WEEK 09 | ACTIVITY
This is a case of the mind being willing, but the body might not be ready - yet! I had my first tennis lesson in a couple of decades and LOVED it. My knees did not. I know that even though I'm in a lot of pain I'll just have to grind through it and KEEP MOVING. Pain is a great deterrent to moving and I've given in far too often. The key is to modify my ambitions. I'll keep my weekly tennis lesson, cut back to walking a half-hour each day, swim at least twice a week then increase things from there. On the back burner are my plans to get a skipping rope and mini-trampoline or any "boot camp" plans, and I won't be joining any tennis ladders any time soon, but my goal is to be in better shape - resulting in less pain - by mid-March, 2013. I'm thrilled with the start. Why? Because I started.
WEEK 10 | ACCOMMODATE
I didn't learn that I had a disability until I was in my early-20s. In those days it was called dyslexia, but in those days everything was called dyslexia. I don't know what I have, but I've learned to live with it. I've also learned that it is something I've passed along to my children. Last summer, Claire took an intensive one-month course to get her grade 12 advanced functions credit. This way she didn't have to carry two stress-inducing math courses in her final year. Heading into the exam she had a 96% average. Claire bombed the exam - she always bombs exams. The anxiety is all-consuming and she freezes. I have always been accused of having my kids "too busy" so they don't have time to study and therefore the school was unwilling to consider any alternative. This math course was perfectly timed. Claire was not overly taxed for time in July and one day she received a quiz back where she got 100% and the next day she got a 64% on her exam. It was clear it was not a function of busy that kept her from excelling at her exams. The guidance office was extremely helpful and I set Claire up for a full evaluation. We now have proof of crazy high IQ (wow!) and high anxiety. Accommodations have been made and this upcoming exam season should prove to be far less stressful for my girl. It was a huge process for both of us but I think it's been completely worth it. We'll see for sure at the end of the month!
WEEK 11 | HEAD SHOTS
I am a good photographer. I have a good eye and great equipment. For the life of me, I cannot take a good shot of my kids. They always put on that face. You know, the "take the stupid picture mama and let's get out of here" face. Cole needed head shots for his resumé. As painful as it was, I swallowed my pride and called a photographer. I think the shots turned out really well - even without me behind the camera! What it did do was give me the idea to take photos for my friends of their own kids who might give their parents and equally hard time. Definitely something to consider - but after we get things rolling for Cole with sending out resumés and photos! A whole new world.
WEEK 12 | COUCH
I don't know that I would call myself cheap, but I am always on the look-out for good value. It never occurred to me that I would find value at Restoration Hardware. The concepts are not synonymous! Guess what? The couch is gorgeous and I couldn't find it, or anything similar, for less money than RH. I spent 6-months and zip. I finally gave up and gave in. This 100" Maxwell Sectional is PERFECT for our space and for my family. Super big and super comfortable, it is in the centre of our living room. Sometimes what we believe to be true is just not true at all.
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ABOUT THIS PROJECT | I followed New52 with awe and a bit of envy. My plate was so full I just couldn't join in but it was something that piqued my interest. Not that my plate is any less full, but it is more manageable and I hope to fill the wrong side of my 40s with a positive challenge. Let's see where it leads. Thank you to Peppermint and Christine for your weekly big and small inspiration! I love the idea that "it isn’t about making a life-altering change every week, it’s about keeping an open mind and embracing little changes in your life." Life is good.
