Goodbye August, Hello September!

Now, though I fear it is a little bit late, I will say farewell to summer. It has been fun...well as fun as it could be for little me. The tans (or burns, while others are bronze after time in the sun, I am pink, or even worse at times--red) will fade but the memories will last forever. (Who knows? I may have written in my journal about you!) True, summer is all I want. Days relaxing on the beach (there are lakes in Idaho, true that they were freezing, but I did go for a little swim or rather float in my life jacket) are through. As we traverse into fall though (my personal favorite season--so many colors) I like to think of an attitude as Walt Whitman put it--"You are so much sunshine in every square inch." On's attitude should say it all. Now, I am not your regular Olaf when it comes to summer, and sun, and everything hot (look at the first parenthesis of this post if you need enlightenment), but I will definitely miss those carefree days of summer, or rather, those more carefree days of summer in the sun, next to the lake, shielding myself from the sun with shade, but I hope I can still make the world a better place by acting out or carrying through with my monthly goals. (You had to have at least some idea that this post would detail on those. It's September 1st for crying out loud!) (Happy birthday, Somer!)

1) Take yourself "back to school" by reading a book or an article about something entirely foreign to you and enjoy the process of learning something new: Admittedly, I went to school up here in Idaho all of this summer. It was online, but I still consider that school. (Don't argue with me on this.) But, I think that every day is a success if you learn something new in it, no matter if it is in your schooling hours or not. Take for one, my scripture study this morning, I tied together two verses of scripture and a talk that I was reading. I would have never done that if I didn't remain with this perspective in my study. (If you would like to know and read my attachment, and add some of your own (I encourage that!) here it is with Helaman 13, Alma 29:1-3, "Trust in God, then Go and Do" by President Henry B. Eyring (October 2010)) All in all, my goal is to not be afraid to learn something new, whether I am in school or not. Also, I don't know whether this applies or not, (I'm my own worst enemy) but I am reading a book that I haven't read before currently. Just give me a library card and I have more potential than just the world. 

                             

2) Bake something new: I do love to bake. Admittedly, I tried a new recipe only a few days ago (lemon cookies, they are still sitting on my counter. Any takers?) (I originally made them for a boy who I had gone on a date with recently (hi Mauro!) and had offered me some tea. Honestly, I don't drink tea, but I do eat tea cookies (I eat any type of cookie arguably). Although I tried this new recipe awfully recently--one of the last days of August, I think that was just to show myself that I could bake solo. Even though, I didn't quite have all the ingredients so I had to borrow some from my sister across the way (Hi Tara!) which proved to be of extensive benefit, because once I was finished, and the dough looked weird to me (I'm used to thick chocolate chip cookie dough...here is a forewarning to each of you early bakers out there, lemon cookie dough doesn't look anything like that, it's light, thin, and wispy, and there are no chocolate chips (I know, startling)), and she helped me get it ready for the oven in its own little cookie dough balls. Now, I could consider that my try at baking something new, but no. It showed me that I could bake, maybe with a little help since I'm a legitimate beginner but since I can cook, I will in September and hopefully with more extensive recipes than lemon cookies (or any type of cookie). Also, if I haven't said this already, I'm not sure that I can say it enough, thank you, Tara!

                                                                         

3) Walk at least 10k steps every other day: This one may be a bit far fetched for me. Okay, let me elaborate; I have a bad habit of falling on my face. (You might want to stop reading this part if you can't handle blood) (please tell me I'm at least starting to discover the talent of describing something with words) In summation, whether it is ice or just a misstep, I trip and fall more than expected and I usually break a bone in the process, whether it be teeth (those are bones--look it up!) or nose, the ground, walking specifically with my limp, have never really been my friends. Or maybe it is that I remember the bad times really well, like a speck of dirt on a white tablecloth or a tiny beam in the eye (maybe that isn't what was intended with that one...don't look it up) (not that I'm advising you not to read your Bible, because that would be opposing everything and I'm not that much of a rebel). In fact, just yesterday, I fell on my face (stop reading if you can't handle it). I luckily didn't break anything...I don't know if it is because my nose is already a tad askew from my last fall, followed by a trip to the ER, or what, but I didn't break any part of my fragile body. I did, however, earn a pretty big bruise and now my knee is black and blue and I had to spend the rest of my day in bed, catching my breath from the wind being knocked out of me and being sent to kingdom come. What was my goal again?

4) Reach out to someone: I hope that this one becomes a full pattern for my life or at least a more regular one. If anyone needs help I do. I need to stop thinking that! I'm already having feelings of Deja Vu with this one too, but I don't care. From my perception, I think this is a good goal to have every month, not just a finish line that you cross, and don't care about anymore. It is just a trophy at the top of your closet collecting dust. They say that bad habits die hard, I would like to add this tagline, good habits die hard too, don't let them die! For one, I have the habit of reading at least a chapter of some book or other right when I wake up. I feel this prepares me for the day, and helps wipe away all the morning grouch cobwebs and is a good habit, so I sustain it each and every day. Reaching out and helping someone is a good habit too, I believe. Just like it says in Matthew 7: 12-"Do unto others as you would have others do unto you," (I think that is the correct citation for this one, is it?)

