Monthly Musings: March 2021

An overview of opinions and observations for the month.

Inevitable

Well. Fuck.

I was recently gifted a car by my very charitable sister, just a little 1.2 Ford Fiesta Finesse. She'd had it for two years and was upgrading to something newer, and figured since I'd never owned a car despite passing my test over a decade ago, she'd let me have it. It was appreciated. It was a chance for a fresh chapter, one where I had some freedom to visit friends, family and undertake day trips with my daughter.

As I said, I'd not owned a car in over a decade, so my driving ability had atrophied. Nevertheless, I figured I needed to just shrug off my doubts and nervousness, get in it and start driving. I was never going to improve unless I dared to drive it. Get some practice, some road experience and improve my driving ability; that was the plan. A £596 insurance policy later, and I was legally allowed to drive. That was March 10th.

A mere 5 days later on March 15th, I had my first crash. Well. It wasn't so much a crash, as a bump but nevertheless, it was an incident. Grateful that my policy only has a £45 excess so getting the minor damage repaired isn't a crippling my finances but still, thoroughly frustrated with myself.

Goals

It's time to find a new purpose. A new direction. A new goal. I have so much time, energy and potential. I am capable of anything that I commit too. A goal becomes reality only when we make a conscious decision to pursue it and earn it each day.

Nothing worth having comes easily. The accomplishment of success is earned in the mud; it's galvanised in the blood, sweat and tears you shed along the journey. This list is a culmination of many goals I am choosing to commit too. These cover various facets of my life, and each will require hardwork, sacrifice and dedication. Ultimately each will help me to grow as a person to be better in different ways.

Emotional: Gratitude & Compassion

I commit to becoming more aware and grateful for my blessings. I will find time to stop and appreciate the beauty in life, relationships and the world. I will make a concerted effort to avoid focusing on negativity and the things that I do not have, and instead develop healthy strategies for finding balance. I commit to being more compassionate, especially for those that I care about. I will consciously avoid being critical, judgmental or demeaning of their beliefs, goals or accomplishments.

• Meditation

Spiritual: Buddhism

I commit to learning about Buddhism with the intention of practicing.

• Practicing Buddhism

Mental: Cognitive Ability

I commit to continuing to read enthusiastically to improve brain connectivity, increase comprehension, prevent cognitive impairment, and become more learned.

• Daily Reading

Physical: Fitness

I commit to continuing my progress toward my physical fitness. I will actively take steps towards weight loss and muscle growth. I will have visible abs. I will be a fucking monster. I refuse to permit myself to return to my lethargic state of sloth.

• Fitbit
• 10k Daily Steps
• Cardio/Weights Routine

Passion: Authorship

I commit to finishing my novel, Lightfade. I will make time to write. I will dedicate myself to completing the first draft by the end of 2021. I promise myself that I will not allow my dream of being an author atrophy. I will be a published author.

• Daily Writing

Career: CompTIA

I commit to earning my CompTIA qualification. I will make time to study. I will devote myself to earning this qualification to better my career prospects, and my ability at my current job.

• Daily Study (95 Videos – 25 hours, 38 minutes)

Skill: Cooking

I commit to learning how to cook proper meals. I will strive to learn how to cook ten different dishes competently. I refuse to allow myself to continue using my circumstances as an excuse for my lifestyle. I will take ownership of my lack of culinary ability.

• Weekly Meal

In addition to this list, I have intentions to learn to play piano, learn Italian, and study Psychology and Philosophy but until I am able to assess time constraints, these are not immediate pursuits.