How to Accomplish Your Perennial New Year's Resolutions

My perennial new year's resolutions have been to learn piano and Spanish.

Today, in my usual anticlimactic way of finishing my major life accomplishments - 

I finally finished learning piano!! 

I quietly crossed it off of my life goals and ate dinner.

So how did I do it, and what made this time different?

(1) Pomodoro Technique - Pick a reward for yourself, and set a timer for 20 minutes, and work on your task for 20 minutes. I learned about this technique in a class I took a couple of years ago. It was taught as a method to overcome procrastination. As they said in the class, you can do anything for 20 minutes. They explained that choosing a treat for yourself activated the limbic portion of the brain and helped you stay motivated.

As I applied this technique, I found it to be really effective for me. Suddenly things that had been on my list of things to do forever were getting done when I committed myself to work on them for 20 minutes. There is something about not feeling like you have to do this dreaded task for a long time. Just 20 little minutes.

I started applying this to piano because I hated reading notes. It was so arduous! But I could subject myself to 20 minutes of torture and be done for the day. And it was torture for me - at first.

(2) Timing - I went running one morning and when I came home I decided to sit down at the piano for my 20 minutes. Oddly, I noticed that points in the songs that were normally very frustrating for me I could work through much more easily. This surprised me, but it was a great discovery. I learned that when I approach a task is important. There are times when I am better at working on a hard task than others. I am more sluggish when I am tired, and best after running.

(3) 20 hours - As I was ever so slowly progressing at piano, my brother sent me this TED talk. The speaker said that you could learn anything in 20 hours. This became my new target. This is important because goals are most effectively set when they are quantifiable. This 20 hour notion gave me something specific to work toward. At 20 hours, I would consider this goal accomplished.

(4) Tracking - I had read a lot of books about how successful people track things. So I started a note in my phone and started specifically tracking my practice.

This is my total log:

Piano - goal 20 hours - 1200 min, 60 sessions

9/14/15 - 20 min

9/17/15 - 20 min

9/19/15 - 10 min

9/22/15 - 20 min (1 hour 10 min)

9/25/2015 - 20 min (1.5 hours. 18.5 to go)

9/26/2015 - 20 min (1 h 50 m. 18 h 10 min to go)

9/30/2015 - 16 min (2 h 6 min. 17 h 56 min)

10/13/15 - 17 min. (2h 22 min)

10/15/15 - 16 min. (2 h 38 min)

10/20/2015 - 20 min. (2 h 58 min)

10/21/2015 - 22 min. (3 h 18 min)

10/29/2015 - 22 min (3 h 40 min) (16 h 20 min left)

11/4/15 - 20 min (4 hours) (16 hours left)

11/07/2015 - 20 min (4 h 20 m) (15 h 40 m left)

11/10/2015 - 20 minutes (4 h 40 m) (15 h 20 min left)

11/30/15 ish 40 min  (5 h 20 min) 14 h  40 min left

12/09/15 - 20 min (5 h 40 min) 14 h 20 min remaining.

1/3/16 - 20 min. 6 hours down. 14 to go.

1/4/16 - 20 min 6 h 20 min down 13 h 40 min to go

1/7/16 - 20 min 6 h 40 down, 13h 20 min to go

1/9/16 - 60 min 7 h 40 min down, 12 h 20 min to go

1/13/16 - 20 min. 8 hours down, 12 h remaining.

1/16/16 - 40 min 8 h 40 m done. 11 h 20 min to go

1/17/16 - 120 m. 11 h 40 m done. 8 h 20 min To go.

1/19/2016 - 20 min. 12 h done. 8 h to go.

1/20/16 - 40 min. 12h40m. 7h20m

1/21/16 - 20 min 13 h. 7 h to go.

1/24/16 - 40 min. 14h40m. 6h20m

1/25/16 - 80 min. 16h. 5h.

1/26/16 - 60m. 17h. 4h.

