Great guesses as always, but nobody got this one. Springs or a fork were by far the popular guesses. The 'Galvanized French Fries' was the most unique guess, thanks for the chuckle Liz. Our closest was guess was the 'weight machine at the gym' by Julie. Well done Julie, If I gave out prizes for this I'd be at your door with your prize this morning. Our second closest, I'm thinking the 'chromed out pickup truck' by Manda. Ok while that wasn't that close, I just like it. Hmm, a truck that is all chrome, sounds like heaven; who wants a ride?
In yesterday's post I spoke with pride of my latest PR. What I am more stoked about is that I am jogging more & more with my cardio. Curious just how much of the loop I jogged I had to find out.
The map below shows the path around the lake. Thanks to Google Earth I was able to highlight the patches which I jogged. Add'em up and I jogged .86 miles or 38% of the 2.25 mile loop. More than I figured I had before figuring it out; sweet! Look out 40%+, I'm coming to get'ya.
As I said in previous posts increasing my jogging as a percentage of my cardio is my current personal challenge. Whether at Lake Andrea, around my neighborhood, or yours. Upping the jogging is my goal of choice to keep my mission progressing.
Speaking of goals, do you set goals?
Do you feel comfortable doing so & sharing that you do?
Put me down for a 'yes' for both.
Recently I had an exchange where I was challenged that goal setting accomplishes nothing. My reply to the immediate challenge was actually to agree. Setting goals by itself accomplishes zip; it is your actions to reach them that gets that credit. My opinion, differ away if you desire to.
Certainly the act of setting the goal deserves credit too. For many setting the goal is the second action we take towards what it is we desire. The first action is commonly accepting the realization that something needs to change, needs a goal.
Debating a differing opinion is one thing. Arguing for the sake of whizzing in my general direction is quite another. That is precisely what this character was up to. Our chat went on to see me share example after example of my own experience where I chose to acknowledge an opportunity, set a goal, plan actions, do them, adjust as needed, and kick the sweat out of opportunity until I can call it accomplished. If I may be so bold, I was on a roll.
But no, nothing I said was going to convince this champion of condescension that anything I, or anyone, ever accomplished was due to setting a goal. According to this deacon of disdain all we need is just do what comes naturally pre-programmed and for some of us that means accepting less than pleasant results. Oh for the sake of… ugh.
For our reading sake here let me make a long discussion short, I took pity on this sultan of scorn and found excuse to exit the heavy air around us. Likely this admiral antagonist took my exit as capitulation to his point. Hardly.
My take away, in general goal-bashers do not challenge the concept because of you, me, us; those who set goals. Rather, they do so because of themselves. Likely there is an unhappiness about them they have not been able to shed, and have accepted it as fate. Sad, is my take away.
But, wait there's more… (tribute to Billy Mays; moment of silence)…
I shall not end this post, or any, on a downer of a note. Nope, not going to do it, No way!
I took something else away from that debate. JOY…
Joy in knowing that I set goals...
Joy in knowing that I am happy...
Joy in knowing I kick @$$...
To all of you, have a joyous day!
Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!
Posts
So happy it wasn't me that you were mad at. I love a good challenge. My challenge is to look up those big words you used and figure out what they mean. Shane and I, we gonna see what you is talking sbout..
ReplyDeleteI'm DROOLING over those dumbbells! I have free weights and would love to replace all of them with just one set. Talk about the space i would save...
ReplyDeleteAnyways, awesome job on your route and your jogging! High fives to YOU. Your post always leave me in high spirits, take care =)
I think goals can be useful, but I found out I'm really good at making lists and lists of goals and things I want, but never did I get it done. Then I'd be depressed that I didn't make the goal. This time out, I decided not to set goals at first. Have some success FIRST. So all I did was exercise and diet and that was my focus, not the goal. It worked and now I have enough confidence that I CAN do this that setting goals no longer feels like a set up for failure. I too am glad that it wasn't Allan you were arguing with. I don't know about you but I'm too hold for all this drama. Have a great Friday. Those weights are on my Christmas list.
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of goals. HUGE. If you don't know where you're going, how can you expect to get there?
ReplyDeleteYa know, some people just like to be oppositional. As my Dad used to say, "some people are only happy when they're b*tching". Dad had a way with words.
ReplyDeleteSome people have no other way to engage others than to be argumentive and negative. And getting sucked into that is just emotionally draining. Somtimes you just have to walk away.
I say, "Do what works". For me, when I want to get something done, I dream about it. I write it down, I sketch it (if possible), I spend time rolling it around in my head. I concentrate on it. I read about it. I put energy into it. The more I think about it (in a positive, enthusiastic way) the more momentum I put into it. Newton's 1st law!
Probably the biggest part of it for me is to write out the steps to getting it done. Being able to see the bits and pieces makes any task seem much easier than only looking at the end result.
Bottom line is: do you want to accomplish something? And if so, will you do what it takes to get it done? And if that includes "setting goals", so be it. Do what works. Not much else to debate, is there?
