Monday, August 13, 2012

Update: my 50th year

About two and a half months ago, I started my 50th year with some plans. I thought I’d update you on how I’m doing.

My therapy is continuing. My therapist wants me to make weekly appointments through at least October for the CBASP for chronic depression.
I hope then we will have done enough work that I can focus more on cognitive behavior therapy for the obsessive-compulsive disorder.
My therapist and I are already seeing results from the CBASP therapy, so I feel like my time with him is well spent.
And my own efforts with the OCD, with encouragement from my therapist, are helping me.

One of my 50th year goals is to get in better physical shape. I am using the plan to participate in the Giblet Jog 5K, on Thanksgiving Day to inspire me. I’m scared to death to participate in a race—I never have.
And I’ve started my “training”—if you can call it that—very slowly, without consistency.
So I’ve got some work to do within the next three months.

Another one of my goals for my 50th year is to finish a draft of my first book. I’m not aiming for a perfect draft or the last draft, but a first draft.
I have finally written down details of how I’m going to accomplish this.
I will be continuing the writing that I’m doing now—scenes, vignettes and stories—until Nov. 30. I’ll use December to go through everything and find a structure. Then I’ll start the actual draft in January and have it finished by May 30, my 50th birthday.
Keeping to this schedule will mean early mornings and late nights, but I am quite determined to get it done.

To accomplish these goals, I’ll have to fight the procrastination that seeps into my activities. I’ll be writing more about procrastination in a future post.

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that a few weeks ago I decided go from posting every weekday to posting three times a week.
That didn’t work out. I just seemed to have more to say than three posts a week could take care of.
I’ve decided to compromise with myself. I will post Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. That will give me some breathing room while also giving me the time for doing something I love so much, blogging.

Are you working on some projects that you’ve set goals for? What would you like to share about them? Do you have any advice on how to stick to goals?

30 comments:

  1. Your goal of doing the run is so inspiring! I would like to do that one day.

    I also love your goal of writing your draft! You can do it!

    I'm glad you're seeing some results from the CBASP therapy!

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    1. Thank you for your encouragement, Elizabeth--it means a lot.

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  2. There's nothing better than having goals. For me at least. I think especially with a mental illness, having goals gives me some sort of accountability to myself and something to look forward to. Even if I don't reach my goals immediatly or have a slow start it still helps me loads.

    I, too have goals I'm working on. I am taking blogging more seriously and setting up a schedule which I had never done before. I always just blogged when it felt right, now I am going to discipline myself a bit more.

    I'm glad the therapy is working for you and good luck on the 5K.

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    1. Thank you, Yaya! I agree that goals can be helpful in giving us a sense of accountability, and I need that! Good luck on setting your own goals! :-)

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  3. Tina, it sounds like you are doing fab on so many levels--woohoo!! I'm especially excited for your 5K. I just ran a 5k with my daughter (her first), and the sparkle in her eyes when she finished said everything. There's magic in taking part in an organized event--no matter what speed or motivation. Just getting off the couch and showing up at the starting line is an achievement. Your book goal and progress is exciting too. I'm rooting for you!

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    1. Thank you so much, Becky! And congrats to your daughter on her first 5K! I am looking forward to showing up at the starting line, too.

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  4. You are doing great! I am working but also being very flexible and kind to myself, by celebrating everything!

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    1. Oh, Jodi, that is so important, isn't it, to be kind to yourself!

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  5. Great goals! I think it's really good that you've given yourself some actual dates and specific things you want done by those dates. That gives you some particular things to aim for.

    I'm not working on any projects, but I am starting a college class in a few weeks. It's a class on sound. I'm really looking forward to it, because I'm hoping it will help me become a better audio tech at church when I run the sound board to live mix the music for the worship team on Sunday mornings. I've been out of school for about a year and a half and (I graduated in Jan. 2011) and I really miss it. I guess I'm gonna be one of those life long students!

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    1. Sunny, I think it's great that you're taking a class in something you're interested in. That sounds like fun! Believe me, I would be a student all the time if I could! :-)

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  6. I love your goals. You are going to do very well in your race. I know it!

