Starpuck joins the UA Hero Academy

[starpuck]

STARPUCK JOINS UA ACADEMY

 

This anime is full of wisdom and motivation in all the right areas for me.   It's also been a while since I plotted out a challenge where the goals are meshed into a theme, and I am feeling like this could give me an extra boost in getting back into the routine of it.     A recurring theme for me (came up in the anime's I've watched, and now our church sermons too) is Endure.     If I were to take a moment to be completely honest with myself -in an eye opening, epiphany kind of way- I've been kind of a quitter lately.   And by lately, I mean the last couple years.      So here are some quotes that I am going to be embracing, and building upon through this challenge.

 

 

Midoriya once said, "I'll have to work harder than anyone else to make it.  I'll never catch up otherwise!"   He has to work harder to do things that come easy for other students.   This hits so close to home for me because I have often said that I need to work so much harder to be fit/not overweight/healthy, etc than 'the normal person'.     I watch my hockey teammates chug beers and Doritos after games and not gain a pound, whereas I can gain an inch from just smelling a pizza.    It might in fact be harder for me.   The options remain the same: do it anyway, or give up.

 

Which leads to the next quote, by my all time favorite character.  

 

I want to become healthy, strong and fit.  I want to do active things my whole life.   I want to be a bad ass chick!   Well then - I need to stand up and remember that, and push forward and never give up.   

 

 

This is a hard one to admit.  I am the ultimate planner -/ dreamer --  but I fail at being a doer.   My dreams end midway because I go through all the trouble of dreaming them up, but leave them on the shelf as 'dreams' rather than goals that I am working to.    This is usually because I end up being too afraid to pursue stuff.   Fear is a problem that needs facing and as All Might has said, "I smile to show the pressure of heroes and to trick the fear inside of me."

 

So this first post I suppose is mostly just me sorting out my feelings on the challenge and what I need to tackle.   Unfortunately, a lot of the things in THIS post aren't very quantifiable, so the next post is going be specifically about what I feel I need to do, to train myself, and to keep going without giving up, and yet still do this in a way that is sustainable for the long haul.       

 

 

(This one ties right in to the single most profound comment I heard in yesterday's sermon:   God's best for us, comes through our times of moving through fear.)

 

[starpuck]

Actual Goals of this Challenge

 

Goal 1 - Train Like Deku

Keep working at it.  Don't give up.

 

• Strength Train 3x / Week
• Move in any other way 2x / Week

             (Hockey is always in addition to above goals.)

 

Goal 2 - Overcome Grudges like Todoroki

My grudge is with food and it's time to make amends and get past it.

 

• Cook Th/Su to eat home cooked at game nights.  (2x / week)
• Indulgences / week to equal 2 or less.
• McD's Iced Coffee not to exceed 2 / week.
• Snack plan for game nights. (Bento box)

 

 

Goal 3 - Create like Yaoyorozu

She's a badass, and she creates stuff.  Sounds right up my alley.

 

 

• Art on tablet 2-3x/ week
• Art lesson 1x / week
• Aim to form a daily sketch habit.   Quick, easy sketching.  No fuss.
• D&D Prep 1x / week; get ahead of the campaign so it's not cram time.

 

Goal 4 - Trick my Fear like All Might

This will be an ongoing list of things I need to face and do.

 

1. Organize weekly budget and stick to it. 
2. Join a lifegroup at church, or find another means of study.
3. Find out what I am pre-approved for, solo, for a house.  *gulp*
4. Sign up for new hockey season, do not chicken out because of how last year ended.
5. To be added to as things come up.

 

 

Okay, a lot of this is my usual plan of attack.   The difference this time is that I plan on DOING IT.

 

[Elastigirl]

Love the Endure theme!

[RhiaWolfe]

Haven't heard of this anime before, but totally up for the endure theme! I like how you're kinda talking out loud and getting your thoughts in order before actually setting your goals and starting your challenge. Smart! 

 

Looking forward to seeing how your challenge shapes up! 

[Wild Wolf]

Peek-a-boo!

 

 

I'm here, ready to follow, and ready to see you endure ALL da things .

 

48 minutes ago, Starpuck said:

This is a hard one to admit.  I am the ultimate planner -/ dreamer --  but I fail at being a doer.   My dreams end midway because I go through all the trouble of dreaming them up, but leave them on the shelf as 'dreams' rather than goals that I am working to.    This is usually because I end up being too afraid to pursue stuff.   Fear is a problem that needs facing and as All Might has said, "I smile to show the pressure of heroes and to trick the fear inside of me."

 

I'm with you on this. I fail at being a doer as well. It's quite annoying, isn't it? I have HUGE aspirations and MEGA dreams to do AWESOME things and fall short because I'm afraid to pursue them too. I'll do my best to keep you accountable to this because you're awesome  

 

Wolf

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along for more of my big-little-sister Shenanigans. 

