NeverThatBored: There is no Right Way

[NeverThatBored]

 

 

(This song has nothing to do with anything. I just stole the phrase from it. And like it.)

 

**************************************************

 

“What if we trusted ourselves, believed in our basic worthiness, believed that we would be OK even if things didn’t work out as planned, believed that we are loving, kind, and innately good human beings?”

 

I've been having a hard time articulating what I want to do this challenge. I've been adding one new habit per challenge this year, with the idea that I'd accumulate 10 healthy habits over the course of the year. But something's a bit off, even though the new habits have been going well. So at first I thought I was just going to take a break for a month to let the new habits settle in more without adding anything new.  But then I was trying to articulate WHY I felt I needed a break and what exactly it is that's been feeling off. 

 

And it's a couple of things. My progress has begun to hurt me. I’ll work out three times a week and think “ugh that wasn’t as good as the workouts I was doing last year!” instead of “Yay! I did all of my workouts!” And that’s a problem. That’s a stop drop and roll problem. I need to stop and fix it before I move on. 

 

Simultaneously, even though all of my habits are worthwhile and positive, I feel like I just don't have SPACE in my life right now to just enjoy things, and I'm not sure if it's the fault of all the things I'm trying to do or something else entirely. I take everything completely seriously, and that's both an incredible strength and a danger.

 

So this challenge, I’m going to stop, drop, and roll. I’m going to take a break from my one-habit-per-challenge approach to the year. There’s no right way to do things. There’s no one thing or even list of things that I HAVE to do to enjoy life. Or to succeed at this challenge. And right now that sense of needing to make progress is robbing me of something else important in the present. And I don't just mean video game time.  

 

So this challenge, I both have a goal and don't have a goal. I guess it's a meta-goal, because I'm incapable of completely taking a break. I want to BASK. I want to bask in how lovely and beautiful the world is. I want to bask in how amazing it is that I can run a mile and think it’s no big deal when I used to DREAD running a mile. I want to bask in the fact that I have a boyfriend who I can cuddle and touch and play with. I want to bask in the feeling of working late into the night during an aikido class because we all love what we’re doing and we love moving and learning together. I want to bask in the feeling of sunshine or the pleasure of playing a video game. I want to drop anything that I can’t bask in. If I’m reading a book and I’m not actually getting pleasure from the experience, I want to do something else instead.

 

I want to celebrate what I’m accomplishing. I want to hit all of my scheduled workouts and say "Woo! I'm awesome!" instead of anything else. So for this challenge, I can only post updates about what I bask in. I can complain about unrelated things too, of course. I'm not a monster. But I can't just post a list of everything I've done for the day. I can only share the basking.

 

I'm hoping this will help reset my mindset in the direction I want to be going. 

 

So maybe the song has a little bit to do with the challenge. I want to emphasize to myself that there's no one right way to do things. I want to fall in love again with everything I'm doing. And If I'm incapable of loving it, maybe it's not something I shouldn't be doing. 

[Sloth the Enduring]

Following out of curiosity.

[NeverThatBored]

11 minutes ago, Sloth the Enduring said:

Following out of curiosity.

 

Maaan, and here I thought you just liked me! 

[Sloth the Enduring]

That too.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along. Sloth beat me to another first post. Well Done Sloth.

[Elastigirl]

This is beautiful. Looking forward to hearing about all the amazing things and experiences you are able to bask in.

[Owlet]

1 hour ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following along. Sloth beat me to another first post. Well Done Sloth.

The idea of a sloth beating anyone to anything is great.

 

So is basking. I love basking. Happy basking

 

 

[deftona]

I really love this idea and I am interested to see what comes of this. I think at the start of this whole thing when we're struggling to make new habits stick. we all hope they will become rote eventually but maybe that's not a thing to be aiming for. Enjoy all the basking! 

[Lara]

Beautiful!

[Mad Hatter]

Glorious challenge, I love it.

[PettyMort]

Wow. My mind is blown. It's like an un-challenge. So, it's like an accomplishment/gratitude journal, emphasis on quality over quantity? Following because I'm intrigued and reading the updates will feel like this:

 

 

[Dagger]

Love this idea! <3

[Rebel Pilot Gar]

Really like the mindset you are taking with this. Looking forward to following along

[Bookish Badger]

Following!

[RedStone]

 

8 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

So this challenge, I both have a goal and don't have a goal. I guess it's a meta-goal, because I'm incapable of completely taking a break. I want to BASK. I want to bask in how lovely and beautiful the world is. I want to bask in how amazing it is that I can run a mile and think it’s no big deal when I used to DREAD running a mile. I want to bask in the fact that I have a boyfriend who I can cuddle and touch and play with. I want to bask in the feeling of working late into the night during an aikido class because we all love what we’re doing and we love moving and learning together. I want to bask in the feeling of sunshine or the pleasure of playing a video game. I want to drop anything that I can’t bask in. If I’m reading a book and I’m not actually getting pleasure from the experience, I want to do something else instead.

