Spring Goals

I recently read an article in Real Simple magazine's January "list issue" that said many of the world's best lists have 7 items on them.  So I'm taking their advice and shortening my goal list this semester from the typical 10 down to 7.  Way to start off my year of simplification, right? 

1. Earlier to bed and earlier to rise.  Still striving for health, wealth, and wisdom, so I'm putting this one back on the list.  To be more specific, I'm aiming for sleep from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am.  

2. Exercise daily M-F.  At 7:15 am.  Cause I could use the extra endorphins, and with a scheduled time, I'm WAY more likely to do it.  And Nick says it will help my lymph system too.  Who knew?

3. Get a 4.0.  I'm not giving up on this idea.  And this semester, without any music theory classes, I just might be able to do it.  But I learned my lesson the hard way last semester, and even though I'm striving for 4.0, I still need to put cello studies before academic studies.  Cause really, that's what's gonna get me the job someday.  

4. Practice bare minimum of 4 hours a day.  Every day.  No exceptions.  And track my practice hours. And make goals.  And plan my practice well. This is going to be a productive cello semester, dang it!!  

5. No wasting time online until cello practice and homework is done.  Sweet and simple.

6. Read the scriptures and pray every single day.

7. Reduce drama.  Don't stress.  Be happy.  Find joy.  

Yay Spring semester 2009!  I'm feeling strong and ready.  It's gonna be good!

Summer Goals Evaluation

Today's horoscope: "You are right on schedule in your life so don't worry that you are lagging behind"

Thanks horoscope for those words of encouragement.  

Welp, school starts tomorrow morning which I guess signifies the end of my summer.  Due to Master Francis's wise training, I feel compelled to evaluate my summer goals.  In case you didn't know, they have been posted on the right hand column of my blog since the start of summer.  

1. Eat healthy... check!  I even became a vegetarian and weigh 15 lbs less than last summer.  

2. go running 3x a week.... well, this goal started out really well and lasted about a month, then I started biking more and felt like I got my exercise that way.  I went running this morning.  I'll make a new exercise goal.

3. Go to the temple 1x a week... failure.  I did this for three weeks in a row and then the temple closed for cleaning and I just didn't go back after that.  Now I live 3 hours away from my closest temple.  But those three weeks were very spiritually uplifting, I can tell ya that much.  

4. Keep in touch with missionary friends.... CHECK!  I keep in touch with Elder Morris, Sister Folkner, and Sister Hafen.  And they are all healthy and happy last I heard.  :)

5.  Learn the Elgar cello concerto... I did ok with this one.  I know notes and where I am going in the 1st movement and most of the 4th movement and have done some serious passage work in the 2nd movement.  I feel like I am in a good place to start working on it with Professor Uchimura now.  I know it's so cliche for a cellist to love the Elgar concerto, but MAN I love it!!  All y'all who don't know it should go check it out ... like SOON!

6.  Learn to scrapbook... lol.  Check!  I'd love to show you all my new discovery of my creative self but me and the scrapbook are both in Michigan.  You'll just have to take my word for it that it's going well.  I didn't know I had it in me.

7. Review music history and theory... check!  I was amazed at myself for how efficiently I did this.  And it payed off cause now I don't have to take remedial coursework!  YAY!  

8. Save money.... check.  

9. Walk more than drive... easier in Logan than in Kalamazoo, but I think I can safely say that I gave this one a good effort.  

So it was a pretty good summer, eh?  I'm really excited to start school tomorrow.  Time to make new fall goals.  Look what you've done to me Anne!  ... I love it.