Personal Development Community

Secret Training Camp aka “Finally got my act together” lol!!!  I simply replaced all my bad addictions (ooh pizza, SUGAR) with good ones!!!!!

Another year is gone, some Goals Accomplished!!!  Some work in progress.  In general it was a great year. 

My number one goal was to get my kayak instructor’s certification and start teaching.  This was my biggest success - I’m now ACA certified Level III Coastal Kayak instructor, and I’ve been teaching commercial classes for California Canoe and Kayak in the bay area as well as our kayak club clinics.  I’ve even been paid for the commercial classes.  It’s a huge responsibility, but I love what I’m doing and love sharing the experience of kayaking in a safe and controlled environment. 

What’s next - continuing to improve my skills and gain more teaching experience.  This year I’m going to keep a class journal with interesting stories about my experiences.  I did something similar as part of my final certification homework and the analysis of each class, even though it is a self analysis, made me a better instructor. 

Another goal accomplished was to take my relationship with my BF to the next level.  I am happy with the relationship an next year, the new goal is move in together and marriage (more about that in my goals post in my journal entry).

Health and fitness - nothing earth shattering here - no great weight loss, just consistent weight training for the entire year.  While I didn’t always get my two weight workouts per week (life happens) I did continue working with my trainer and have gained significant muscle, particularly in my upper body.  It shows when kayaking or wearing those sleeveless tops.  No waving arms for me.  The key - I know what it takes to get it done, I know I prefer to workout with a trainer - so that’s what I did.  No excuses - just do it. 

I’ve also redefined my role at work and I’m in the process of making it fun again.  We went through some lean times, and now we are getting busy again with new challenges.  I’m looking forward to making this a new year of learning, and developing professionally to provide our customers with service that exceeds expectations, and to provide value to our customers. I know that sounds very corporate, but it’s really a personal goal where I can relate to the clients and bring added value to them just by being on the project.  So Goal accomplished for 2008 - I’m happy and excited with my job again. 

My personal life and professional life can both work at once.  There was a time when I was successful professionally and trashed my personal life, or happy personally and miserable with my work.  I’ve finally found the balance I need to keep both moving forward together.  (it only took about 50 years - so I might as well enjoy it for another few years).

There were lots more small goals accomplished along the way, but these were the most significant.  With each, I remembered -

Laugh - long and hard.  Laugh with people, not at them, Laugh at myself every chance I have.
Play - with all the passion and fun of a child
Love - as though I will never be hurt
Live every minute - it will never happen again
Have no regrets - mistakes can’t be undone, just learn, and move on.

That’s beautiful, Paula. Those are amazing accomplishments! I feel so inspired by your ability to forge ahead with consistency and energy.

You inspire us all!

More Goals in the ‘Done’ column.

At the end of this week, Rich and I will be living in the same household, complete with 5 kayaks, 4 cars, 3 bicycles, 2 cats and 1 dog.  AAk!!! What was I thinking!  Then the next scary concept - We will be married by the end of the year

On to the next goal - we have a purchase agreement on a new house in Maryland - still working out the details of the construction loan, but we have decided that we will make it work, somehow. 

I have a new hip, and I’m living pain free and doing almost everything I want to - Ibuprofen Free!! 

Yes, there is a bit of sadness at leaving one phase of my life behind, the single professional woman living with her cat, and moving to the next phase of life, in a partnership with a great guy who loves building a home with his partner, traveling, and being active. 

If you don’t grow and change you die.  I think I’ll keep moving forward.

I love that, Paula!

And this,

“If you don’t grow and change you die.  I think I’ll keep moving forward.”

That makes a terrific quote!

We made it - Me, Rich, 1 cat, 2btrucks, 3 bicycles, 4 of something and 5 kayaks are all in Maryland. 

This is all something that came of a simple exercise with the MasterMind group and in Fusion - my average perfect day.  This is the place where I visualized spending mornings on the balcony having coffee and looking over the woods, watching the birds.  It’s the place where I visualized paddling through marshland full of wildlife.  It’s where I visualized sitting on the patio watching lightning bugs, or cooking healthy meals in front of a fire on a cold winter day.  It’s the place of my dreams. 

The house is something we designed, with my average perfect day in mind. 

The dream started with Fusion - I left early Sunday morning to catch a flight to Maryland to look at property.  Something clicked and the process began.  Getting Rich to share my dream, going through the hunt for the perfect location, negotiations with the builder, logistics of getting the loan, moving stuff, stuff and more stuff, finally driving 2,950 miles to a temporary house.  I’m here - we made it, and it’s only going to get better.  The house should be finished in November.  My dream essentially becoming reality right in front of me.  (pictures to follow - i need to crop and compress to post here)

I now have a clean slate to create my average perfect day, with no constraints based on habit or inertia.  I can create my dream.  My day will include exercise.  My diet will be healthy.  It’s my choice.

Congrats on your move Paula.  It sounds like a perfect day to me.  I look forward to seeing your pics.

Another Goal Complete

Rich and I got married on Saturday.  It was a beautiful Las Vegas wedding.  We had the small private civil ceremony in a chapel next to the county commissioner where we got the wedding license.  We invited no one so no one felt as if they were the only ones to be left out.  The bride and groom wore jeans and matching kayaking t-shirts.  Then we walked about 2 miles back to the hotel for a champagne breakfast in celebration.  In all, the perfect wedding.

CONGRATULATIONS, Rich and Paula!  How cool, and indeed a perfect wedding.  It sounds pretty similar to ours.

When Mike and I got married four years ago last month, we were married at a motorcycle campground in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.  The bride and groom wore motorcycle gear and were married at a fountain altar with our Goldwing motorcycle at the altar.  We had nobody there either except our best man and matron of honor.  We had an after-party a month afterwards at our house where we invited all our friends and family.  We had a live band, and it was a potluck meal.  That way, people that wanted to bring gifts (which we didn’t want) felt like they were giving something, and we didn’t have as much work to do! 

Many years of happiness to you guys.  Good stuff.  Perfect timing, too.  Do the holidays and then set up your new list of goals for next year!

Congrats to you Paula, I am so happy that you had such a nice wedding.  Hope all else is going good for you.

Scooby