morning GOAL 8: I was grateful for: energy, fitness "influencers" who are authentically good people, the feel of my bare feet on frost

I'm sorry it was a rough day. I hope you got some rest and things get better before work. One day at a time, celebrate the small victories. May this poem bring you some peace. It's called "In the Beginning" by my favorite poet David Whyte: Sometimes simplicity rises like a blossom of fire from the white silk of your own skin. You were there in the beginning you heard the story, you heard the merciless and tender words telling you where you had to go. Exile is never easy and the journey itself leaves a bitter taste. But then, when you heard that voice, you had to go. You couldn't sit by the fire, you couldn't live so close to the live flame of that compassion you had to go out in the world and make it your own so you could come back with that flame in your voice, saying listen... this warmth, this unbearable light, this fearful love... It is all here, it is all here.

That does sound yummy!

Well done on reaching your challenge goals in spite of the cold and blood pressure issues. Here's to hoping for good news and no more bp meds!

Sorry to hear about the rough week. But I know you'll bounce back.

You asked for it.

I am currently reading Anam Cara by John O'Donohue, as well as Consolations by David Whyte as a sort of morning devotional, along with a collection of Mary Oliver's poetry. I think as a personal reading challenge I am going to intentionally read "difficult" books this year, book that challenge me intellectually, spiritually, personally, and even habitually. I will be looking into Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge for 2023 but also some books that I already recognize as intellectually challenging. Some potential titles to read: The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iaian Pears The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky I'm sure the list will grow, but I think that's enough for now. EDIT: Added The Brothers Karamazov, which I just started reading after more than a handful of recommendations.

He is incredible. Have you read his book Consolations? The only way I can describe it is as a return to words that have become commonplace in our language. It is a meditation on words that we often take for granted, and in turn it becomes a meditation on the parts of life we take for granted. I cried after just the first entry. Apologies to everyone for the lack of updates. I have just been too busy to post. But I am on track with all 8 goals for this challenge. I can feel the temptation to be lax and let some things slide, but I am being mindful of the causes of those temptations and resisting them. My weight has been hovering around 189-191 for the past few weeks, but this week it was 187, just a few steps closer to my goal of 180. I'll return to updates if time allows, but I wanted everyone to know that I'm still here and still holding on.

Nashoba raises his head and then sits up. WolfDreamer sits up straight, as well, to show his esteem. "Wow," he says. "An actual rocket scientist! That's amazing!"