[RedStone]

 

 

[starpuck]

20 hours ago, Elastigirl said:

Love the Endure theme!

 

Heya!  Thanks!   It's gonna be tough I'm sure -   hah, song playing right now, "We'll push until we overcome..." wow, how serendipitous!    I think it's also going to teach me to spend more random moments asking God for strength and saying hey to the Big Guy.   Which is also good!

 

20 hours ago, RhiaWolfe said:

Haven't heard of this anime before, but totally up for the endure theme! I like how you're kinda talking out loud and getting your thoughts in order before actually setting your goals and starting your challenge. Smart! 

 

Looking forward to seeing how your challenge shapes up! 

 

You haven't heard of My Hero Academia?!  O.O   It's like the big thing shaking these days.    Like most anime in its genre; young aspiring protagonist must overcome his <insert whatever> here to succeed.   But ya know what?  I LOVE THOSE!

 

20 hours ago, Wolfpool said:

Peek-a-boo!

 

 

I'm here, ready to follow, and ready to see you endure ALL da things .

 

I'm with you on this. I fail at being a doer as well. It's quite annoying, isn't it? I have HUGE aspirations and MEGA dreams to do AWESOME things and fall short because I'm afraid to pursue them too. I'll do my best to keep you accountable to this because you're awesome  

 

Wolf

 

Well, we've at least got step one mastered!

Without a plan, there's no attack, with no attack, no victory!   Haha.

 

Also - Tom Hiddleston slow blink....   /swoon

 

17 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following along for more of my big-little-sister Shenanigans. 

Hahaha.  Big Little Sister!  I dig it!

ALL THE SHENANIGANS!

 

16 hours ago, RedStone said:

 

 

YUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSS!  <3

 

 

 

Last night* was kind of rough but I am feeling alright today.   Not as motivated as yesterday- but I don't NEED motivation to get things done.  I'm strong enough to do them without motivation.   I have family coming in starting Wed and staying for a week - so all manner of 'routine' is going to be tricky.   I will do the best I can with the circumstances I find myself in.      I sort of set a soft goal of being in good shape for my next birthday.    That's 4 months away.   Plenty of time to see some big changes actually!

 

* behind spoiler since its long, and is my unburdening some of the heaviness I've been carrying

Spoiler

I am struggling to be there for my family and loved ones.   I have a lot of people in my life going through some big hurts and I want to be there for them, but I also feel like I have a high level of empathy, so their hurt breaks my heart too.   My sister is burnt out at work, burnt out with her husband, and my dad puts unnecessary (and maybe unknowingly) stress on her because he sees his wife (our mom who passed away 28 years ago) most in her.   He asks her to organize everything, or vents to her that our brother doesn't call, then our brother calls and asks what's going on.  In short.   Her JOB as the EA to the CEO of GoGo requires her to manage everyone's schedules and keep everyone happy, and the family does that to her too.   She's just fried to a crisp.  So she rides the train home frustrated and has taken up drinking on the train.  She comes home having hit it hard enough to slur.  Last week I shared a very urgent update with her about our close friend whose husband lost his job  (a week after they moved into their new house), and she didn't even remember it when I brought it up last night!     I am watching her spiral into a terrible place and I can't help her.  I don't even know how - my words 'help' for the moment, but she takes no action.  And I am so afraid if I give her a hard ultimatum, it will just take away the last piece of support she has (me).  Her husband wants her to just 'let go' of work stress - but she's like me and it's not that easy.   So he's not a great option for that kind of support.    So yeah... I've been in a rough spot:  wanting to step up and be there - but feeling the weight and hopelessness start to pull me down.

 

 

For the next couple weeks I still have hockey on Wednesday nights, so I think I am going to stick to a soft plan of the following:

• Mon, Fri - Do stuff that moves the body and makes me sweat.
• Tue, Thur - Lift days at work.
• Wed (Hockey) - walk during the day maybe
• Sat & Sun - Enjoy the weekends, do more moving about, but could count active yardwork, heavy house cleaning, bike rides, walking, hiking, etc.

 

Things I need to do during zero week:

1)  Get starting today's weight.   (Done:  156.8 this morning.)

2)  Starting today's measurements.  

3)  Starting , before today's pictures.

4)  Create a tracking table/page in my BuJo.

5)  Organize backpack so I can carry my daily things in a way that I remember to pull them out of backpack.

6)  Find website or cookbook that will allow good, healthy, 'easy-beginner' recipes for quick dinners.

 

 

 

 

[RhiaWolfe]

30 minutes ago, Starpuck said:

 

You haven't heard of My Hero Academia?!  O.O   It's like the big thing shaking these days.    Like most anime in its genre; young aspiring protagonist must overcome his <insert whatever> here to succeed.   But ya know what?  I LOVE THOSE!