                        

5) Go to bed at a reasonable time: Okay, it once again is confession time. I have almost always had trouble here. Whether it is too late or too early that I decide to rise, I've never been a pro at bedtime. (One more chapter! I wake up too early anyway!) (In fact, I am the first to arise from sleep near every morning in my dorm...unless Somer or Sierra have to go to work pretty early) I have felt like I have tried everything, that is except going to bed at a reasonable time. I partially have my nightly rituals to blame for this one. Take, for one, the bleek fact of last night where I finally went to sleep at midnight, possibly later. (I know it was later.) I have to read at least a chapter of my book to prepare my mind, plus dreams for sleep. I don't care if it happens to be a book full of very long, very exciting, I can't put it down chapters. Maybe I should learn to control myself better in this aspect (maybe...my books and I are something that you can't keep apart for very long). Then comes my second nightly habit, I like to write in my journal, and if I write in my journal, I am going to be up for a time more. Don't blame me! I want to be remembered, so I journal for someone in the far future could someday pick it up, and read it, and find out about me and my day. Journaling is also a good strategy for my memory, but enough about me.

                                                   

6) Stay offline one day per week: Please tell me if this is a weakness that we all share--the need to know. Whether it be educated and you, say wish to know what is happening currently in the political world, or whether it is vainer, or lazy and you want to know what your favorite superstar is doing or where your friend got the outfit they were wearing the other day (that they posted on Instagram), this is a weakness. Did you ever hear that old adage of too much of a good thing is a bad thing? That is true. For me, I try to not read any of my fictional, fantasy, make-believe, or whatever stories on Sunday since that is the Sabbath day, you know "day of rest" and the most I can do to give that day to God is to ignore the things or books that the world gives out. That sneaky snake though, slithering through the grass unnoticeably to me still finds away. The internet is poison. Why did poison have to be so sweet? So to be sure to take heed and avoid, I will try and distance myself from it. (Just not today.) (Oh no.)

  

Those are my September goals. What do you think of them? How much are you going to miss those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer? This goal setting and stating strategy that I have, do you think that it is a good one, or should I write about something more...intense than that? As always, I am all ears.

                         

Right on Target

Now, reader, you may think that my swell habit of goal setting would've died because I am now at college (thank you for reading this, by the way), in the place that I believe I was designed to be. Now, though this whole attending school, or my further education at a college or institution (other than attending church and institute at the CSU institute building), I still believe that there are a few things which I would like to accomplish, and goal setting is a habit. And, what can I say? Habits, whether they be good or bad (hopefully good) take time and if you dedicate yourself to them, they are hard to break. Comparably, it took me years (or maybe it was days or weeks, but just felt much longer than that...it was a very long time ago) until I hit the target correctly during archery lessons in P.E. class, this is just to make sure that I am right on target (because certain things take time, and none of us are perfect) (that's right. I said it.) 

1. Make a habit of wearing higher SPF: When one first is told to think of the weather in Rexburg, Idaho (that is where I currently am), they do not immediately think of hot summer days and sweat. It does rain 9 out of the 12 months of the year here, and I landed in the three lucky months that they get of sun. It is a peculiar climate at times (trust me, when I arrived here a week ago, there was a hailstorm and right at this moment, it is a lovely day outside), but one gets used to it! My roommates, Somer and Sierra regularly spend a section of the day in their swimsuits, outside tanning. Though God has given me a great abundance of blessings, one of them isn't skin that can easily tan. (What is that skin called again? Please enlighten me if you know this.) And also, I should respect that the sun might have a different effect on me here but...I'm not a real big risk-taker (unless anyone dares to challenge me that I cannot read an entire book in a week. Bring it. What were we talking about again before my head was in the clouds.) Everyone has to start somewhere. I may be like an innocent, peaceful Hobbit traversing to Mordor, but at least that is somewhere (and who knows? I could have some Took in my bloodline.) (I do often tell people that though my mother was born and raised in southern California, I did not inherit her skin.)

2. Write a letter to my senior self: I don't know about you but in elementary school (I can't remember if it was in kindergarten or 5th grade...probably 5th grade because I think I was in the blue group in kindergarten (the lowest reading group--just give me a goal) (I always had the mindset that I have right now on goals) my class was given the assignment to write a letter to ourselves that they would send to us once we were a senior in high school. The letter included our current hopes and dreams (as they were when we wrote it) and our prospect for the future. The simple assignment of writing that letter was like a baton that kept me on target for the rest of my life. Though, when I was young, I didn't see myself receiving a brain injury in a car accident that put a little damper on my schooling life, but it is one of the things that taught me that no matter how many times life knocks you down, you can always get up and I still try to do that today. That is why, though I am a sophomore in college currently, I will write myself a letter to open when I am a senior. Though I may take some of the classes at a slower speed because of what happened in the car accident and the COVID-19 trial the world is currently going through and I have no idea when I will complete my education, I will still write it. I have to set the goal or see the racetrack before I can actually complete it. If writing a letter to myself is going to work, much like it did for my primary education self, so be it. 

