6-Months-No-Dating {Two-Month Mark...Again}

This week has been a parade of ex's and bad potential partners. On Tuesday alone, I saw the last dud, the ex almost fiance, the boundary pusher that wanted to date, and then my ex-husband called the boys. So many wrong choices, so little time...

I've reached the two-month mark again of no dating. I'm still not imposing a required limit of 6 months this time around. But based on the selection in this town, I should sail right through it. I have settled one too many times in the past. 

 I am not desperate. 

And neither are you.

I can be alone....even though I'd rather not be some days. Plus who has time to be alone with a full-time job, two kids, and three grad school classes? I'd love to just be able to sit quietly in one place and read a book, that's not required reading, and relax.

Alone time sounds really nice right about now.

Friday Reflections {I Survived Another Week}

My faith has struggled this week. I know what I'm hoping for, but I'm definitely not seeing it...yet. Somehow I have managed to hang on despite all the obstacles that came my way. I suppose that's what you call grace. Hoping my faith improves with some rest this weekend.

Motivaion Monday {Yes, On a Tuesday}

Have you noticed how when you have a Monday off for a holiday that there's twice as much to do on Tuesday? Then it feels like the Monday you missed double teaming you with Tuesday.

Today was one of those days.

At work, letters that should have been sent last week suddenly needed to be sent today. I appreciate the vote of confidence to pull rabbits out of my hat, but there was no way to get everything done today. 

Added to that was the stress of class tonight that included a presentation. It was a rough weekend trying to decide if I really felt like finishing grad school instead of running away to join the circus. Grad school won, so I found myself scrambling to finish an assignment due today with my time off yesterday. I did manage to complete the assignment but felt like I was rolling into class on two wheels. 

It is easy to only post the good things that happen and pretend you don't struggle with any problems. But that's not how the real world works. Some days you just have to get up and put one foot in front of the other even when you don't feel like it. 

Loving Yourself {Is He Committed to You?}

You know that feeling of loss when a relationship ends that you thought was going somewhere? And suddenly you realize you were doing most or all of the work and he was reaping all the benefits. You continued to build the fantasy of your future together and he let you. Maybe he even encouraged you with phrases like "you are not like other girls I've dated" or "this is the best relationship I've ever had." In the end, he walked away. Or maybe you had to walk away because you realized he was NEVER going to commit to you.

In a blog titled The 'New' Side Chick, Miss T.N. King nails it. We've become a place holder until someone else comes along. It's time we love ourselves more and walk away from men who aren't good to us or for us.

Happy New Year!

It's that time of year when people reflect on the past year and set new goals. I set a few goals this past summer, so let's see how I did.

1. Restart something that has fallen by the wayside. I did start jogging again and ran a half marathon in October! I ran a 5K about a month after that. With the change in weather and the addition of some hip pain, I will have to rethink my exercise goal for 2015. I have started hiking with my boys and hope to continue that.

2. Make an improvement in your life that you've been meaning to do. Some weeks sorting the mail goes better than others. Sometimes I look and the basket is brimming over the top. I still have a couple of days before I return to work and hope to get the mail back to a manageable level.

3. Do something special for yourself. Running the half marathon was that something special I did for myself. During that first mile on the course, I remembered why I chose this challenge. It was something I could do for myself without needing a man to help me. Plus I had a weekend alone in a hotel room to relax. OK, I did spend some time writing a paper for class while I was there. Going back to grad school is another thing I have done for myself.

4. Spend time with friends. Unfortunately, spending time with friends has been challenging between school and work. Where I would normally have time for lunch, I had to rearrange my schedule a couple of days a week to be able to get to class on time. I still make time for my friends, but it has been more limited.

How did you do with reaching your goals this past year?