 

 

Ooooooh... I got it. I thought it was something else I hadn't heard of. I just saw "UA Academy" and thought it was something else. 

 

I've heard the name of that anime but haven't seen it. I am starting to get back into anime again though.  I just finished watching Stein's Gate. 

[RhiaWolfe]

33 minutes ago, Starpuck said:

 

* behind spoiler since its long, and is my unburdening some of the heaviness I've been carrying

  Hide contents

I am struggling to be there for my family and loved ones.   I have a lot of people in my life going through some big hurts and I want to be there for them, but I also feel like I have a high level of empathy, so their hurt breaks my heart too.   My sister is burnt out at work, burnt out with her husband, and my dad puts unnecessary (and maybe unknowingly) stress on her because he sees his wife (our mom who passed away 28 years ago) most in her.   He asks her to organize everything, or vents to her that our brother doesn't call, then our brother calls and asks what's going on.  In short.   Her JOB as the EA to the CEO of GoGo requires her to manage everyone's schedules and keep everyone happy, and the family does that to her too.   She's just fried to a crisp.  So she rides the train home frustrated and has taken up drinking on the train.  She comes home having hit it hard enough to slur.  Last week I shared a very urgent update with her about our close friend whose husband lost his job  (a week after they moved into their new house), and she didn't even remember it when I brought it up last night!     I am watching her spiral into a terrible place and I can't help her.  I don't even know how - my words 'help' for the moment, but she takes no action.  And I am so afraid if I give her a hard ultimatum, it will just take away the last piece of support she has (me).  Her husband wants her to just 'let go' of work stress - but she's like me and it's not that easy.   So he's not a great option for that kind of support.    So yeah... I've been in a rough spot:  wanting to step up and be there - but feeling the weight and hopelessness start to pull me down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, I know these feels well. It's so hard when you are extremely empathetic towards people and they begin to lean on you. Then if you pull away to try and take time for yourself and recover, you almost feel like you're abandoning them. 

 

I've had to realize that I matter too and that if I'm not doing ok, then I'm no good to anyone. Take some time for yourself to recuperate and then support your family when you have the energy to lend. Otherwise you will just get weighed down more and more until you are too tired to give anything. 

 

The way I see it is taking time for myself to get my strength and resolve back is helping my friends and family in the long run. They don't become dependent on me and I can get my energy back to be able to help them when it REALLY counts. It's a hard thing to manage though. 

 

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

I can't remember if you're one of the people who has ignored my advice about reading the book Boundaries or not but if you aren't let me recommend the book to you.

Also, http://www.niafg.org/ this is a link to your local Al-Anon. It's for the loved ones of those struggling with alcohol. I know you don't have time to go to meetings, but maybe some of the resources will help.

 

[RhiaWolfe]

13 minutes ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

I can't remember if you're one of the people who has ignored my advice about reading the book Boundaries or not but if you aren't let me recommend the book to you.

Also, http://www.niafg.org/ this is a link to your local Al-Anon. It's for the loved ones of those struggling with alcohol. I know you don't have time to go to meetings, but maybe some of the resources will help.

 

 

Who's the author? 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

3 hours ago, RhiaWolfe said:

 

Who's the author? 

I doubt there's any one author. Al-Anon was founded by the wife of Bill Bright, the man who Founded Alcoholics Anonymous. I suspect the resources have multiple contributors.

[RhiaWolfe]

1 minute ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

I doubt there's any one author. Al-Anon was founded by the wife of Bill Bright, the man who Founded Alcoholics Anonymous. I suspect the resources have multiple contributors.

 

How do I find this book then? 

[RhiaWolfe]

@Tanktimus the Encourager is this it?

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/944267.Boundaries?from_search=true

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

2 minutes ago, RhiaWolfe said:

 

How do I find this book then? 

I'm sorry, I confused myself. The Boundaries book and Al-Anon are two totally different things. I thought you were asking about Al-Anon.

 

Boundaries by Cloud and Townsend is available on Amazon. Yes, that link you posted is it.

 

[Rebel Pilot Gar]

Great theme and great road map for your goals. 

 

On 8/6/2018 at 1:52 PM, Starpuck said:

Midoriya once said, "I'll have to work harder than anyone else to make it.  I'll never catch up otherwise!"   He has to work harder to do things that come easy for other students. 

 

A lot of my favorite stories have protagonists that struggle to do what they love, when everyone else around them makes it look easy. Whatever it takes to inspire the improvements. 

 

[RedStone]

Oh Chica. That is rough indeed. And yes, it is a massive burden to take on the troubles of others! (Empaths unite!) And those are the exact cycles that keep them in the misery cycles of their own. Sounds like she needs some big changes, and no, it may not be something you can do for her... but is it maybe worth a conversation with the rest of the family to see about giving her some breathing space?

