Saturday, September 22, 2012
Ever Vigilant
My first semester of law school, I studied like crazy. I wrote definitions for the words I didn't know in the margins of my casebooks. I was always prepared for class and when the end of semester exams came along (which accounted for 100% of my grades) I kicked ass. I studied each day and did all the little things I needed to do and it paid off at exam time.
So the next semester I did the same thing, right? I studied and wrote definitions? Nope. I got cocky. I thought "I've got this handled". I read cases quickly and didn't take notes and at the end of the semester when those exams came around...I got C's.
Another example. A few years ago I was in great shape. I walked several miles each day. Bread and potatoes never passed my lips. Then little things happened, nothing major, just little things that made me think I didn't need to be quite so vigilant. I could have a cookie or an order of fries. And, I probably could, but once I started down that slippery slope---I had a cookie and didn't gain weight, so why not have another? Now...sigh...
And, when those things happen and I realize that I worked so hard to get to a certain level and let it slip away, I get mad at myself.
I've read some posts around bloggerville lately (my apologies for not naming them, but honestly once I start clicking from blog to blog then a new blog roll to explore...I forget where I am and where I've been) about how easy it is to slip away from the little things that make a DD relationship work and when those little things are left out, it doesn't take long before things get way off track.
My point? I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've learned that when something is important to me, whether it's my health, my writing or my relationships, I need to be vigilant every day, including all the little things.
Reminder---the 100K giveaway is still going on. Leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
you know whats the thing that i have to constantly take care of so it doesn't go off track? cleaning the house.
ReplyDeleteand my diet.
sigh. too easy to forget these two.
Agreed. And if I let them go for too long, then it seems impossilbe to get back on track.
DeleteCeleste,
ReplyDeleteI like your last point. Sometimes we take our relationships for granted. Good reminder. Thanks.
Hug,
joey
joegallo25@yahoo.com
Thanks, Joey. I may need to re-visit this post myself on a regular basis.
DeleteIt is really hard because sometimes we really do need a break. Trying harder when you need the break only makes it worse. But then how do you know when you need the break and when it's not just letting things slip away? I wonder about this a lot, myself.
ReplyDeleteGood question. I'm no expert (I just have a blog. lol), for me, I think the difference is between whether I actually think to myself that I need a break or if I want to pamper myself so I justify it by saying I need a break. I'll have to ponder this a bit more.
DeleteAs to the relationship... it is much easier when they are around for more than 1/2 hour of awake time per day! lol
ReplyDeleteDiet and exercise-wise you have inspired me to new vigilance!!
Glad I could help. Now I need to inspire myself. :)
DeleteIt seems that everything has to be kept up even in little ways so that the one does not slip down such a slope. ;) I know what you mean though...maybe a good pair of cleats are in order?
ReplyDeletebrattyadaline@gmail.com
heehee. You might be right about the cleats.
DeleteI've been eating a healthy diet for 20-25 years now, and it's amazing how often people will try to get me to "make exceptions."
ReplyDelete"It's only this once," or "one exception won't hurt you."
But tomorrow is another exception. And the day after that. And the day after that. And then it's not an exception.
It's easier to keep to a routine when you keep to a routine.
I hate when people do that. They always make a bigger deal out of what I'm not eating than I am, especially when there's a ton of food that I'd like to eat but I'm not and it's like they are shining a spotlight on me. Grrr.
DeleteLove that last line. Great advice.