1/30/16 - 20m. 17h20m. 3h40m.

2/1/16 - 20m. 17h40m. 3h20m.

2/6/16 - 60m 18h40m 1h20m.

2/7/16 - 80 min. 20 h 0 min.

Goal Complete!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(5) Method - My roommate keeps a three ring binder of music that she is working on, so I decided to do the same. I photocopied the 12 songs I wanted to learn. Eventually, I put them in order from easiest to hardest, When I got frustrated with the hard, I'd go back to the easy. When I was fresh back from running, or feeling more capable, I'd switch to the hard. 

Eventually, I started highlighting the challenging parts of the songs. When I would practice the song, I would work through the hard parts first, and then play the song through.

I accomplished something I never thought would be possible for me. Obviously, I'm no Mozart, but when push comes to shove, I can now read music. 

Now, when I am looking at a song I think - I can learn that. 

And it feels great.

Official 2015 Stats

Backstory of Year End Stat Tradition: Here 

Number of siblings: 4

Number of siblings married this year: 1

Number of married siblings: 4

Number of new nieces and nephews: 2

Number of new solutions given to get me married:  1

(For the curious:  boss's brother suggested that if marrying a Mormon doesn't work he could set me up with some Mennonites in Sweet Springs, Missouri. Probably my favorite dating suggestion ever.)

Number of proposed dating methods used:  0

Number of guys who I randomly found sleeping in my car: 1



Number of people who considered this an alternative dating method for meeting guys: 1 (not me)

Number of boys I went on a date with that I met on an airplane: 1

Number of proposals:  0

Number of fake engagements: 1

Number of real engagements: 0

Number of boyfriends:  2

Number of breakups: 1

Number of hair colors: 2



Number of new cars: 1 (sorry, I neglected to take a picture)

Total number of cars owned to date: 3

Number of old mission companions I had lunch with surrounded by wine bottles: 1



Number of friend's weddings attended: 1

Number of helicopter flights: 1

Number of Small Air Plane Flights: 1

Number of out-of-state road trips:  6



Number of out-of-state trips: 15

Number of times we took this photo: A billion











Number of countries memorized: 196

Number of the countries visited:  0

Number of states visited this year:  20

Number of different places I attended church:  17

Number of pretty amazing foot ball games attended: 1

Number of Cardinals games attended: 2

Number of Cardinals games at which we got TOTALLY drenched: 1

Number of hockey games attended:  1

Number of totally awesome birthdays: 1 

(Cassie made cake pops after I sent her a picture of a world cake. Check out the detail. You can even see the continents!)

Number of birthdays I almost ruined:  1

Number of times I wore my 4th of July pants:  1

Favorite city of 2015: San Francisco



Life Ambitions Fulfilled:  See the redwoods, Ruby Caves, and Alcatraz

Dating: Never Married vs. Divorced After a Certain Age

I write this after getting a call from my boyfriend this morning to tell me he is going to Australia and that he is leaving in an hour. I'm happy for him although a little shocked just because despite talking fairly regularly on the phone, he never mentioned this well-formulated plan. It was an impulse buy, he says...except that it wasn't really. He's been checking out prices for weeks. I thought it was odd that I knew he had a week free the beginning of January and never mentioned coming to visit. I'm not hurt that he's going - even though I haven't seen him since Thanksgiving. It's more that he never mentioned it.

Today he's been busy announcing his trip on Facebook, yet he is always careful to never to mention me on Facebook, to his family, and to any friends who aren't in his super tight inner circle. He's quite affectionate if we are alone, but not at all if his friends are around. This may seem strange, but actually this is par for the course for his type of guy - i.e. normal, likable, never-married 37 year old - soon to be 38 year old. I knew that going into it.

I write this blog entry because, for whatever reason, I can't sleep tonight and so I have time to think and write about these things.