 

I have this ongoing cycle where I feel like I am responsible for my mom's happiness, a large task being as she's very unhappy. It hurts me so much to see her like that, but I keep going back to this one saying I heard earlier this year is was something like - "we used to say - I'll take care of you if you take care of me, but now we say - I'll take care of myself for you, if you take care of yourself for me." 

 

4 hours ago, Starpuck said:

I don't NEED motivation to get things done

 

I'm kind of all into this right now! This whole quest for constant happiness seems to be a real drag that prevents me from doing a lot of good stuff. It's fine to be low energy sometimes or have stress at work or a bad commute or be annoyed. IT'S FINE. Every day doesn't have to be a bacchanalia, and every meal doesn't have to be a holiday feast, and we still go to work, right? We still have to eat, right? Things still get done, life marches on indeed.

 

 

[starpuck]

Just an update so to get back into and keep the forum habit.

 

Woke up late, hit every light, forgot I needed gas, and had to set up my keyboard for my stepmom who would be arriving during the day and would enjoy playing it.   Grabbed McD's for bf, with iced coffee (chalk that up as 1 of 2 allowed this week) and that threw my food into a not great cycle.   I DID manage to eat regular lunch, but some ass munch brought in donuts, and when the server had to go down at noon for a POS upgrade, that forces us to have to come in early tomorrow to RE-enter every order we processed after lunch, well I ate one of them.     Not the worst thing ever - especially since I have hockey tonight, but I am fighting off frustration big time.

 

The set up for the PVP Pull Up challenge couldn't have come at a better time.   I need to remember who my action here is for that thing, and get into her mindset!

 

Going to enjoy the skate tonight so much.   And that's awesome for me because having hockey be an outlet for the stress I am hitting (the family visit being a big point of stress and break from routine) is going to reaffirm my love for the sport and the people in it.

 

Tomorrow my dad arrives up and we're meeting at the local Uncle Julios for dinner together, after which I will head out to gaming and escape there.       Pray-ers... get me on your list please.  Pray that God lends me his heart and his patience during this time.     Thoughts and vibers!   GET THOSE BATTERIES HUMMING PLEASE!

 

Thanks all.

 

[Cheetah]

2 hours ago, Starpuck said:

Pray

Done

[RhiaWolfe]

Sounds like a frustrating day! It can be hard to stick to your plan when you're annoyed or frustrated. 

 

Good on you for at least keeping to a good lunch and looking forward to your hockey outlet! You're going to rock the pull up PVP! 

 

Sending good vibes your way! 

 

[Rebel Pilot Gar]

Sending good vibes your way. 

[starpuck]

Thanks for all the TP&V guys, I am sure it is helping!

 

Yesterday ended up no exercise day.   Between the exhaustion I always have after the late hockey night, plus not great sleep and stress, I opted to just relax a bit.   I did not stray from food plans though, not really.

 

BF, Lunch at work was fine.   I had cherries for my snack.   Dinner was out at the Patio where I had their fish tacos.  It's just three grilled tilapia tacos on corn tortillas, topped with chipotle aioli sauce, red cabbage, tomato, cilantro & onion, with a lime wedge.   So not so bad there.

 

At gaming... guys!  I DID NOT SNACK!  I had like a single small handful of Bacon Habanero chips.    

... the reason I did not snack, was because I was too busy drinking, lol!    

(No I didn't get stupid with it.  I had 3 Summer Shandy's over the course of the whole night.)   

But yeah, it was interesting that the beer totally negated the snacking trick.   

Not something I plan on using as a substitute, but interesting nonetheless.

 

 

Today is a lift day.   Then I think we are going out to eat AGAIN with family in town, so I am going to have to be picky and choosy.  Hopefully, work is pretty chill so I am not in a badger mode by the end of it.

 

I haven't drawn in like a week and I am feeling the draw to do so, lol - but I am having the rusty skills = crap syndrome pop in too.    Need some inspiration to tackle this.

 

 

 

[RhiaWolfe]

1 hour ago, Starpuck said:

 

At gaming... guys!  I DID NOT SNACK!  I had like a single small handful of Bacon Habanero chips.    

... the reason I did not snack, was because I was too busy drinking, lol!    

(No I didn't get stupid with it.  I had 3 Summer Shandy's over the course of the whole night.)   

But yeah, it was interesting that the beer totally negated the snacking trick.   

Not something I plan on using as a substitute, but interesting nonetheless.

 

 

Do you think it was because it was beer or because you had something else to do with your hands besides digging into snacks? Maybe you could use this to find something else to drink with less calories to take the place of snacking? 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Good job not snacking. See if next week you can drop from 3 beers to two.