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By Vegasbab, January 13, 2012 7:53 pm

Hi, I’m a self proclaimed commitment-phobe. But, I’m also one that is working very hard to change. Honestly, it’s one of my toughest struggles. But, I am proud to say it is one that I am chipping away at slowly but surely. One day, when I tell my kids of my fear of commitment they will just laugh and say, “No way, not you!”

With the commitment, 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries, I’m working to show myself that commitments are like trains; it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on. Discoveries “#60-69″ are about commitments and plans. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 commitments here and the entire project here. Focus on the plans, I sure am!

If you glanced at the archives of this project, you’d see that I’m a few short – 20 to be exact. A year ago, before starting this project, I would have asked myself, “Where did I go wrong?” I would have beaten myself up for not writing exactly 100 posts. But, the me today? Well, this girl, looks back and sees an incredible journey filled with amazing experiences, cherished memories and life-long lessons. She sees the bigger picture vs. the one on the surface.

Admittedly, with some of the changes this year brought, I was a little too wrapped up in life to write about it. I also decided that writing about some things were a tad boring, like my original plan to trial 10 different beers. I think I might have done that a few times over with my newfound love for beerfests And, there were a few, like Paintball, a new tattoo and Karaoke where the timing never quite worked in my favor. Those three, by the way, are still in the works!

Yet, I’m still a few short. Maybe I did it on purpose. Maybe being a few short gives me an excuse to never stop doing what this project helped teach me – to live passionately.

Upon a woman’s death, the Greeks didn’t write obituaries. Instead, they only asked one question, “Did she have passion?” This project was one of passion, one that I will continue to live out for many years to come.

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By Vegasbab, December 31, 2011 4:13 am

Hi, I’m a self proclaimed commitment-phobe. But, I’m also one that is working very hard to change. Honestly, it’s one of my toughest struggles. But, I am proud to say it is one that I am chipping away at slowly but surely. One day, when I tell my kids of my fear of commitment they will just laugh and say, “No way, not you!”

With the commitment, 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries, I’m working to show myself that commitments are like trains; it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on. Discoveries “#60-69″ are about commitments and plans. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 commitments here and the entire project here. Focus on the plans, I sure am!

Today is the 365th day of the year. If I was a perfectionist, I’d be distraught over missing 25 of my 2011 “One a Day” photos. I also wouldn’t look past the times when I had more than 1 photo for a day. After all, the tagline for the project was “with creative license.” Why? Because the project wasn’t necessarily an exercise in taking one photo a day or becoming a better photographer, it was about commitment. It was about sticking with something for a year even if, and inevitably, when, there were “slips”.

When reading about one photo a day projects, all the posts said it is a big undertaking. I saw it more as fun. As the year continued, I also realized that it was a project with a HUGE payoff.

Here’s just a few reasons I fell in love with something that started, in my mind, as “simple and fun”:

• Imagine being able to look back at any day of your year and recall what you did, who you met, what you learned… (Often we find it hard to remember what we did just yesterday or even last night, let alone a whole year ago!)
• The year-long photo album is an amazing way to document your travels and accomplishments, your haircuts and relationships. Time moves surprisingly fast.
• Not only will friends keep you honest about the project, but they love being a part of it. It’s fun for friends to be there when you take your daily picture. And, it’s an even better feeling when they realize that your moment with them was special enough to “make the cut”.
• You start to see the world in a whole different way. You appreciate and notice the “little things” more often.
• You have a treasure trove of your own artwork to use for anything – magnets, personalized postcards, to decorate next year’s calendar, framed pictures for your house, office, the possibilities are endless!

I haven’t quite figured out how I want to display all of them together, but it’s been fun to use them in a variety of forms from magnets to a customized iPhone cover to postcards for friends and family to artwork for my new apartment, office and more!

The scary part? This is one commitment (with a twist, of course) I want to carry into 2012. The best part? Not only did this project teach me that commitments can be “easy,” but it also gave me the desire to stick with and continue a commitment past its original expiration date.

