A Better Me

Jun. 6th, 2013 10:52 pm
figaro: (Extra Happy - Animorphs)
I've been feeling pretty good about myself lately -- emotionally, mentally, and physically.

My no-stress project is going along wonderfully. I've tried really hard to stop sweating the small stuff, and this will sound awful, but my secret to success in this area is not caring. If someone doesn't want to talk to me or see me, why should I care? I figured it out late last week. This has been easier said than done, but I'm doing a really good job. I've had the occasional stomach knots, but I've kept them to myself, thought the situations out, and made myself just not give a shit. The way I see it, there are going to be people in my life who want to spend time with me, and connect emotionally with me, and I'm going to have these awesome relationships without me feeling like I have to force myself on people. The people who have drifted or are drifting just aren't worth me trying to hang on to. If I end up with a bunch of fair weather friends, so be it.

I'm going to get over this insecurity of not being wanted. I hung with a group last weekend, and it was kind of awkward having lunch with them because they were all making plans for the summer around me, without including me, and it was like I was watching this elite group I can't be part of. I felt like an outsider. I just thought to myself, these people have been friends for years and years, and it's not me... I'm just new. As long as they keep planning things without me, I'll always be new. That made my not caring thing kicked in. Why should I care if these people want me around? It's not something I can control, so why sweat it? I'd like to fit in, and I put myself out there and try to talk to people, but if I don't fit in in the end, it's them not including me, not me holding myself back, and it's not like I don't have friends of my own. I just wanted to make more... It's hard being the new guy, and an outsider, and I don't normally put myself in situations like that for that reason. I'm proud of myself for how I was able to calm my insecurities myself. Stressing over shit like that just isn't worth it.

Work has been going great even though I've hard more time off than normal. This week I have over time, so it'll make up for the light week last week. I've been reading, and I've really been thinking a lot about picking my writing back up. To focus on my writing was one of the reasons I left GameStop. I've been kind of just living life and getting used to my new job. I move later this month, and I think after that I'm going to really make an effort to start writing regularly. It's what I want to do with my life.

I've been working out since January. I think this is the longest I've kept it up. My secret now is no weights. Having to go to the gym became a chore in the past, so this time I decided to try to pick up a work-out regimen I could do from home. I own an Iron Gym, which is basically just a bar I can hang from the door to do pull-ups. It has handles on it I can hold to do perfect push-ups. I also put the bar in the door to hold my feet in place for sit-ups. My work out is generally one of the following: 1) 25 push-ups, 35 sit-ups, 20 push-ups, 2) 10 pull-ups, 50 sit-ups, 5 pull-ups, or 3) 25 push-ups, 10 pull-ups. I run as well, but I don't have a schedule for it and just do it when I feel like it and have time for it. I'm starting to look really good, if I can say so myself.

Working out

I'm feeling more confident, more energetic, and just healthier.

I've considered going to the gym and starting weights, but I think I'm looking pretty good without the weights, and I know the weights will just burn me out. I want to look toned and show a little muscle under my shirt. I don't want to be huge like a body builder.

figaro: (Murder By Numbers)
First off, I want to apologize for being a terrible DW/LJ friend. I have such loyal followers and friends who read my crap, and I have been falling so behind my friends list that I'm not returning the favor. I'm going to catch up soon, so prepare for belated comments that may be irrelevant at this point.

I copied a tweet I came across on Twitter a couple months ago:

I've got 99 problems and 86 of them are completely made up scenarios in my head that I'm stressing about for absolutely no logical reason.


This is hilarious because it's true. I've come to the realization that I need to lighten up. Not for the friends I've been a little too intense around at times, but for me. This is going to be tough, and I'm going to stumble and not be perfect right away, but this is something I desperately want to improve about myself. I put too much thought into things that don't deserve thinking about, and I worry, a lot of times for nothing. It weighs on me, and it weighs on my relationships.

I could blame this on my insecurities, and my past leaving me vulnerable, but why focus on how I got the problems I have? I'd rather focus on fixing them, or at least trying. I was talking to a friend tonight about my decision to lighten up, and he asked me if I've ever ran my friends off with my insecurities. I haven't as far as I know, but it's definitely a fear I have, and I never want to. Everyone has their own problems, their own issues, and their own insecurities, and I know I'm not unique in having mine -- my friends have issues of their own that I put up with like my friends put up with mine, because in the end good people are worth sticking around for. 

Still, I want to improve. If I ever stop bettering myself, I should stop living. I think we learn more about ourselves every single day, and become stronger as human beings because of our experiences and what we learn to deal with. Learning to lighten up isn't going to solve all of my problems or rid me of all of my insecurities, but it's my next personal project, and it's a great start in living happier.

June 2013

S M T W T F S
      1
2345 678
910 1112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30      

About

Figaro is the personal journal of Todd, a 20-something nerd from Kansas. I don't take myself nor this journal too seriously.