                                                     

3. Pull an all-nighter: I admit that I am a little bit timid with this one. I am a firm believer in the phrase "early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise" but if I am honest, laying it all out on the table here, I have never been very good at going to bed all that early, whether it is my book that keeps me up (just one more chapter...please!) or my friends and their giggles or probably the true criminal of a long movie (and I DON'T want to do my workout) that keeps me up, I have just never been all that good at going to sleep early. Although, in the morning, it is a different story. I am a naturally early riser. (I believe I get that from my mother.) I was always the one waking my father up to take me to my seminary classes before I had Tara to drive me there. I don't know if it is part of my gene code that makes me this way or rather, it could also be that I grew up in a room with two windows shielded with white blinds (what made me get a sleep mask recently...though it hardly ever stays on my eyes all night. I don't know what movements I make in my sleep.). I just have never been a very big fan of sleep (it's not you, it's me). Although, when my alarm went off this morning, I am proud to say that I rolled over, opened one eye, turned it off, before shutting my eye again. Maybe it is this college thing, but an all-nighter sounds like quite the challenge that I bafflingly find myself willing to stand up to. Bring it. 

4. Cook a meal: I mean an actual meal--and I won't allow myself ordering pizza that I heat up in the oven count! (Well, maybe...) So far, whenever I have needed a home-cooked meal, my angel of a sister, Tara has been there for me (hi Tara! Thank you!), but I decided that I must pay her back someday, somehow...if she is brave enough. Funny story: yesterday, I went to the grocery store, seeing that I was running low on some of my microwaveable products thus, I needed to pick up some more so I did (along with some twinkies because I don't always have the time to make myself a justifiable breakfast). I'm in college! It is one of those when in Rome, sort of things. Anyway, even in the store, I almost grabbed more than I needed because of this early morning, late night dream. I am learning how to live on my own, so if I am going to have to learn how to cook a meal someday, why not now? (I mean serious meal, spreading some jam on bread or throwing it in the toaster doesn't count.)

5. Join a tree-planting event: I don't even know if this one is a semi-realistic goal yet because I am not quite sure what the laws up here say about me planting something that could be there for hundreds of years. So I'll be sure to check on that...no matter how relaxed some claim the law is up here (what else is it going to be with a ton of college-aged Mormon kids? (What am I supposed to call us again?)). I have always been a supporter of more green earth in my days, and my children's days (if I'll even ever). Heck, one of my best friends in high-schools name was Aspen (not that that is a good notifier, it is more ironic). Though I claim to not be a complete hippie (at least I try), I do have Lorax-like support of the tree movement (not just because of that is a book by the lyrical genius of Dr. Seuss) (maybe no Shakespeare, but he is pretty darn well close) when I say with him, "A tree falls the way it leans, be careful which way you lean." I lean with the law on the go earthside in this particular case. (Though I fear I am more comparable with this little guy ("the cutest little guy ever") here.)

                                   

6.  Do a karaoke night: Ever since the car accident for me, I have been a little pile of nerves that would rather die instead of doing something like sing in front of people. I have participated in one karaoke night since then, but I was sure to sing a song that everyone knew and would be singing with me before I took my place on the stage in front of the microphone. Before the car accident, I didn't have any nerves at all. I always auditioned for the solos in my choir class, and even before that, I was the lead with the one solo song for my 5th-grade musical/graduation. (I don't even know who that girl was anymore, singing in front of people without having a problem about it...yikes.) Anyway, once I was in a car accident that some people said that my injury could've affected the vocal cords I have always been a little more timid and shy. If you don't believe me, know this, I did take some voice lessons right after the car accident because while some said that my singing ability was affected, there still were others that refused to believe that (I did take a choir class every year of middle school). The voice lesson recital, though my teacher never endlessly complimented me on some of my songs, I still did something that would assure that I forgot the recital (everyone said I had a bad memory anyway) and wouldn't have to go up on a stage, center stage, and perform in front of people. Maybe this goal is not such a good idea haha (shoot for the moon even if you miss you'll land among the stars). 

 

Am I crazy to be setting goals like this, even at this point in my life? With my fair skin (not always a good thing, at least I believe), mad writing abilities, sleeping genes (some of them still do exist), microwaving skills, I'm a little like the Onceler too, or my timid genes (also known as all my genes) (sorry Chris, you may have heard me singing along to the radio but in my defense, that wasn't on a stage).  What are your thoughts on these? Do you support that target that I plan to hit someday, or am I a bit crazy (aren't we all)? Is the target too unimaginably far? Please post your thoughts on Blogger, Facebook, Twitter, or wherever you will. I would love to hear them. 💛💛💛💛