It looks like I’m well on my way to leaving my fear of commitment in the past

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By Vegasbab, November 27, 2011 6:33 am

Hi, I’m a self proclaimed commitment-phobe. But, I’m also one that is working very hard to change. Honestly, it’s one of my toughest struggles. But, I am proud to say it is one that I am chipping away at slowly but surely. One day, when I tell my kids of my fear of commitment they will just laugh and say, “No way, not you!”

With the commitment, 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries, I’m working to show myself that commitments are like trains; it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on. Discoveries “#60-69″ are about commitments and plans. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 commitments here and the entire project here. Focus on the plans, I sure am!

When put together, choices and commitments seem to be an oxymoron. On the other hand, the two words could mean the same thing. I made a choice. I made a commitment. What’s the difference between the two? Maybe a commitment is when you stick with a choice you made; see it through.

I made a lot of choices this year. I committed to traveling, spending more time with friends and experiencing new things. Recently, I also committed to a new job in a new city. I thought the change would be easy.I thought that as long as you had friends and loved your job, then it didn’t matter where you lived. I also thought that with all the work I’d done for a better work/life balance, that I could juggle both the commitment to the new job and the commitment to continue to experience new things and travel to spend time with friends.

After almost sixty days, I’m not so sure I’m doing a good job juggling. I look around and wonder if the choice to go back to the corporate world pushes me back into the same rut I spent ten months getting out of. Maybe it does. Maybe I have to work harder at sticking to my commitments. Maybe, I have to make better choices.

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By Vegasbab, October 3, 2011 4:36 am

Hi, I’m a self proclaimed commitment-phobe. But, I’m also one that is working very hard to change. Honestly, it’s one of my toughest struggles. But, I am proud to say it is one that I am chipping away at slowly but surely. One day, when I tell my kids of my fear of commitment they will just laugh and say, “No way, not you!”

With the commitment, 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries, I’m working to show myself that commitments are like trains; it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on. Discoveries “#60-69″ are about commitments and plans. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 commitments here and the entire project here. Focus on the plans, I sure am!

In the midst of Boot Camp and completing my first 5k in a long time, I was pumped. In fact, I was so pumped that when I stumbled on a magazine ad for Disney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon, I thought, you can’t beat this race as a first half marathon memory. Running through two Disney theme parks, characters along the race course and ending at Epcot’s Wine & Dine festival? Nope, it doesn’t get much better of a combination.

I took the plunge and signed up. Then, I convinced my best friend to do the same.

Signed up is such an easy phrase to write. But, I must explain. I signed up in April… for an October race. AKA a race that was SEVEN months away. Big deal you say? Not for me. Before this project, I would have never signed up for something that far in advance. “What if my training went awry?” “What if I wasn’t in Las Vegas then and had to rebook airline tickets?” “What if I had a new job and I couldn’t get the time off?” “What if, what if, what if” were always the thoughts running through my head. I took a (really) deep breath, and pushed away all those thoughts. I even got a little crazy and invited my new boyfriend (at the time) to come along (yep, I had to lay down when I heard what I did too). I told myself, if he wanted to come, great, let him buy the plane ticket. And, if we weren’t together by October, well, the plane ticket was his to deal with.

As things always go, those seven months didn’t quite go as planned. Life happened. I got sick. I traveled, A LOT. I forgot how hot Las Vegas summers were and how hard it was to motivate yourself to run in the unbearable heat. By the time October 1 (half marathon day) came around, the longest run I had ever done was 5 miles… four months ago.

For this race, you had to keep a 16 minute pace or they would “sweep” you off the course. I kept telling myself even if I walked the whole thing, I could still finish. But honestly, I wasn’t sure. In all my practices, Nike+ said my run/walk average was 17 minutes. Nevertheless, the boyfriend and I boarded a plane for a fun-filled three days in Disney.

The race results? Well, that’s a story for another post

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By Vegasbab, September 23, 2011 8:30 am

Hi, I’m a self proclaimed commitment-phobe. But, I’m also one that is working very hard to change. Honestly, it’s one of my toughest struggles. But, I am proud to say it is one that I am chipping away at slowly but surely. One day, when I tell my kids of my fear of commitment they will just laugh and say, “No way, not you!”

With the commitment, 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries, I’m working to show myself that commitments are like trains; it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on. Discoveries “#60-69″ are about commitments and plans. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 commitments here and the entire project here. Focus on the plans, I sure am!