By the way, I think your doing great! I like how you engage your readers by asking questions. :)
I'm with Doc on this one (she might shout and swear at me otherwise as she is in post-op pain! lol)....in the past i have set goals but the act of doing that meant that i fenced myself in tighter and tighter, because i hadn't planned on having to get my mind and body working in tandem rather than my mind trying (in vain) to tell my body not to eat that doughnut,
ReplyDelete[Brain:] "No body, you put that down, that's a bad body!"
[Body:] "Feck off brain, i've got control of the arms, and doughnuts rule."
[Brain:] "...erm..."
This time round, i started with no hard and fast goals - i have some aspirations that i aspire to, such as running, but nothing that is completely set in stone. Now that i have had some success, i feel more confident in setting goals and expecting a bit extra from myself. But this is because i am starting to feel like i am worth expecting more from.
In terms of having the debate with the negative-nigel, the pope of misanthrope, this high-priest of pessimism and veritable count of doubt, you are right, he didn't win a thing.
Good post patrick (as usual)
For me, goals help keep me focused.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day, setting a goal is just a decision. A commitment to action. Whenever we take action, it is because we decide to. A decision is made. Nothing, absolutely NOTHING, we have ever done... "just happened". Action is always preceded by a decision. That's not to say that we announce every decision we make, or are always consciously aware of a decision, but one is made all the same.
ReplyDeleteDespite what this "sultan of scorn" (epic quote :) thinks, in fact, EVERYTHING is achieved by goal setting. Even tiny things like deciding to make a cup of tea, or take a shower. The decision is made to get a desired result, then the action follows (or is doesn't and we fail). Does this person honestly think that everyone wanders around aimlessly without any idea of what they're doing? :p
Great job with the increased jogging! You'll be out running me soon.
ReplyDelete"But, wait there's more… (tribute to Billy Mays; moment of silence)…" You're killing me!
I've got mixed feelings about goals. I think goal-setting is a fantastic idea. It helps you to really set your eye on what is important to you, it helps you to prioritize. It helps you set out mini-steps to help you achieve long-term goals.
ReplyDeleteBut sometimes Life happens, and achieving your goals is impossible. Many times, shit happens that is completely out of your control, and it derails you from your long-term goal. Like, let's say you want to be the mayor of your town. But then your father gets sick and you have to move to take care of him. Bang, long-term goal gets blown to bits.
When goals get shattered--not just any goal, but one of those utterly important, gut-wrenching, life-changing goals...I have a tendency to act as though my entire life has come to a crashing halt. Unrealized goals can eat me up, leave me wallowing in self-doubt and depression. It can take a long, long time to heal and come to terms with the fact that some goals are just aren't meant to be fulfilled.
I suppose some people can take solace in religion or the concept or pre-ordained destiny. I don't particularly ascribe to that train of though that my life has already been pre-mapped out, but I can certainly see where that belief can be a huge consolation when goals are not met.
So yeah...I'm torn.
omg omg omg..darn it!!! PATRICK....I have been checking out those adjustable weight dumbells for over a week and I almost wrote you back with that answer! Truly!!! LOL
ReplyDeleteJust overly excited here because I never seem to get anything right..LOL
O.K. so whoever this person was must not have been successful with accomplishing goals. WE cannot accept things like that. Jordon was cut from basketball teams but was determined to be the best and never gave up… hmmm that worked out o.k. I think.
ReplyDeleteBy the way MR……… you are intentionally trying to confuse the reader with your picture choices. You are stepping up your game I guess we need to as well.
Haha what a great post, I loved your wordplay - champion of condescension indeed! I bet you enjoyed thinking those up. I'm with Dr F2F - I tend to focus on losing weight, doing more, and feeling better.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm a goal setter. And I don't care to engage in debates about my beliefs, especially with those who are arguing for arguments sake. My goals and my blog are to help me get somewhere. I like peeking in at your blog to see how you're doing, too. You're doing GREAT! Good work on the jogging.
ReplyDeleteGoals are what got me where I am. I am 100% in favor of them at least for myself. I think of a goal like a promise and I try never to break a promise.
ReplyDeletethose free weights rock.
ReplyDeleteFrankly goals scare me to death because I'm afraid I'll fail - I usually just see the potential of not reaching them, and in most other things I am a very positive person - so I set them with great care.
ReplyDelete"Deacon of disdain" - hilarious!! I love it.
Great job on increasing your running!
how do you reach for something if there is nothing to reach for???
ReplyDeleteGoals push me to be a better me :)
Patrick, how is it possible that your posts keep getting better and better!? I love your positivity. I really needed that today.
ReplyDeleteGoals keep us moving in a focused direction. I don't mind meandering at all, but NOT where weight loss is concerned. This is hard enough, without taking unnecessary side trips. Know what I mean?
ReplyDeleteOH, adjustable weights ... and here I thought you hand-dipped spaghetti into rodium, to remove the pasta from temptation. I learned something new today.
Great job on the jogging!
saying having no goals is like saying you aren't going to use a map to get where you are going.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't make sense to me.