Denim Deb's, Monthly goals update and new goals.

[Denim Deb]

OK, I had to change up the title a bit.

It's often been said that when you really want to do something, you have the time for it. And, looking at my life, for the most part, that's probably true. I'll do something I enjoy doing at the cost of doing something I should do, or I'll read something I enjoy at the expense of reading something that may make my mind grow and expand. And, I figured if HWC can read something she doesn't like, so can I. So, here's my list along w/why I chose what I did. Some things are going to be Monday to Friday challenges instead of everyday because I cannot do them w/my hubby around. I'll start w/the M-F challenges.

1. Make a reasonable daily schedule of what I want to accomplish. I have so much that needs to get done that I try to do too much, or don't do anything because I feel overwhelmed. So, if I can make a reasonable schedule, it should help.

2. Work on my Spanish. I keep saying that I want to improve my Spanish, and have everything here I need to work on it, I just don't.

3. Make sure the house is cleaner when I go to bed than it was when I got up. My house is a mess. It's not as bad as it was, but it still has a ways to go B4 it's as clean as I want it.

4. Everyday I'm home B4 my hubby, I'm going to make dinner. That is, unless he says he wants to cook something. I stopped making dinner because he'd come home and say I don't want that. Well, if he doesn't like what I make, it will be his problem. I'll freeze the leftovers for lunches for me, or dinners when he's not going to be home.

OK, the rest of my challenges.

5. Set aside time everyday to pray for 1/2 hour. While I pray during the day, I don't have a set time to pray. I've tried it in the past, but find that my mind starts to wander. I need to be more disciplined in this.

6. Read David Copperfield. I've never been a fan of Dickens. Other than Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol, I don't know how many of his books I've started to read, and couldn't finish. I had to read Great Expectations in high school, but didn't really enjoy it. (I was one of a few in the class who really read it, most just got the Cliff notes.) But, I need to read something that will make me think, and hopefully, expand my mind. David Copperfield is long. It has 64 chapters. So, if I read 2 chapters a day, and 3 a couple of days, I should be able to finish it by the end of the month.

I had been going to include no complaining. But, I've realized that for me, complaining or venting is healthy. Otherwise, I tend to bottle everything up and that's not good.

 

[Beekissed]

That's quite a list!

On number 5...I had the same problem. Though I have a running commentary to God all day, seldom did I take the time to do nothing else but speak to Him. I'd always be doing it as I drove, worked, moved, etc. Then I read a verse about how we should thank Him when we lie down and as we get up, as we come in and go out, etc.

So I started to do some praying before I got out of bed in the morning when all was quiet and my body was still and again at night when I lay down and my mind and body NEEDED to be still but couldn't, then I found that prayer helped with that. Just concentrating and trying to organize my prayer thoughts helped me blow out the day's distractions.

Good luck, DD! I'd send you some chocolate if I could!

 

[Denim Deb]

Thanks. And I'm changing it a bit to 1 month. At the end of each month I want to review my list and see how I've done. Then, either continue to work on one, or move to a new challenge. I've heard it takes 30 days to make a new habit, so we'll see.

 

[HandledWithCare]

Good luck Deb! I'll be watching your progress and cheering for you! Lets do some muscle-reading!

HWC

 

[Denim Deb]

Well, I got inspired by you, so you cheer me on, and I'll cheer you on!

On a note about reading things. I was an adult college student. I remember being in one class in college. The professor asked how many of us had read Uncle Tom's Cabin. One hand went up-mine. I had heard about it, so I read it. I enjoyed it and thought it was sad that no one else in the class had read it. I think many of them hadn't even heard of it.

 

[HandledWithCare]

We had a man come and do a speech on it and no one had read it but a few of us. It's not really taught due to the content. The Disney movie Song of the South which has a lot of basis in the book is actually banned. We purchased a DVD copy from Europe for my grandma who has no idea it's banned or why--it'd make her feel awful and she likes the movie. I think that every book is an important part of our history and every movie too. I hate banning movies and books.

Anywho back on track, go Deb go!

HWC

 

[Denim Deb]

I never saw the movie, and would have liked to have. And I agree, we shouldn't ban something just because of content. There are many books and movies that I don't like, think they're too violent, etc, but I can't force my views on others.

Anywho, I'm taking a bit of a break. Hubby is normally home at this time, otherwise I'd be making dinner right now. But, since he isn't home, I'm relaxing for a bit. But, I made my schedule, and until now stuck to it for today. I'm just rearranging it a bit right now. I worked on my Spanish, had my prayer time, the house is cleaner and in just a bit, I'll be starting dinner. I'll be reading David Copperfield while I eat dinner. Normally, we eat dinner in the living room. Hubby watches it and I either watch it, play on my computer, read or some combination.

 

[CheerioLounge]

Sorry Deb, I don't mean to hijack your thread, but I just want to clarify something about Song of the South. It is not actually "banned." Disney has just withheld releasing it. Check this out.

 

[Denim Deb]

Thanks, CL. I don't know if this makes any sense or not, but I sometimes think that people read more into things than are meant. I don't know if this is the case or not w/Song of the South since I've never seen it, but I've seen people take something that has nothing to do w/race and/or religion and twist it around and claim discrimination on either count.

 

[CheerioLounge]

I am going to pass on commenting on this topic. Very difficult subject to discuss when not face to face.

I will tell you a story from when I was a kid. My father's grandmother came to live with us when she was in her early 80's. She was very "old school" from rural Kansas (the last state in the union to abolish slavery, btw). The whole family would sit and watch TV together. Family Feud was hosted by Richard Dawson at the time and he would go down the line and greet each member of the "teams" and kiss all the women. Well, if the family playing was African-American my Great Grandmother would wretch very loudly every time Richard kissed one of the women. It would make me soooo angry. This memory has been burned into my brain and has a great deal to do with the way I treat other human beings. You should have seen the look on her face when I came home from school one day with my two best friends; Harlan Harris and Richard Jimenez!