Becoming my Own Hero: Day 3

While attempting to be industrious with my time today, I discovered how much time I waste zoning out while doing things...

It's a lot. I zone out and comment on things on facebook. I zone out and end out updating stuff on iTunes for hours on end. I zone out and clean off a single section of my room. (I'm putting off the cleanliness part of Ben's virtues because I know it could take hours if not days to get my room and closet to the point of being clean and concise.)

Awareness is the first step though, right?

Despite discovering my weakness when it comes to time management, today was fairly productive. I actually exercised for the first time in a while. I ran/jogged/walked a mile at the track and stretched my muscles. I hadn't realized how tight I had let my upper leg muscles today. Ultimately the exercise experience today was a series of good pains. The cold air burned my lungs and my legs complained ferociously from the movement, but it felt good to be out and moving again.

I should exercise more. Maybe I'll work it into my schedule when I actually get a little better at this whole industry thing. That and the hundred other things I want to do. Hmmm... Exercise or Facebook time... I guess I'll just have to learn to manage that time better.

Becoming my Own Hero: Day 2

I had work for most of the day, so my efforts for today had to be confined primarily to the late evening. I settled on doing a little research on the eldest of the 3 listed in the previous post, Benjamin Franklin.

Ben was well known as a statesman, a diplomat, an inventor and a lady's man. (The last one always makes me giggle.) He wrote prolifically, but is best known for his biography and his work on Poor Richard's Almanac.

One of his lesser known quirks though was that he strictly judged himself by a set of 13 virtues. The virtues went as follows:

1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order: Let all things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others; (i.e., waste nothing).
6. Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
11. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or anther’s peace or reputation.
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

How many times over do I fail to follow so many of these on a daily basis? Perhaps this is a good place to start work on myself. I think I'll start with industry. I really do waste way too much time between facebook, tv and what not.

So, what do you think I need to work on? What do you feel like you need to work on? Does this sound outrageous, impossible or just silly? Why?

"The unexamined life is not worth living." -Socrates

"Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices." -Benjamin Franklin

Becoming my Own Hero: Day 1

I posted on facebook at the beginning of this year that my goal this year is to become someone who I consider a hero/ role model. So, how do I plan to do this? By doing things that make me into my concept of a heroic figure of course!

First lets start by looking at who I consider the role models for my life:

• Amelia Earhart
• Henry David Thoreau
• Benjamin Franklin

Yes, so 3 very interesting individuals who I hope to accomplish things like they did during my short lifetime. The biggest striking feature of the 3 is their independent spirits though. They were truly incredible because they did things on their own and in their own way. I'm pretty far from that mark right now, but I want to get closer.

Today I have taken steps to help make myself more financially independent by working on a plan to decrease my school debt. It's small, but not owing money for school means I will be in the clear debts-wise which in turn means that I will be able to pursue other things that require finances.

According to a family friend, who is pretty far up the ladder at a local bank, if I go with my plan then I should be out of debt within the next few months and will be able to start investing funds in the very near future. I like that idea.

Time to go for it.

Hungry for Skills

"It's not great, but I'm hungry," my co-worker mused over her food amid conversation over jobs. Maybe that is why we are here. We are hungry for something.

I just realized today that I have been working for Wal*Mart for almost 6 months. Scary thought. This was, in my mind, supposed to be a job just to keep me busy until I found something better. Still nobody is hiring, not really.

I have heard about some maybes, but somehow I just can't make myself believe that, in this time where people with 20 years experience and a PHD are out of work, I have any chance of getting a better job against the competition.

What do I have in my favor? I have some writing skills, I suppose, and an up-front writing style to go with those skills. I am easily adaptable and a quick learner, but then again most everyone claims the same. (I really am though.) I have a life and health insurance sales license. I know enough to edit html but not to write it (unless super simple web pages count). I have some experience with travel and at this point have been to all but one continent. I can cook. I've read a lot of books on business and other subjects. I am an okay artist, though I'm so easily distracted from my own art that I'll probably never be great. I know more about meditation and muscle relaxation then anyone I've met without some sort of certificate on the subject.

And I am smart. As a school councilor once told me after a conversation and a glance at my SAT score, I can do anything. I just don't have a piece of paper to prove it, so I guess I'll develop some more skills until I can find a job where I fit.

Wheel of skills, turn, turn, turn. Tell me the skill that I should learn.

Today's skill is: Business Spanish. Give me a day or two and it'll be second nature. I already know the basics, I'm just a little out of practice.

Now, for your entertainment, here are the main phrases I need for my present job:

Hola. ¿Como esta? Bien, gracias.

¿Encontró usted todo bien hoy? Si.

¿Querría usted solicitar una tarjeta de crédito de Wal-Mart? No.

Tenga un día bueno.

For my next job? Who knows. I guess it couldn't hurt to be prepared. Tune in next time for more fun "skills."

A Search for a Better Me

Today I think I'll begin to search to find a better me...

A me who is not afraid

A me who does what she must do

Not because of what they've said

But because my heart tells me to.

A me who writes with passion

A me who writes daily

Who makes meet the black and the white

And does so gayly.

A me who cooks often

A me who cooks not to pass time

But crafts dishes with panache

Because I expect the sublime.

A me who is not discouraged

A me who believes the impossible dream

Who doesn't listen to the naysayers

Because this little girl is more the she seems.

Happy New Year to all! If 2010 really was the last year what would you do? Now do it!