Monthly Archives: August 2009

challenges, pushups

On Goals and Challenges: Pushup Edition

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At the beginning of the year, I set a few goals. Naturally, I forgot to write them down, so now I don’t remember what most of them were. I managed to complete one (run a half-marathon) and kind of fizzled out on another (write every day). I can only remember one of my other goals, and now it’s time to get started on it.

And because if I don’t tell anyone about it, I’ll probably keep putting it of, here I am, telling people about it. And of course, inviting you to join with me.

So what’s the goal? 100 pushups… all at once…

I’ve seen this program floating around the interwebs for a while now, and determined that this would be the year that I finally make something of my life, or at least the year where I do 100 pushups and pretend that I have arrived at self-actualization. I mean, after doing 100 pushups, what else is there to do in life?

So here’s my plan:

Last week, I did the initial test. I knocked out 8 pushups. (Ok, so I’m weak. I had just rolled out of bed, and didn’t actually go to exhaustion because I was already exhausted.)

The program is written as a 6 week program, but to be on the safe side, I’m giving myself 8 weeks to do it fully. That puts me right about at my birthday for completing the program and the 100 pushups.

So that’s my goal. 100 pushups by my birthday.

Here’s the deal:

I love doing stupid things by myself, but I love doing stupid things with other people too. (See also: Saline 5K in the rain.) So I’m inviting you to do the program with me. Kind of like the treadmill challenge, but only this time with pushups.

So who is in? Are you man and woman enough to do 100 pushups by Halloween? Well, are you?

death, family, wyoming

Dealing with Death

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I am learning to deal with death for really the first time in my life. Somehow, I’ve made it for 30 years without really having lost anyone close to me. When I was really young, maybe 5 or 6, my great-grandmother died. I know I was there for the funeral, but I don’t really have any memories of her before then. Other than that, I’ve only had to deal with pets and farm animals dying. (Of note, I did not react particularly well to the time they took the sheep to the butcher.)

Now my grandmother is dying. Her time is short for this world, and I love her with all of my heart. We lived in the same town when I was growing up, and she was a very important part of my life. For possibly the first time, I will consciously and actively miss someone from my life. This has been particularly hard for me, especially since I know that I probably won’t be able to get to Utah where she is being cared for before she goes.

I find myself tearing up in the oddest places: during the opening prayer of a ward FHE activity, driving to work, reading on an airplane. I don’t cry well, and so far have only made it to sobs once (about 15 minutes ago). I’ve worried that I’d have to call off dates and races, and I’m constantly making contingency plans. I’m distracted easily at work (more so than usual). I’ve visited the temple and prayed continually for her pain to be eased and for the Lord’s will to be done. I’ve had trouble blogging and writing in other forms too, because apparently when I write, I actually have to acknowledge my feelings. It’s been hard.

I have been keeping it kind of quiet, but I’ve been a little muted from my normal self over the last few weeks. Those of you with frequent contact with me might have noticed. That’s just me, trying to deal. Some days are better than others. I think my grandma would want me to be out and about. (I do know that she has commented in the past few weeks about how much she would love it if I (and the rest of my unmarried male cousins) would get married, so that’s incentive enough to do the social things.)

If you read my blog and know her and haven’t yet, you can visit her CaringBridge page and sign her guestbook. My aunt and uncle are printing off the messages people leave for her and reading them to her.

For the rest of you who have lost loved ones, how did you learn to deal with death?