When I was in my late teens and early 20's, guys kind of drove me a little nuts with how much time they needed. In high school I swear I was the center of my boyfriend's universe. Our daily conversations were - Me: Hey, what are you up to? Him: Just waiting to hang out with you. It drove me crazy that he had little to no life outside of me. He had no goals besides me. He was always bored without me there. Arg. You can't be that interesting if you all you think about and care about is me! - thought my high school self. I did love how adoring he was; it just lacked substance.

In college, I found that when I started dating someone and suddenly he was at my house EVERY DAY. I had things to do, classes to prepare for. Then post college, I had more time - but oh my goodness, when I was in relief society presidencies I had girls to take care of, and I couldn't do that sitting there chatting with the guys. Sometimes I wished they would give me a little more space to take care of people.

Then, one fine day, I started getting asked out by a super adorable guy who was 27 - the oldest guy I'd dated by that time in life. He was a game changer. He was there, but not there. I had never been dating a guy who wasn't there before (i.e. emotionally unavailable). It was odd. He'd ask me out consistently, but never work towards establishing a relationship. He was playing the game, but not really playing at all. It was so maddening. Finally, another guy figured out that he wasn't there, and we ended up dating instead.

I come back to this guy because he represents a 'trend'. Now this 'trend' isn't evident in all guys 27 and older. Just some. Exclusions include guys who like girls but just can't get their game on - too shy to ask girls out, whatever; guys who live in really isolated places so there aren't many options; guys who really try but face a lot of rejection for reasons obvious to the ladies and everyone else, but not to them; guys who don't care all that much about being in relationships; guys who don't like ladies and guys who are anti-relationship.

So as you get older, the guys like high school boyfriends, college boyfriends, post-college boyfriends slowly disappear, and more and more of these not really there guys start showing up.  It is so odd at first, but then you slowly get used to it. This happens for a while, until one day, divorcees start joining your dating pool.

Now divorcees come with a great deal of stigma. They have baggage. They must be crazy/selfish/impossible to live with. Stay away! But here is the thing, they are also game changers....because they are part of the pool of guys who used to think their lady was the center of their universe, or they were the guys who would show up at your house EVERY DAY, or they were the guys who were always trying to get your attention when you had other things to do. In short, they were there. But unlike the pool of non-exclusionary guys left by your late 20's/early 30's - A - they were really interested in having relationships and B - most importantly - they were both willing and able to be vulnerable. Something that by this time, you haven't seen in a very long time. The first time my divorced boyfriend said he missed me, that he'd looked up ticket prices and hoped that I'd come visit - it was a shocking breath of fresh air. I bought the tickets and was there the next weekend. I mean, who admits that they miss someone less than a week into the relationship? Not guys who fit the 'trend'.

But we aren't done yet. If you keep dating, yet another pattern starts appearing. This is the over 40, never-married group. They get their own group because they are a breed of their own. They are the proud doctorates of the guys who continue to be the 'trend'. No matter how great he sounds, if it is a choice between Mr. No Baggage and Mr. Baggage, consider the divorcee unless you are already hopelessly in love, you have direct inspiration to date Mr. No Baggage, you have nothing to lose and/or you like being miserable. They are probably the most emotionally impervious group of people out there. They don't talk like they are, but once you start dating them - there it is.

So, here is my little plug for divorced guys. If you are over 30 and you like dating guys who will make you the center of their universe, show up every day, openly admit to others that he is dating you, don't write him off quite so quickly. I'm not saying every divorced guy is worth a serious pause, I'm just saying - think about it for more than a hot second. There are, and will always likely be plenty of exclusionary guys - and they deserve a plug for consideration too, but the 'trend' guys tend to get more emotionally odd as time goes on. If you are up for the emotional challenge of dating one - go for it, just know that you will likely find yourself up late at night pondering your dating situation while he is, not all that surprisingly, in Australia.