 

 

I LOVE ALL OF THIS AND YOU  So happy I know you, and a little time and basking is awesome. Also, needing to switch up your program is def a sign of progress!!! Frustrating for sure, but not a bad thing  <3 

[fleaball]

This is the best idea ever. 

[Tova, Warrior of the Wilds]

I love this challenge so much! It is hard for me, too, to appreciate what I accomplish or celebrate the smaller steps.  Following along  

 

[Evicious]

I fully intend to bask in your basking.

 

[ForestGoddess]

I really like this idea. There is way too much negative energy in the world, we don't need to feed that, we need to multiply the positive energy instead. Following along..

 

 

Ranger on...

[Plazmotic]

13 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

I both have a goal and don't have a goal. I guess it's a meta-goal, because I'm incapable of completely taking a break. I want to BASK.

 

We all need to bask more! Following

[jonfirestar]

I love this challenge! Taking a break to enjoy yourself and bask in the good things in life is just as important as always pushing forward! 

[EricMN]

15 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

So this challenge, I both have a goal and don't have a goal. I guess it's a meta-goal, because I'm incapable of completely taking a break. I want to BASK. I want to bask in how lovely and beautiful the world is. I want to bask in how amazing it is that I can run a mile and think it’s no big deal when I used to DREAD running a mile. I want to bask in the fact that I have a boyfriend who I can cuddle and touch and play with. I want to bask in the feeling of working late into the night during an aikido class because we all love what we’re doing and we love moving and learning together. I want to bask in the feeling of sunshine or the pleasure of playing a video game. I want to drop anything that I can’t bask in. If I’m reading a book and I’m not actually getting pleasure from the experience, I want to do something else instead.

 

I want to celebrate what I’m accomplishing. I want to hit all of my scheduled workouts and say "Woo! I'm awesome!" instead of anything else. So for this challenge, I can only post updates about what I bask in. I can complain about unrelated things too, of course. I'm not a monster. But I can't just post a list of everything I've done for the day. I can only share the basking.

 

This is spectacular, I love it.

[NeverThatBored]

Week 0 Tuesday

 

Well so far, one of my favorite things to bask in today is how positive and enthusiastic all of you have been about this challenge. <3 

 

I also love how every time I come into this challenge thread, I end up playing the song at the top and getting to enjoy it more~ I went on a Hozier listening rampage after posting this and have enjoyed lots of good songs.

 

I had a lovely morning. I woke up naturally but still felt groggy, so I hung out on the floor for a while until I felt more awake. I love hanging out on the floor. I also did some yoga today. That's two days in a row! Yoga feels great and I love it. I had more paleo granola for breakfast and it was scrumptious. I really enjoyed it. Also Flea said some nice things earlier about my resume advice and I was happy I was able to be helpful~~

 

 

At lunchtime, I went on a ruck with the 35lb kettlebell in a backpack. It was awkward to carry and the weight of it pulling on my shoulders is too much and makes my fingers start tingling (I think I need a hiking pack with extra straps and things for this). BUT when I felt the urge to just circle the block and go home instead of doing the full walk, I did the full walk anyway because doing hard things is awesome! I did the full walk + 35lbs of weight and I had a nicely elevated heart rate when I got home. The walk itself was also really nice! It was nice out and I took some pretty pictures of flowers that I hadn't noticed before.

 

I had tofu and spinach salad for lunch. The tofu I made recently was delicious! I had to run to the grocery store to get some yogurt I needed for something I'm making, and I saw quark there! I really enjoyed quark when I tried it but most places around here don't have it so I'm excited!

 

After work I hung out outside at the park reading for a while and it was very nice out. The breeze felt great~ Now I'm basking in the feeling of being freshly showered and drinking some tea and it is excellent. 

 

It is very challenging for me to only describe the things I basked in and not list anything else, but that just means it's worth doing! Yay, good challenge idea!

 

[RedStone]

2 minutes ago, NeverThatBored said:

 

At lunchtime, I went on a ruck with the 35lb kettlebell in a backpack. It was awkward to carry and the weight of it pulling on my shoulders is too much and makes my fingers start tingling (I think I need a hiking pack with extra straps and things for this). BUT when I felt the urge to just circle the block and go home instead of doing the full walk, I did the full walk anyway because doing hard things is awesome! I did the full walk + 35lbs of weight and I had a nicely elevated heart rate when I got home. The walk itself was also really nice! It was nice out and I took some pretty pictures of flowers that I hadn't noticed before.

 

 

Ugh, I've done that too... KB wrapped in a towel in a backpack. SO uncomfortable lol But not as expensive a shmancy ruck bag and weight inserts  Bully for seeing it through!!!! If you come up with a better alternative I'm all ears  

[NeverThatBored]

Just now, RedStone said:

 

Ugh, I've done that too... KB wrapped in a towel in a backpack. SO uncomfortable lol But not as expensive a shmancy ruck bag and weight inserts  Bully for seeing it through!!!! If you come up with a better alternative I'm all ears  

 

Ahhhh I'm SO tempted to buy ruck plates just because of how challenging it is without them. But on principle that seems silly! I'll let you know if I figure out a better way.