This is one goal that I’ve been working on for years. But, as I wake from sleeping on an airplane, I realize that this is the year that I’ve started to conquer it, so I’m counting it for the project . I’m not perfect yet. And, like a muscle, if I don’t do it often, the fear comes back.

Nevertheless, three years ago I made the commitment to become a better public speaker. Since then, I’ve taken every speaking gig, both internal and external, that was presented to me. I went to Toast Master classes and I would actively ask my bosses to let me speak at internal meetings.

In the past, I would prepare and rehearse my speeches/presentations for days on end. Don’t get me wrong, I still practice. But, these days, I’m a lot more comfortable speaking in front of an audience. Three years ago, when I stood up to give a presentation, my voice shook so hard that everyone in the audience pitied me. Today, people in the audience sarcastically ask, “You’ve done this a few times before, huh?”

My crowning moment came this year when I was able to stand in front of an audience and change my presentation on the fly based on some of the presentations that had gone before me on the panel. Wow. To you, maybe that’s an inconsequential moment, but, three years ago, the thought of even doing something like that was an impossible dream to me.

This is one commitment that has not only paid off in spades but I’m also very proud of accomplishing.

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By Vegasbab, September 12, 2011 6:56 am

Hi, I’m a self proclaimed commitment-phobe. But, I’m also one that is working very hard to change. Honestly, it’s one of my toughest struggles. But, I am proud to say it is one that I am chipping away at slowly but surely. One day, when I tell my kids of my fear of commitment they will just laugh and say, “No way, not you!”

With the commitment, 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries, I’m working to show myself that commitments are like trains; it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on. Discoveries “#60-69″ are about commitments and plans. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 commitments here and the entire project here. Focus on the plans, I sure am!

In college I fell deeply in love with yoga. Sometimes, I would even go to classes twice a day. I got my whole family hooked on it and considered dropping a “real” career to teach yoga full time.

If done properly there’s countless benefits to yoga – more flexibility, better alignment, a calming of the mind, being better attuned to your body, the list goes on. The hardest part of yoga? The 90 minutes that require focusing on just you and yourself. The 90 minutes where you have to turn inward and still your mind. Somewhere in my Senior year I stopped being able to calm my mind. I wanted to, but there was too much turmoil inside. I stopped doing what I love. I stopped for over six years. During those six years, I’d try a class here and there, but I could never turn my mind inward for long.

This year, I was committed to finding a way and a studio where I could practice again. I did. Thanks to Groupon, I found a studio and have been attending weekly classes for over four months. To my disappointment, I’m not nearly as flexible as I used to be, but I’m working towards it. I’m also not nearly as good at calming my mind, but I’m working on that too. It may sound hokey, but having yoga in your life makes it easier to deal with stress. It’s easier to turn inward, ignore the drama and see the beautiful things (and people) in life.

To look inside yourself on a weekly basis takes one thing – bravery. After six years, I’m finally brave enough to look and keep looking.

Namaste.

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By Vegasbab, June 27, 2011 6:16 am

Hi, I’m a self proclaimed commitment-phobe. But, I’m also one that is working very hard to change. Honestly, it’s one of my toughest struggles. But, I am proud to say it is one that I am chipping away at slowly but surely. One day, when I tell my kids of my fear of commitment they will just laugh and say, “No way, not you!”

With the commitment, 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries, I’m working to show myself that commitments are like trains; it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on. Discoveries “#60-69″ are about commitments and plans. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 commitments here and the entire project here. Focus on the plans, I sure am!

One of my close friends had an extra ticket to the three-day Dave Matthews Caravan Tour in Atlantic City. Thinking I was the coolest girl he knew who could hang with five guys for the weekend, he extended an invite. With the commitment to travel, experience new things and spend more time with friends, I jumped at the chance.

To say the weekend was an experience would be an understatement. A few of the highlights:

• Drinking from noon to 2am for three straight days
• Sleeping in a standard hotel room with five guys and two double beds
• A concert in a field of dirt
• Breaking trees and chasing cars barefoot
• Dancing in water fountains
• Discovering new musicians including Bobby Long and Ray Lamontagne

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By Vegasbab, May 20, 2011 9:42 pm

Hi, I’m a self proclaimed commitment-phobe. But, I’m also one that is working very hard to change. Honestly, it’s one of my toughest struggles. But, I am proud to say it is one that I am chipping away at slowly but surely. One day, when I tell my kids of my fear of commitment they will just laugh and say, “No way, not you!”