A Little Change of Plans

This afternoon I got a text from the Relief Society president. A person I visit teach needs some coats, can I take her to Good Will to get some? My first reaction is resistance. Of course the answer is yes, but in order to do this, I need to cancel or decline the plans I already have for tonight. Can't these needs be planned? But priorities, right? I cancel my plans and head out after work. Dinner can wait. Good Will is only open till 8.

Conversation is a little tough once I pick her up. It is all me asking questions - trying awkwardly to connect. As we talk I realize how hard things have been. Health problems. Husband is out of work. They don't even have coats.

We go to Good Will. We scour large bins full of disorganized clothing.

Last time I got rid of clothes I threw them all away. It was too much work to donate them - and who actually uses them anyway? Who would want what I have? These weren't justifications, they were honest beliefs.

Well here I am, on the other end of it. Every new bin of clothing brought up is devoured by the crowd. I swear to myself I will donate everything in the future. Someone might need that coat. I realize I have old coats sitting in my closet. I could give her those.

She is looking for coats with hoods because her family has no hats, scarves or gloves. I'm not sure I've ever known anyone who didn't.

After helping her bring the load of coats to her door, I drive home with the radio off to process these events. You know, I really do love helping. I could have spent my night pursuing my plans, but I got to think about someone else and it was humbling. I need the reminders that people out there exist who really do need so that I can be mindful of them and aware of the service that they need.

I think this little change of plans made the world a slightly better place tonight.

The more you give, the more you give. This is why.

Stud of the Month - May 2015

 

I was sitting in church one fine Sunday when I got this text:

In the past there was another person who tried to become an SOTM, but something stubborn in me was bothered by that. Here when I stopped to think about it, Ben already has stud of the month status I had just never thought of it before. My reaction to the #studofthemonththings text was - totally.

One of the things that has always really mattered to me in life is friendship. I've never liked the idea that a friend is just someone to hang out with because it is convenient, or fills a need. I always strongly preferred the idea that friends would grow into people you genuinely love and that there is a loyalty and commitment behind that friendship. You would be there for them in the hard times, and stick up for them even if everyone else walked. I've always been surprised that everyone doesn't feel this way about friendship.

Ben is totally that kind of person. I first realized this when one of his friends had irritated me and I was not impressed. One of my less awesome qualities is a total lack of tact, so in true character, I vocalized my feelings to Ben. Ben was completely loyal to this friend and always is. In response, he'll always point out why he is friends with this person and what he likes about them. He even manages to stick up for his friend in a way that recognizes his friend's shortcomings, but still explicitly acknowledges that he does, and always will love this friend. I've known people who get that fake kind of I'm-better-than-you-because-I-don't-judge-and-you-do thing about them in situations like this, but Ben doesn't. He sticks up for people because he really does care about them. He's not judging, he just says it like he genuinely sees it. He's that kind of friend.

The second thing is his inclusiveness. I feel like I have boundaries in who I choose as friends, but Ben seems to be more open. We were in the same law school class, but he became friends with a lot more people than I did and keeps pretty close ties with most of them partly because I think he is just more open to accepting and loving people for who they are.

I was most impressed by this when I went to his wife's baby shower. It was filled with friends or significant others of people from our law school class as well as friends from church. I had been in both of those worlds, but he did a better job of building and maintaining these friendships. I left that event quite genuinely impressed by this and I find it something to aspire to.

So, partly because of his campaigning, and partially because he really is that awesome, Ben Hegvic is May 2015 Stud of the Month.

 

 

Studette of the Month - March 2015

It was my first time living alone. After 7 months, I was at my wits end. I HATED everything about the experience, with the exception of the fact that my apartment was constantly spotless. I missed having someone to chat with at night. I missed having someone to bump into in the morning. I've always loved the way roommates naturally become your best friend just by virtue of exposure.

It was heart-breakingly lonely to be living alone for me. It might be easier on someone who doesn't enjoy the sociality of a home life, or people who thrive on TV or hobbies. I do neither.

