Firedance Defends her Castle

[Firedance]

 

 

Wow 4th challenge already this year! The first quarter went by fast.  

 

 I just read Steven Pressfield's War of Art and I'm most enamored of his discussion of "territory". According to him our territories have 5 qualities "A territory provides sustenance, A territory sustains us without any external input, A territory can only be claimed alone, A territory can only be claimed by work, A territory returns exactly what you put in". 

 

I have some territory in my life. Dance has always been one. Strength training has been recently annexed. Sitting down to learn a new thing is my territory, although definitely the part with thorny roses since it's constantly a battle to actually sit down but its worth it. The things in that area I'm most focused on now are jewelry making which is a scary dream and accounting which is me sort of sneaking up on the dream my proving that I could run a business. But life has a way of trying to steal back what I've claimed, via unimportant urgent things and tiredness. 

 

So this Princess is defending her castle and land. 

(Image here)

 

Train Warriors Strength training, dance and yoga. Learn to power clean.

 

Build Moat Read book on setting boundaries + self esteem

 

(Image here)

 

Practice Financial Wizardry More accounting classes! And also a Web design class aimed at working on my portfolio eventually.

Stock up on supplies:  Reduce restaurant bills to under 250 by cooking for leftovers on Sundays and Wednesday

 

(Image here)

 

Make friends with a Dragon Jewelry making class, more soldering practice.  Yay fire!

 

(Found on pinterest, artist here)

[connally7]

Good luck! 

Following along.

[Terra]

Waiting for more details... 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following.

[Firedance]

Now it is pretty! Hurrah!

[Terra]

On 4/2/2016 at 10:26 AM, Firedance said:

Now it is pretty! Hurrah!

 I like your challenge and the images are very pretty!  

 

Happy day 1

[connally7]

2 minutes ago, Terra said:

 I like your challenge and the images are very pretty!  

 

Happy day 1

Seconded!  Good luck!

[Raxie]

Following along!

[Terra]

How are you doing so far???

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Firedance]

Not too bad considering I got a cold Weds! I think I'm on the last day, I feel less disgusting today. Luckily I got my Tues Zumba/Strength Training workout done. I also did my daily pushups (and 10 butt lifts while I'm down there in plank position anyways. Those hurt!)

 

Train Warriors 1/8 workouts, 6/30 knee pushups daily 

Build Moat 0/1 books finished, but started 6 Pillars of Self Esteem. 

Practice Financial Wizardry 6/30 logging food costs. 0/1 Accounting doesn't start until the 12, but I'm plugging away at my website course in the meantime. 

Make friends with a Dragon I had to skip jewelry class this week due to being sick, but I can make it up. I did spend time on pinterest collecting inspiration.

 

[Firedance]

Busy weekend but not a lot of forward progress on these goals sadly.  I did have a lot of fun though and saw a lot of friends. Terra Mystica was played and Star Wars Trivia was won. There was also coloring and plowing through a new book. And at least some push-ups... Can't do everything!

 

Train Warriors 1/8 workouts, 7/30 knee pushups daily 

Build Moat 0/1 books finished

Practice Financial Wizardry 8/30 logging food costs. 0/1 Accounting doesn't start until the 12.  I helped my friend with her taxes though!

Make friends with a Dragon Working on coming up with a new project to start Thurs. 

[Terra]

Sounds like you had a good week 1 despite the cold.  Hope you are better now and can get back to defending your castle!!!

 

[Firedance]

Week 2 is going fairly well! I am better and thus was able to get to the gym and do a strength workout. No Zumba sadly but it gave me more time for deadlifts. Since I skipped my second workout last week I didn't make much progression but my squat is at 65 (tried for 70 but my form was a mess), bench at 50! More than the bar!, and deadlift stayed at 110 because I was already tired by the time I got to that weight so instead of adding more I just did my work set there. 

 

Surprising nice moments during my squats when one of the trainors stopped by the give me some advice on the squat. When he started out asking who taught me to squat I assumed the worst, but then he followed up with my form looked good overall.  I should just think about keeping my chest up and I'll stop leaning forward. So that was nice and I didn't shame the personal trainor who taught me to squat by doing it completely wrong a few months later  

 

Train Warriors 2/8 workouts, 13/30 knee pushups daily 

Build Moat 0/1 books finished, but started 6 Pillars of Self Esteem. 

Practice Financial Wizardry 13/30 logging food costs. 0/1 Accounting justb started going to do the first lesson tonight!

Make friends with a Dragon I might do some social media work for a jewelry designer in return for mentorship. Big step towards my dream and I'll practice marketing! Even just reaching out is a step.

 

[Rurik Harrgath]

Sorry I'm late to such a wonderful challenge and theme!  In homage I offer the following...

 

 

One of my favorites. 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

[Firedance]

I'm in love with both those images  Rae is awesomeness incarnate. 

 

It's Marathon day in Boston!  Good luck to anyone who is running! I ran 1.5 miles on Beacon St this weekend, which is mile 20ish for you hardcore runners! I did that instead of the gym because it was nice out and faster for a packed weekend.

 

Train Warriors 3/8 workouts, 16/30 knee pushups daily 

Build Moat 0/1 books finished, but started 6 Pillars of Self Esteem. I really need to get focused on reading this.

Practice Financial Wizardry 18/30 logging food costs. 0/1 Accounting lesson 1 done. 

Make friends with a Dragon I worked out a plan that the jeweler liked to improve her social media and we are going to meet weds at her stone setters which is exciting.  Field trip! On my own work I started a hammered bracelet that I found instructions for. I'm maybe halfway through, and there is no class this week because of school vacation.

[Firedance]

I'm going to have to do some recounting on this as I haven't been tracking very well. I did go for a run again this weekend but I haven't been to the gym in a while. Stuff keeps coming up and it's mostly good stuff but it's still messing with my goals. Also I was exhausted this week and the second half I kept goinf home and sleeping. It's so hard to keep a balance things slide so fast...

[Terra]

Sleep happens.  Tell me about week 4...

 

[Firedance]

Week four was good but a bit crazy. 

 

Train Warriors 5/8 workouts, 20ish/30 knee pushups daily 

Build Moat 1/1 books finished

Practice Financial Wizardry 30/30 logging food costs. 1/1 Accounting doesn't start until the 12.  I helped my friend with her taxes though!

Make friends with a Dragon Finished my bracelet and now need to come up with another new project

 

All in all my exercise was not the strong front, but I had a lot of events that kept pushing me off my game.  And then it's easier to say, well tomorrow for like 5 days running!  But I'm back to zumba and i remembered i don't completely hate running like I had suddenly decided.  So maybe next challenge that will be a bit more focused.  My financials went pretty well.  I kept up with the food logging, although I did spend 300 and not 250 like I was hoping I definitely cooked a lot more. Once I get used to doing that, the savings will come. I'm still in the rebelling new habits phase.

 

Jewelry was wonderful.  I actually made connections to two new jewelers, so my naming was prophetic! That was definitely the strongest part of this challenge. Oh and moat building went pretty well.  I had several days when my bosses were in terrible moods (for good reasons but not my problems) and I did a really excellent job not letting them infect me.  I was really happy with myself one day in particular!

 

Overall I think i defended my castle pretty well, but my warriors need a bit more training next challenge!

[Terra]

I'm looking forward to your next challenge!!!