Monday, March 14, 2016

Guess what today is?

Here's a hint, this is what we had for dinner. 
Apple pie with ice cream and pizza pie

 Poor pat is so confused!  I tried to explain that today is 3.14, but I lost him somewhere.  :)


Saturday, March 12, 2016

Setting goals and learning new skills

Some of you might know that Patrick had a goal to walk without any support aids (human or otherwise) by Christmas.  Well you probably might also know that he was not able to make that goal this Christmas.  At the time he made the goal, he knew it was a huge stretch but still wanted to work toward it.  Personally, I think he is doing amazing.  Nothing really big or impressive, just a lot of slow and steady progress.  The biggest way I can tell that his hard work is paying off is when I look at the muscles in his legs.

Yes that's right!  He has muscle in his legs (both of them actually!)  What a blessing to find a specialist who could help him find a dose of medication that would allow his muscles to start develop in his left side.  I sure wish I had measured his calf muscles when he first started, but I didn't.  So while he might not be walking all on his own yet, he is getting so close! 

I have been inspired by his ability to set goals and work toward them, even if he doesn't always accomplish them.  In my health and personal fitness class this semester, we have been talking about all of the dimensions of wellness.  This week we are discussing spiritual and intellectual health and I have been reminded of the need to set new goals and learn new skills so that we can help our brain to maintain its neuro-plasticity.  It is so crucial to healthy aging and for avoiding development of memory and brain related illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease. 

Patrick and I have a habit of making individual and couple goals at least a few times a year and for one of my homework assignments this week, I have to learn a new skill.  This brought up an intriguing thought.  What skills do I want to develop that I don't currently have?  At first I couldn't think of anything, but once my brain started working, I found that I easily came up with a list of 25 new skills I would like to master this year.  Sounds ambitious I know, but if I don't finish them all this year, there is always next year.  And having a concrete list will give me something to refer back to and add on to.  It is my intent to pick one and learn it and then move on to another until I have finished the list, without worrying about how long it takes me to master each one.  In no particular order, here is my list:



-        Learn to rewire a lamp
-        Learn to play the guitar
-        Learn to knit
-        Learn to crochet
-        Learn to type faster
-        Learn to speed read
-        Learn to kick a soccer ball really far
-        Learn to draw
-        Learn 5 new ways to tie a scarf
-        Learn to make tortillas
-        Learn to replace baseboard pieces
-        Learn to make my own table
-        Learn how to install dimmer switches on my lights
-        Learn better knife skills – how to chop like a chef
-        Learn how to sharpen knives
-        Learn how to whistle
-        Learn how to pick a lock
-        Learn calligraphy
-        Learn how to throw a boomerang
-        Learn to play the organ well enough to play in sacrament meeting
Learn how to juggle
      Learn how to put in a zipper on a skirt
      Learn how to make a modest swimming suit from scratch
      Learn three new swimming strokes
      Learn CPR and get CPR certified - DONE!

      Yes, I started at the bottom of the list.  Not sure yet which one I will pick for my project but now I have lots of ideas of how to bring fun into my life.  I plan to run the list by Pat and see if he wants to learn any of them with me.  :)  Fun date nights planned for a while.  :)  

      So my question for you is, what would your 25 new skills be?  Feel free to share in the comments if you want, it is always fun to be inspired by each other.
     
     I can't resist sharing one last thing.  This week at our Stake Relief Society conference, someone shared this really short Android commercial which I thought was just amazing.  It made me really think about our talents and why we are giving unique talents and what are responsibilities are to increase our talents.  I hope you enjoy it!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLhJIFC8xkY (Android: Monotune video)