I Am A Slacker

Yes, it's true. The one actually important thing I needed to do this week... the one thing that has consequences... the one thing that would alleviate stress and give me some routine and purpose... is the one thing I have not done. There's really no good reason why I didn't apply for jobs this week. I just didn't. I could use Jimmy's visit as an excuse... but he was only here a couple days. I could easily have still gotten it in.

I also slacked on my workouts. I didn't abandon them entirely... but didn't keep up either. Today my new yoga dvds arrived, though. Namaste Yoga, Season 2. Hooray! I was thinking about heading back outside with a book (today is gorgeous, and the only nice day we'll have for the next week or so), but when Namaste and the new issue of Body+Soul magazine got here... I couldn't help but do some yoga.

One career idea that I really need to put more energy toward (my shyness and irrational fears of going out of my way, making an idiot of myself, and irritating people... they're all in my way on this one) is meeting people in publishing and getting their advice. I don't know anyone. And I don't know anyone who knows anyone. So this means cold contact. And probably a whole lot of unanswered letters/emails/calls. I detest the thought. But I'm clearly missing something in what I'm sending for these publishing jobs... and I'd like to be more noticeable. Plus, Body+Soul (which is currently my absolute favorite magazine) is published only a few miles from my house. And through their website (and even Facebook for some of them) it's pretty easy to get contact information for the editors and regular writers and stuff. Not sure what's holding me back from just trying to get in touch with a few people and seeing what happens. They don't know me... so I don't have anything to lose if they ignore me or are annoyed.

I think this should be a major goal for me next week. I need to make a plan over the weekend, and get in touch with at least three people in the Body+Soul offices to ask for a short informational interview, just to get advice on breaking into publishing. Because the more I think about the possibilities within that industry, the more I want to be in it.

Tangent (though somewhat related): The issue that arrived in the mail today includes an article on how to get yourself to start running. Like, how to move from complete couch potato to a regular jogging habit. And it's got a detailed plan for how to proceed slowly and methodically to get your body used to it over time. I'm psyched because I keep toying with the idea of becoming a "runner" but every time I am out for a walk and run just a few minutes, I am out of breath and hating the idea again. Well, the article held the answers as to why my body reacts this way... and how to do it right. I confess, every Bostonian feels this urge come on in April - the Boston Marathon (and the corresponding state holiday Patriot's Day) is this coming Monday. But this is a growing desire I've had for almost a year now. And having an actual plan in front of me - and one that is clearly do-able even starting from scratch - makes me think that maybe I can actually get myself to become one of those people who jog so peacefully by the river in the afternoon, in their own world and their fit bodies.

Anyway, I'm off to, well, I don't know. I've got a little picking up to do around the house, and then I'm off to Kevin's. But we have no plans. Which probably means doing something lazy. I need to come up with fun and active things for us to do... in the impending crap weather, I see the WiiFit coming out this weekend. Teehee! And I'm going to try to eat healthfully, maybe even persuading him into a grocery store adventure.

Happy Weekend! Here's hoping the slacker in me falls by the wayside!