Words

To start with, may I say a huge THANKYOU for all the kindness and helpful advice in response to my last post. You guys are THE BEST *mwah!*

As you know, here in HTFU City on the continent of LBTEPA on Planet Cranky, we are not given to, nor very good at, manifesting, nor reflecting either if it comes to that. Which is why it may seem odd that we have come up with three words which we hope will sum up the coming year. Why on earth would a confirmed lip-purser and hmph-er at airy-fairy new-age BS (to use the technical term) indulge in such behaviour? Am I drunk? Not at the moment, and if I was I can assure you that I would be even less inclined to such goings-on.
However, I have, as I said, felt lost. I need a map. I need charts, lovely charts full of stuff to tick off. But what stuff? What do I want to do, and more importantly, why? I think I need a big picture to colour in. Even if I don't, I need to change something. 2010's strategy of "struggle on with gritted teeth" isn't sustainable.
So.
In 2011, to be LBTEPA is to be
AN ATHLETE
CONNECTED
SPARKLING
An athlete
- to steal a comment from the mighty Tea, is an athlete, not a hero.
- is consistent-ish. Life happens.
- is careful-ish about what she eats and drinks
- makes workouts happen. They will if I make them, they won't if I don't.
- isn't precious or a diva. If there's only time for 5km when she wanted 7, an athlete doesn't wring her hands and get all "oh woe I am such a loser oh woe" on herself. She gets it done.
- takes physical limitations into account but doesn't let them rule her life
- dreams big, and is patient
A connected person
- friends that new person who's invited her - nothing bad will happen
- makes that call. Yes it's been ages, but tomorrow it'll be even longer
- accepts she'll always think she sounds like an idiot leaving messages but does it anyway
- smiles at people
- blogs regularly
- calls retail staff by their names
- wades through shyness, ego and worry about being pathetically needy to JFDI. Friendliness is everywhere even in a tri club full of skinnyfasts, who'd have thought? if you look
A sparkling person
- smiles a lot
- doesn't buy into staffroom or lunch-table whinge-fests.
- laughs often and loudly and accepts that people will look at her askance when she does so
- speaks passionately and sincerely
- has fears and doubts and neuroses. So?
- does stuff, just because she wants to. No-one really cares. The Not Right Police aren't coming.

I hope this post doesn't have the same effect as those R&M posts in December! I promise I'll tell you about yesterday's meltingly humid run along the river (with Noddie as my drink sherpa on her bike, thank goodness, or I would have died, srsly) and my awesome captaining of my work's tri teams. I'll even show you my chart if you like!
More anon, sparklers!