With the commitment, 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries, I’m working to show myself that commitments are like trains; it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on. Discoveries “#60-69″ are about commitments and plans. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 commitments here and the entire project here. Focus on the plans, I sure am!

I’ve had one magnet on my refridge for as long as I can remember. It says, “Do one thing every day that scares you.” It’s a reminder and commitment to always push myself beyond comfort zones. Something outside my comfort zone is heights. So, every Wednesday I go indoor rock climbing. Makes perfect sense, right?

I’d like to think that slowly but surely I’m conquering my fear of heights. Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. Either way, our “ladies night of climbing” is one new tradition I throughly enjoy and look forward to every week. To me, it’s the perfect combination of good friends, working out and gossip. What more could a girl ask for?

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By Vegasbab, April 15, 2011 1:21 pm

Hi, I’m a self proclaimed commitment-phobe. But, I’m also one that is working very hard to change. Honestly, it’s one of my toughest struggles. But, I am proud to say it is one that I am chipping away at slowly but surely. One day, when I tell my kids of my fear of commitment they will just laugh and say, “No way, not you!”

With the commitment, 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries, I’m working to show myself that commitments are like trains; it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on. Discoveries “#60-69″ are about commitments and plans. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 commitments here and the entire project here. Focus on the plans, I sure am!

For over two years, I’ve been wanting to try Boot Camp. I remember back in college doing a similar program and it put me in the best shape of my life. I wanted to get back to that best shape. Alas, “living to work” and my worry of not being able to keep up, got in the way; until the Groupon was delivered to my inbox A coupon for 85% off and a new way of living opened up the doors to make the commitment.

With everything, there were a few obstacles – the class was 15 miles away, my travel schedule a bit crazy, including a month long excursion through Europe and a change to my work/daily schedule would have to be made to accommodate. Nevertheless, I’m proud to say I did it! On March 15, I completed my first full month of Boot Camp without missing a single day. I’ve even made the commitment to continue for another month and am into my second week (I took a month off for Europe).

The outcome? Doing things I’ve never done before Besides making some fabulous newfound friends, I dominated flag football, scaled some mountains (literally) and am slowly but surely getting back into “real” shape.

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By Vegasbab, February 24, 2011 6:13 pm

Hi, I’m a self proclaimed commitment-phobe. But, I’m also one that is working very hard to change. Honestly, it’s one of my toughest struggles. But, I am proud to say it is one that I am chipping away at slowly but surely. One day, when I tell my kids of my fear of commitment they will just laugh and say, “No way, not you!”

With the commitment, 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries, I’m working to show myself that commitments are like trains; it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on. Discoveries “#60-69″ are about commitments and plans. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 commitments here and the entire project here. Focus on the plans, I sure am!

One of my favorite blogs to stumble upon every so often is Scalable Intimacy. Somehow, I always manage to hit a recent post that hits home. True to form, the post, Focus, did just that:

“So I guess my plan,” I continued confidently, “is to put some feelers out there in those three directions, and just kind of see what works. Once I know more about the opportunities that are really out there, I’ll decide which looks the best, and move in that direction.”

“Well that’s good thinkin’ Trap,” he said in characteristic monotone. “Too bad the world doesn’t work that way.”

He continued, making a chopping gesture in the air for emphasis… “Every one of those things you just casually tossed off there is hard to do. And I can promise you, there are lots of people just as smart as you are – many of ‘em better looking – who are focused 100% on just one of those things. What makes you think you’re going to beat them with 33% effort?”

“Well… I … er…”

“Exactly. Decide what you want to do, Trap. Make a plan. Then go do it.”

Trap sounds all too much like me I hate putting all my eggs in one basket until I’m 100% sure of what I want. But, that’s what getting on a train (aka commitment) is all about. While I’m 100% committed to this project, I shamefully haven’t committed fully to other things. I’m hoping that tying them into this project will force me to find the focus needed to get me to the “next level”.