I had one of those moments where I just couldn't handle it any more and offered a very sincere prayer for a new roommate. With in the week I had a phone call from a girl I'd never met before who was looking for a place to live. She seemed to campaign hard to move in. I readily accepted and then realized I should probably meet her first. When she came to meet me, I became a little worried. Her life story was a little...sketchy. I spent that night having night mares of things going terribly wrong on the home front and berating myself for accepting this new living companion without getting to know her better. But the deal had been made, so she moved in.

I liked her from the start. We both love French. Her father served a French-speaking mission. She was highly creative, and clearly talented. She was very honest - a trait I love. She loves having people over as much as I do. She really likes people, just like I do.

 

For the first few months there was friction in the sense that we are both rather opinionated and often our chatting resulted in arguments. But then there was the time that I looked up everything she was arguing and texted her a list of cites proving she was wrong. I knew it was a jerk thing to do, but she didn't punch back. She said she stood corrected, and that melted my heart just a little. I love it when people are nice when I'm a jerk. I just absolutely respect their bigness.

Then there was the time she came home and almost gave her last dollar to the people she met at the gas station who were living out of their car. I talked her out of giving her money, but she just looked at me and said - if you met them, you would see how much they needed it. She just has a natural sense of compassion that I really love. I've seen her buy a new bed so she could give her old one away to a friend. I've literally seen her give her car away to a friend in need. She used to cook me breakfast in the morning. All winter she's always left the heater on in the bathroom for me. She just has a really huge heart and kindness is a very natural thing for her.

I could go on and on.

I have a friend who is always wondering how the two of us get along - as in she seems doubtful that we could. But we get along quite well, and I feel privileged to have her for a roommate. This month we've been roommates for TWO YEARS!! That's so crazy.

Sometimes you take your chances, and it turns out to be one of the best things you ever could have done.

2014 Year End Review

What do you do on a sleepless night? Catch up on your blog. That is, after you've given up all hope of falling asleep. Here, my blog followers, is 2014 in a nutshell.

January:

New Year's Eve was spent with these guys.

These were the number of states lived in, visited, and left.

By the end of the year every continental state was colored in!

My domestic bliss has been fairly steady. These two are amazing piano players and cooks. I'd often come home to these two hanging out, playing amazing music, and cooking great food. I really love these guys so much. Audra and I have been roommates for a year as of February.

I was young women's president which meant that once a month our ward planned an activity. This was our proudest one. It was all analogous of the plan of salvation. They had a plane crash, complete with peanuts. Games. It rocked. We set ourselves up for high expectations after that which I can't say we quite met.

This is one of the annual highlights of my year, when Suz comes into town to visit. I LOVE these girls.

There is something nostalgic to me about the courthouse. You can't see it in the photo, but if you look through the window, the arch is perfectly framed. I just love this view. I had a phone interview for Kansas City on the day I had this interview. I wasn't ready to leave this city yet!

I went to a few trampoline classes. So. Much. Fun.

Met my roommate's family in Kansas City. Caught this view leaving my roommate's sister's church.

February:



My friend, Joana came to visit me in St. Louis. We visited a sculpture park. I've always wanted a picture with this eye ball.

I spent my Valentine's day in Kansas City at a dance. Met some cool people.



Domestic bliss continued in February.

I finally got to go to the chess museum. Since I was there, got my picture next to the world's largest chess piece. Why not.

Our young women's crew.

At work, Charlie stuck this on my file bin. You know you work with guys when....

For young women's, I went to a black history performance.

I have to say, it made me SUPER mad at all of the oppression in this country.

You just don't get these kinds of experiences in New Hampshire.

This was the lovely lady I went to support.

Made some new friends.

Did a service project.

Went to a hockey game.

Spring was lovely.

Visited this place for the first time.

This picture does NO JUSTICE to our great surprise. Blood moon!!

Young women's activity our ward planned.

Another play to support our young woman!

Star wars night at the science center.