    I have registered for a marathon in October. Assuming injuries stay away, I'm really looking forward to it!

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    1. Wow, Lisa, a marathon. That's great! I hope injuries stay at bay for you.

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  7. I'm glad you will blog more..will take as much of your writing as your willing to do! I can't wait to read your book.
    I have been working hard at doing more miles per day walking and I have incorporated running into the mix. The VBS week got me off schedule and I will have to start slow on running again. My ultimate goal in life is to do the Appalachian Trail. I am content to do it in legs rather all in one year but I do want to walk the whole trail from Georgia to Maine.

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    1. Krystal Lynn, thank you! I am so excited for you about doing the Appalachian Trail. I think that's awesome! It sounds like you are working hard towards your goal.

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  8. Hi Tina, I would like to pass on an award to you and your blog, the Liebster Blog Award. Congratulations. I think you are an inspiration with your blog and deserve this award. To find out more and accept the award come on over to http://bhindthesmile.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/a-surprise.html

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  9. Those are great goals! Good luck in achieving them. Running is way too much work for me to contemplate. I like to walk, but don't run very fast at all. Post pic's of the race!

    I'm trying to get to have read the thousandth book on goodreads. And to lose the next 40 lbs to get back to my pre-ocd weight..Amazing how when I couldn'tdo much, i had no problem eating lots of crappy junk!

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    1. Karin, that's a wonderful goal, to read more books!

      I eat way too much crappy junk! :-(

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  10. I struggle with setting goals. I don't like not meeting goals so I would rather not make them. Silly, I know. I'm more of a spontaneous kinda person. This next weekend I'm running a 3+ mile run with 10+ obstacles, one of which is the world famous suicide hill in Omak, WA. Have I trained specifically for it...no. Am I gonna do it...yep. Here's hoping i don't die. :) You have very many worthy things to work on in the next several months. I admire you for having that plan. Good things will come of it.

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    1. Thanks, Melanie. Your run with the obstacles sounds exciting--good luck!

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  11. I am so thankful to have found your blog! I know you might not have stuck with the lesser blog time goal you set ... but, for what it is worth, I really do look forward to your posts -and your testimony is always encouraging to me:)))

    I've never heard of CBASP. My counselor usually refers to what we do as 'talk therapy.' She is always interested in what are the Top Thoughts circulating in my mind and heart.

    I really, really appreciate your perspective on 'paying' for a counselor to listen to me over at my blog.

    It has really been a huge blessing to me to be able to connect with you and a few others in blogshere who really understand where I am coming from.

    God bless you in this 50th year!!! And I wish you all the best for the Giblet 5k jog -How neat that it is on Thanksgiving Day. I think that is an awesome thing!!!!

    Blessings, Deanna

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind comment, Deanna!

      CBASP is a type of therapy specifically for chronic depression. It focuses on specific interactions in my life--every session we do an analysis of the interaction and talk about what I was trying to accomplish and whether or not I accomplished my goal. It has helped me to see that I tend to bring in the past to influence present day interactions. I'm learning not to do that. And in learning to handle interactions better, I'm better able to fight the sense of hopelessness that I have with the depression.

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  12. Sounds like you're making great progress!

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  13. Hi there tina. :) I've very recently started my own blog about my personal ocd problems. You blog's mission is the same as mine; I look forward to following your posts.

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  14. What a great idea these goals Tina!
    I'll be turning 50 on the 8th of March next year and I just thought it would be wonderful to set a goal for that too. So I did.
    My psychologist has fallen ill and will be out of the running for such a long time that she has advised her clients to find someone else. Quite a set back but my goal will be to somehow get myself out of the depression I've been battling with and do this on my own. I rather wait two years for my trusted psychologist to get back than go to someone else. And besides, I have had a lot of therapy over the years, want to see how I will manage "on my own".
    Doesn't feel so lonely anymore since I've found your blog and some others too.

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    1. Klaaske, I'm glad you found my blog and we connected! :-)

      We're almost the same age! The idea of turning 50 just has me thinking of setting goals. Your goal of waiting on your psychologist is a big one, and I wish you the best in it.

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  15. Congratulations Tina for all you are doing!!

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