[JediNickD] World 2 Level 1: "There has been an awakening..."

[JediNickD]

Have you seen the new Star Wars movie? If not, then stop reading this and go see it, now! It is a fantastic revisit to the Original Trilogy style and storyline with old characters returning with new lessons to bestow on the new characters. I'll do my best to avoid spoilers or at least mark it in the stuff I write, but you've been warned! I've seen the movie, I'm excited about it and the new story, and I will write about it!

 

So what is my story?

 

Well, I’ve been here before. I kicked a lot of butt progressing through 22 challenges since 2012, until middle of last year. After struggling to maintain a presence here through the first half of 2015, I struck out on my own as I had conquered many obstacles here, learned many lessons, and felt I was ready to implement a new accountability strategy for I had developed a strong supporting cast in real life to keep me accountable.

 

Alas, a back injury and a "layoff" crumbled all my plans. I am on the road to recovery for both. In October, I started a new job only three weeks after my old one ended. The growing pains are over and now I feel entrenched in my new world. In October and November, I took a lot of time off from fitness to allow my back to heal. In December, I started physical therapy to strengthen my back. I have occasional flare ups, but for the most part, I have my body functioning like its old self.

 

It is like I am back at square one, or Level 1 for my character here. Instead of hitting the reset button, I'll jump to World 2 Level 1 complete with new challenges and obstacles. Old foes may come back, but they will require new techniques to defeat them. I am still a Jedi in training, learning from the old masters, studying the new practices, and constantly improving.

 

Challenge Lesson:

 

“There has been an awakening…â€

 

The quote of course comes from the new Star Wars movie, Episode VII: The Force Awakens. It is actually the first quote I have used from a dark side character as it is delivered by Supreme Leader Snoke, Kylo Ren’s dark side master and leader of the First Order. I believe he is referencing a disturbance in the Force which I am guessing feel more like an awakening which could be Rey realizing her Force potential, or something grander.

 

An awakening can be a realization or inspiration which causes sudden growth. I feel that is the perfect summary for what the new movie has done for me. I am highly motivated at the moment to pursue training, defeat obstacles, and hit my highest achievements.

 

Through the summer of 2015, my focused turned to jobs to complete with my 2 year project and contract coming to an end in August and September. I also finished my term as Toastmasters Area Governor and began my term as Division Director in June and July which prompted a very similar focus on completing tasks taking my eyes off training. In October, I started a new job in a similar field on a familiar program, but very new tasks. The new job required training and learning. By December, I was out of the training stage and entered the execution stage of my new job.

 

Training and execution is cyclic. You need skills to execute effectively; therefore, you must train first to learn and master the skills. New tasks come along to execute, which requires new training. You must balance these. If you train too long, then the execution is delayed. If you execute a task too long, then the training will fade in other areas. Toastmasters is training only. I spent a lot of time training skills, but I was not applying them in my previous job often. In my new job which requires more application of communication and leadership skills, I found that training in some areas was rusty. Luckily, my interview skills we not one of those areas. Now, I have an outlet for execution of the skills learned through Toastmasters training. I am growing through practice and practical experience.

 

My awakening has me motivated in several ways. I started a monthly Toastmasters Training and Mentoring session to give me an opportunity to teach, coach, and mentor people. I offered to conduct similar classes for my co-workers in my office (meeting on Wednesday to discuss opportunity further). I am considering where in my community and other community Toastmasters may be able to spread and form new clubs. I took on an opportunity to coach a struggling club. I am looking to take classes to improve my Program Management skills at work. I am increasing my visibility within the office with social and work related interactions. Typically, I am an introvert, but I am acting more extroverted than ever before.

My Main Quest and Mission:

 

My mission is to be the best Jedi I can be. My main quest is always to enhance my overall health, fitness, and knowledge to be prepared for whatever challenges life could throw at me. As a Jedi, I need to be able to help people, whether that is a life threatening situation or just a charitable one. There is no boss level in Jedi training, there is only tomorrow.

