Nivek and Hamlet

[Nivek]

"There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so."

Goal #1  Meditate at least five minutes a day, five days a week.

 

Alas, I am a half glass empty guy.  A trait I share with Hamlet.  I read meditation can be an effective way to train my brain to embrace the positive in life and not dwell on anxious thoughts.  I would like to slowly increase the amount of time spent meditating, and I will be learning more about meditation as part of this goal.  CON 2  CHA 2  WIS 1

 

A= 30 meditation sessions

B= 25-29

C=20-24

D=15-19

F= <15

 

[5]

[2]

[2]

[3]

[-------]

[-------]

 

"I do wish that your good beauties be the happy cause of Hamlet's wildness."

Goal #2  Read the book The Happiness Hypothesis

 

I am an extrovert.  The bigger the crowd, the better my mood.  But I find myself slinking to the edges of parties, clamming up in social situations for fear of saying something embarrassing.  Our fearless leader, Steve Kamb, claims this book changed his life.  I'm taking notes as I read, hoping it can do the same for me.  I like to learn how to focus on all the beautiful, positive aspects of life instead of anxiously worrying if something I did or said offended someone. WIS 3 CHA 2 

 

A= Finished the book

B=8 chapters

C= 6 chapters

D= 4 chapters

F= <4 chapters

 

 

"Why yet I live to say 'This thing's to do,' Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means to do't."

Goal #3  Do 15 dead-hang pull ups and 50 push ups unbroken

 

I was going to write 14 pull ups here, but changed it to 15.  The most I've ever done is 13.  This doesn't seem like a huge jump, but it's an epic quest of mine to do 20 pull ups unbroken.  A big hurdle in the way of this goal is that I am going to be out of the country for several weeks during this challenge.  Increasing strength is about consistency.  Vacationing is not.  STR 2  DEX 1  STA 1

 

A=15 pull ups and 50 push ups

B= 14 pull ups and/or 43 push ups

C= 13 pull ups and/or 37 push ups

D= 12 pull ups and/or 33 push ups

F= <12 pull ups and/or <33 push ups

[Nivek]

Kickoff:  Goal #1-meditated 5 minutes this morning.  Tough to do.  I learned it gets easier. 

 

Goal #2-I am on chapter 5 of the book (I started early).  Great lessons.  Much more psychology than I expected.  Reminds me of my undergraduate degree (B.A. in psychology).  Reports on very cool research.  Actual activities I can do to increase happiness.  Not just a bunch of theory.  I am confident I will finish this book and perhaps modify my goal to include a second book.  Any recommendations? 

 

Goal #3-I know what to do.

[mvelic]

What kind of books are you interested in? More self-improvement books? I've got a few I could recommend.

[Nivek]

Update: 

 

Goal #1--I hate meditating.  Just give me the Prozac, man.  I want the easy way out.  Don't make me sit there with myself with NOTHING to do except focus on my breathing.  Are you kidding me!  This is the most un-looked-forward-to part of my day.  I am already avoiding my set aside time for this.  Change this goal to "run 7 miles a day, uphill, barefoot, being chased by Ultron and Wolverine...no..an Ultron transformed into Wolverine...nooo....a transformer from Cybertron who transforms from Ultron into Wolverine.  Other than that, haven't missed a day...yet.

 

 

Goal #2--loving this book.  Not what I expected.  Really interesting stuff in there about relationships and very applicable information.  Will finish.  Looking for another book.  Don't what quite what kind of book yet.  Just not a comic book....which I still have time to read.  Imagine that.

 

Goal #3--did max pushups thanks to Kanann yesterday and our Ranger mini challenge work out with a buddy.  Got 33.  Long way to go.  This will be hard, but rewarding. 

[Nivek]

Update: End of week #1

 

Goal #1--I counted today's Vinyasa Yoga as a meditation session.  Before this morning, I've never been on the verge of tears exercising.  All eight of my yoga limbs felt connected to some spirit in that room.  

 

Goal #2--Still reading.  Interesting chapter on why we need sorrows and trials in our life in order to be happy.    

 

Sweet are the uses of adversity,

Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,

Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.

 

Goal #3--working on it. 

[a_klodt]

Good job on keeping up with your goals this week!! I also struggle with meditation. I have a long way to go with the whole "turn off your mind" part of it. Trying not to think instigates a whole new chain of thoughts. My brain is always so busy. LOL

[Samsonspirit]

Your making good progress for your first week. Meditating on nothing is extreamly hard. So your doing great.

 

I meditate, but I go the other way. I actually meditate on something. For example i will sit outside at night before bed, and meditate on the stars, ponder the universe, planets, galaxies. Turning these thoughts over in my mind. I would do that with a variety of subjects. I find it very refreshing and enlightening.

 

Im looking forward to your review of the experience and the end of the 6 weeks.

[Nivek]

Now for the hard part of keeping on track with my goals while on vacation.

[novarugger10]

Good luck! Just keep focused and working on your goals! Where are you going for vacation?

[mvelic]

Yes, very much good luck on keeping up while on vacation. Even a weekend trip threw me out of the loop for a few days.

[Nivek]

Update: staring out my widow at the Austrian Alps. No good goal gaining has occurred. Oh well. Life is beautiful.

[Nivek]

Back to work.  I struggle taking time off from working out.  While out of town for two weeks, I did some push ups; I climbed a medium sized hill; I walked around some amazing cities.  Now that I am home, my muscles feel energized, ready to lift some heavy weights, but I will ease back into it.  No sense getting hurt.  Looking forward to seeing how the next two weeks play out.  I know goal one won't be an A, but that's ok.  Almost done with The Happiness Hypothesis.  Some really good stuff in there.  If you're a glass half empty type of geek, I give it a recommend.  Goal three will be interesting... did 16, 16, 12, 23 reps of push ups after a 5k run this morning.  Felt great.  Kick it!

[Nivek]

Wait.. The challenge is over? Where was I? Oh, that's right. Europe. Well, here are my results and subsequent ability score raises.

Goal #1. Meditate. I had 13 sessions all of which I hated and found somewhat useful at the same time. Still an F

Goal #2. Read. Finishes the book. A

Goal #3. 15 pull ups 50 push ups. Hit both numbers on the nose. Woot. A

Final results

Wisdom 3

Strength 2

Charisma 2

Stamina 1

Dexterity 1

Nivek the level two Bavarian Ranger