Accountability Check

Well how did that happen?

We are 10 days into April and I can't help but notice that I've been slacking above and beyond with my Eight Great Goals.

One of the main reasons I love blogging is that I have the opportunity to share and speak my mind - and also that I have an outlet to get my goals, thoughts and passions down on paper out in the open via the world wide web. Since those thoughts and goals are out, how's about a little Accountability check?

Let's begin with the fitness goals:

• There's only six more NTC classes I could make it to and my goal is to be at six. There's some serious pressure on me now to go when I'm able to go rather than try to fit a square peg into a round hole. Wish me luck.


• This week was the time where I was supposed to knock out many of my morning runs, and have opted to go in early to work instead. While my mind feels great about the work I can accomplish in the dark morning hours before the morning rush comes in, I still crave those morning workouts and the way they leave me feeling afterward.


• Dan and I have not gone for a walk after dinner yet - not even once. Weather isn't an excuse either because we both have wonderful jackets that support the pesky Portland rain.


• I'm only at 23 miles for my 100 miles/month running goal - but that was achieved from only three days of running. I've got the energy and I've got the time!

On Food goals:

• I've written down maybe three full days of what I've eaten, and not always immediately or thoughtfully for the purpose of learning. This changes today.


• I'm at 3 (of 7) latte's consumed, once was free, one was with Dan in the morning and one was an evening surprise from Dan.

Feels like Spring goals:

• I've been okay at having flowers in the home and at my desk. There's plenty out in the garden and apparently I'm supposed to expect a "surprise" delivery on Thursday! 


• Landscaping at home will take place the first weekend day it's not 70% + chance of rain.

Dan goals:

• After the Masters tournament this weekend I can bet you that Dan and I will be heading to the driving range to get my goal of hitting a ball 50 yards in the air out of the way. I'm going to shock him and accomplish it on my first try.


• Still working out what I can get and do for my Daniel to make his golden birthday memorable. I want to make his day special!

Phew - that feels so much better to own up to my dirt and non-progress toward these goals. Us bloggers aren't perfect.

Thanks for listening - try this honest cleansing for yourself!

Throwback Thursday: Upside Down

Are there days or weeks where you feel like life has changed, like your world is different than it once was before and ever has been? Almost a feeling of being upside down? Left is right, up is down. Not in a bad way, but it does make you stop to take a look around and get used to your new surroundings.

How much my job demands of me is starting to sink in and I feel blessed to have experienced two whole months of ignorance before I came to this understanding. From a deliverable standpoint (meetings, reports, and emails) to a knowledge foundation (details, soundbites and insights) being an expert in what I do is not a benefit or nice-to-have, it's a demand. Being able to answer to anything and everything that a business partner could ask of us is commonplace and most often these questions are asked in a board room with many people documenting and relying on your word to be the absolute truth, then they hold you to it! I've always taken pride in doing a job well, on time and with an extra dash of awesome (and still do!). This trait and burning desire to succeed makes it hard for me to pull myself away at the end of the day or to not want to fire up my laptop at 2 in the morning when I wake up and can't get back to sleep. I'm so thankful that my work schedule is reliant on Dan's schedule too - if we weren't carpooling I couldn't be trusted to leave before 10pm or just make a blanket fort and stay the night.

Don't feel bad for me, I am learning quickly and feel comfortable with the road ahead of me. Mostly I'm happy to have this outlet in my life to free-write and share anything I want with the world and more often just let my brain unwind. I'm over my head happy to have Dan in my life who supports me and my career goals to no end. I'm lucky to have parents who raised me to believe I can do anything I put my mind to, and a brother who continues to amaze us each day with his accomplishments and plans for an early retirement.

I'm extra lucky to have plans this evening with mom, dad, Bailey and Dan for home-cooked lasagna... which, let's be honest, it'll look something like this:

I'm happy with the changes in my life and have a smile on my face about how much responsibility has fallen into my lap.

This Throwback Thursday is brought to you by the surprise, excitement and growth that takes place when your world turns upside down!

^ Mom & MattMan ^

<3 JE