 

World 2 Level 1 Challenge:

 

FITNESS:

• Work up a sweat! – 100 minutes of high intensity training per week
  DEX +2, STA +2
   
• Stretch and strengthen – 100 minutes of my physical therapy exercises and stretches per week
  STR +2, DEX +1, STA +1

DIET:

• Portion control – Eat less per meal, snack less throughout the day. It is time consuming to measure accurately, but I am pretty confident whether I can count a day as a successful one or a subpar one (or a complete failure).
  CON +2

LIFE:

• Read – I have lots of reference material to read, but I find myself reading unimportant news. Return my reading focus to learning. Use reading in my social interactions.
  WIS +3, CHA +2

[SkiBlue]

Sounds like a most epic return! Looking forward to great things.

[jstanlick]

First, The Force Awakens = Awesome². I loved that movie, but I'm told I'll love it more if I see the 3D version.

 

Second, welcome back! I'm in a very similar boat after being away from the NF boards for most of 2015. And I love how your goals a simple and easily measured. Good luck!

[JediNickD]

I've covered 75 minutes of Physical Therapy and 60 minutes of High Intensity training in my first two days.  Maybe 100 minutes is too conservative.  :-)  I should boost it to at least 120 minutes.  I'll revise tomorrow.

[JediNickD]

40 minutes of stretch and exercise this morning.  Feeling good.  If only my diet was easier to wrangle.  I did well on portions, but that left me hungry for dessert, which normally I would have had anyway.  Most night's we do not have dessert, but my wife decided I needed to bake some brownies so she could make everyone ice cream brownie sundaes.  If I want to lose weight and get that 6 pack, then I have to say no to these things.

[SkiBlue]

That's tough. I would have trouble saying no to those brownies too. Sounds like you're doing great with your movement goals though!

[jstanlick]

Diet always seems tough to wrangle. If it was easy, we'd all look like fitness models without thinking about it. Hang in there. You'll get this.

[JediNickD]

So much going on today that I skipped lunch. Finally, ate something of substance a few minutes ago to stave off headaches and keep from snacking on junk food when I get home.

[JediNickD]

It was a fun 3 day weekend with family and friends, but I did not get any work done on my goals. In fact, I may have set myself back a bit as I was tired and didn't get to the gym this morning. I am planning to workout at home tonight. I also have work to do for Toastmasters tonight with my Training event on Saturday. Unfortunately, it'll likely be cancelled due to snow. Still have to work on it though so that we are ready either way.

[jstanlick]

Long weekends and time off are important. As far as setbacks go, sounds like you're getting right back on the horse. You didn't let things slide, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[JediNickD]

And now I'm sick. Still at work, but I can't go to the gym or physical therapy like this. Ugh. More working out at home.

[jstanlick]

And now I'm sick.

 

BOOO!!! Being sick sucks. Hope you feel better real soon.

[JediNickD]

Hopefully, I'll feel well enough to get to the gym and play racquetball tomorrow morning. Missed the gym this morning as I just feel awful and congested when I get up. I spend about 30 minutes blowing my nose and hacking up phlegm each morning. Lots of yellow this morning, so hopefully the worst has passed.

I'll get a high intensity workout on Saturday shoveling snow and sledding with my kids. I love racquetball though and hate missing it.

[JediNickD]

Well, my leadership portion of this feat ended up being tied more to the tasks of dealing with bad weather forecast. I received about 20 emails asking about cancellation early in the week. I responded to them notifying them that an update would be Thursday at the earliest. On Thursday night, I had a conference call with the District leadership about postponing until late February. We determined a suitable date, sent out cancellation notices, and now I am requesting availability and volunteers for the new dates. So now I get to do the Training preparation all over again. Yay! :-P

I did get up early enough and was able to breath well enough to play racquetball! That was a blast and I scored 32 points over 3 games without winning one of them. Each was very close with some real tough points. I'm getting a lot better. The game is slowing down and I'm able to predict and anticipate while being patient to place my shots. So much fun!

And my back is feeling just fine.

[TheGreyJedi-Ranger]

Respawns are hard, but you seem to be rangering this one fairly well!

 

May the Force be with you, Master Jedi

[jstanlick]

I did get up early enough and was able to breath well enough to play racquetball!

...

And my back is feeling just fine.

 

Awesome! That's winning right there!

[JediNickD]

After an extended weekend due to a blizzard, I'm feeling well enough to get back to the gym. I need to do some running though. I'm feeling very heavy and out of shape.

[JediNickD]

Ok, time for a recap on my progress:

FITNESS:
•Work up a sweat! – 100 minutes of high intensity training per week
DEX +2, STA +2

Week 1: 120 min

Week 2: 360 min

Week 3: 120 min

•Stretch and strengthen – 100 minutes of my physical therapy exercises and stretches per week
STR +2, DEX +1, STA +1

 

Week 1: 150 min

Week 2: 60 min (I forgot to include some at-home therapy over the snowy weekend in my reports, but I also have no idea how much I did)

Week 3: 80 min with Therapy this afternoon and likely some at-home work this weekend.

DIET:
•Portion control – Eat less per meal, snack less throughout the day. It is time consuming to measure accurately, but I am pretty confident whether I can count a day as a successful one or a subpar one (or a complete failure).
CON +2

 

I've done well with portions, but I've had too much junk food so far to give myself an A.

 

LIFE:
•Read – I have lots of reference material to read, but I find myself reading unimportant news. Return my reading focus to learning. Use reading in my social interactions.
WIS +3, CHA +2

 

I've kicked this one's but to death and then some.  I could read more for my career training though.  I'll be taking classes some time soon, so I could get a head start on them.

[SkiBlue]

A very well Rangered challenge! Good work.

[JediNickD]

GRADES:

FITNESS:

•Work up a sweat! – 100 minutes of high intensity training per week

DEX +2, STA +2 A

•Stretch and strengthen – 100 minutes of my physical therapy exercises and stretches per week

STR +2, DEX +1, STA +1 A

DIET:

•Portion control – Eat less per meal, snack less throughout the day. It is time consuming to measure accurately, but I am pretty confident whether I can count a day as a successful one or a subpar one (or a complete failure).

CON +2  B

LIFE:

•Read – I have lots of reference material to read, but I find myself reading unimportant news. Return my reading focus to learning. Use reading in my social interactions.

WIS +3, CHA +2  A

[JediNickD]

GRADES:

FITNESS:

•Work up a sweat! – 100 minutes of high intensity training per week

DEX +2, STA +2

A

•Stretch and strengthen – 100 minutes of my physical therapy exercises and stretches per week

STR +2, DEX +1, STA +1

 

A

DIET:

•Portion control – Eat less per meal, snack less throughout the day. It is time consuming to measure accurately, but I am pretty confident whether I can count a day as a successful one or a subpar one (or a complete failure).

CON +2

 

B

 

LIFE:

•Read – I have lots of reference material to read, but I find myself reading unimportant news. Return my reading focus to learning. Use reading in my social interactions.

WIS +3, CHA +2

 

A

Added skills to my signature and putting together World 2 Level 2 Challenge.

[JediNickD]

GRADES:

FITNESS:

•Work up a sweat! – 100 minutes of high intensity training per week

DEX +2, STA +2

A

•Stretch and strengthen – 100 minutes of my physical therapy exercises and stretches per week

STR +2, DEX +1, STA +1

 

A

DIET:

•Portion control – Eat less per meal, snack less throughout the day. It is time consuming to measure accurately, but I am pretty confident whether I can count a day as a successful one or a subpar one (or a complete failure).

CON +2

 

B

 

LIFE:

•Read – I have lots of reference material to read, but I find myself reading unimportant news. Return my reading focus to learning. Use reading in my social interactions.

WIS +3, CHA +2

 

A

Added skills to my signature and putting together World 2 Level 2 Challenge.

[JediNickD]

GRADES:

FITNESS:
•Work up a sweat! – 100 minutes of high intensity training per week
DEX +2, STA +2

A

•Stretch and strengthen – 100 minutes of my physical therapy exercises and stretches per week
STR +2, DEX +1, STA +1
 
A

DIET:
•Portion control – Eat less per meal, snack less throughout the day. It is time consuming to measure accurately, but I am pretty confident whether I can count a day as a successful one or a subpar one (or a complete failure).
CON +2
 
B
 
LIFE:
•Read – I have lots of reference material to read, but I find myself reading unimportant news. Return my reading focus to learning. Use reading in my social interactions.
WIS +3, CHA +2
 
A


Added skills to my signature and putting together World 2 Level 2 Challenge.