Exercise an Nutrition are a large part of my vision points. The issue here is to keep things real and have them be something that I can execute. Overall the vision is of a strong, leaned out body that has a good deal of endurance and overall health.
Exercise:
Stretching – Flexabilty is soemthing I place a daily importance on as it is the first thing I do after getting up and putting in my contacts so I can see. It also has the aspect of mentally and emotionally starting off stable and meditative leading into the time of looking at virtues and setting my sights on the goals for the day.
Weightlifiting – I have adjusted things a bit here, but it is really always a work in progress. Mostly, I am more of a bodybuilder for health reason so I don’t go too heavy but heavy enough on the last set to bring change. Four sets of 8-10 mostly with a simple split: Chest/Delts, Back/Traps, Biceps/Triceps/ Forearms, Legs. Because I work out at the gym, I go in with a rough idea of the exercises I am going to do but I remain flexable in case the equipment I need is being used by someone else. I know a lot of exercises, so its OK.
Walking – I do a lot of walking at work. That said, I think by doing an hour a day on my days off on top of that might be that little bit that makes things go slightly better. To walk constantly for an hour is a little different than what I do at work.
Nutrition:
Nutritionally, my plan is sitll up in the air. There are a few elements I want. Lower carbs, higher protien and an assortment of good fats. I tend toward the Paleo rather than the Keto end of the spectrum but I can see how elements of both are effective and useful. What I might do will be a hybrid of the two that fits my lifestyle and what works for me. Mostly right now, I just want to make weekly changes that get me to where I need to be. One step at a time in the right direction.
I need some lifestyle habits here that stick so doing what works and is enjoyable to me is important.
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
My self goals have always been about strengthening myself from within and without. In the case fo a couple fo them this is literally true of my body, but I find the body, consciousness connection kicks in and those things strengthen more than the body.
Both of my remaining goals have one thing in common and that is they will not be said to be achieved until the very last day of march because both of them are, much like the virtues of self-discipline and perseverance they are based on requiring consistency over time.
Discipline:
“Discipline is the willingness to be hard on oneself first and then if needed help with the development with others, so that greater purposes may be achieved.”
Principle: Apply discipline to every aspect of life that it can be applied.
Goal: To be following a full Paleo Diet by March 31, 2020.
Bucket List: Do a rebellious act on April 30th, 2020 – Beltane.
I struggle with the paleo Diet mostly because it would require looking at my wife and telling her we are dumping everything from the fridge that doesn’t address it so I don’t have things around me I can not eat. I would rather have the whole thing devoted to it.
In any case, the diet I am on is working but not completely paleo. This may be a case of a successful failure where the diet wasn’t achieved but the results indicate success.
Perseverance:
“Perseverance is the ability to stand up and return from defeat and failure”
Principle: Keep getting up after every defeat or failure.
Goal: To engage in an exercise program that involves weightlifting, hiking/walking, and stretching/ yoga an average of three days a week from April 1st, 2019 to March 31st, 2020
Bucket List: To get at least one tattoo by March 18th, 2020.
At present, I will mark this goal off at the end fo the year. All three activities have been there. Stretching most mornings. Lifting when I am near the gym after work and walks when the weather is good. I don’t see this one not being crossed off in the end as long as I keep doing what I am doing.
Fidelity:
“Fidelity is the will to be loyal to one’s moral philosophy, to one’s family, one’s friends, and most important to one’s self, and loyalty to one’s friends is valued as highly as loyalty to one’s family.”
Principle: Be loyal to those who have been loyal to me.
Goal: Celebrate my wife and I’s 30th anniversary (June 10th, 2019) with a mini-vacation (achieved)
Bucket List: Discover all the countries of origin from my genetics and visit them all by March 18th, 2029.
My anniversary celebration was a high moment this year.
Higher Virtue – Wisdom:
The issue of wisdom addresses the most if lifestyle. How one lives their life as a whole. Generating new and better habits is a good lifestyle challenge but it means engaging a lot of wisdom and being flexible and adaptable. Lasting change involves changing and tweaking but also simple determination.
Rest Day Routine:
Morning Routine
Wife: Communication / Cuddle Time
Blogging – Organize, revise, write a new post for the next day, 15 min. work on fiction.
Cleaning – varies but one room of the apartment at least.
Reading – 1/7th of a book
Writing – 3000 Words
I need to do this one more, but I tend to jsut collapse and vegetate on days off.
Goals and Bucket List Items Achieved (Since Summer 2018):
Goals Achieved: 5
Graduated College with a BS in Political Science and minors in Economics and International Business – December 2018
Finalize last requirements for my degree – Internship by May 2019 – May 2019
Celebrate my wife and I’s 30th anniversary (June 10th, 2019) with a mini-vacation – June 2019
Maintain a daily blog streak of one post per day for an entire year (365 days).
By March 31st of 2020, to be the leader/participant in a group of some kind.
Bucket List Items Achieved: 0
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
There is no doubt after leaving the ministry and faith that I need to forge a new me. Sure it is going to be made out of the base materials of my life that are left, but it is going to have to be new. This is the hard part and it is also the getting started part too which makes it even more difficult. Except, it’s getting a little easier.
I saw a member of my former congregation a couple days ago at my work and it took me back for a second until I walked by them and she walked by me, She looked at me, knew who I was and said nothing. I responded in kind. It was a triggering experience to be sure, but for some reason, I got over it much quicker than I thought I would. Shit, The further I get along from those events it seems the better I slowly get and it becomes easier to focus on the future. The only exception seems to be lost love – Miss Salty. I still struggle with that, but who I am and changing it is becoming easier.
Discipline:
“Discipline is the willingness to be hard on oneself first and then if needed help with the development with others, so that greater purposes may be achieved.”
Principle: Apply discipline to every aspect of life that it can be applied.
Goal: To be following a full Paleo Diet by March 31, 2020.
Bucket List: Do a rebellious act on April 30th, 2020 – Beltane.
Nothing really about this goal that I can say other than the removal of some of the crap still remaining in my diet was a little easier than I thought. I feel better and the transition continues. The issue is to have myself be going strong Paleo by March 31st.
Perseverance:
“Perseverance is the ability to stand up and return from defeat and failure”
Principle: Keep getting up after every defeat or failure.
Goal: To engage in an exercise program that involves weightlifting, hiking/walking, and stretching/ yoga an average of three days a week from April 1st, 2019 to March 31st, 2020
Bucket List: To get at least one tattoo by March 18th, 2020.
I am thinking next week I will switch my walking indoors. I hate treadmills but it is the only option for me right now that the snow has arrived. This is the other goal that has a finish line in March so I just have to keep going.
Fidelity:
“Fidelity is the will to be loyal to one’s Gods and Goddesses, to one’s Folk, to one’s self, and loyalty to one’s friends was as valued as highly as loyalty to one’s family.”
Principle: Be loyal to those who have been loyal to me.
Goal: Celebrate my wife and I’s 30th anniversary (June 10th, 2019) with a mini-vacation (achieved)
Bucket List: Discover all the countries of origin from my genetics and visit them all by March 18th, 2029.
Goal Achieved
Higher Virtue – Wisdom:
Wisdom is hard here. I need a major change in direction in my life, I can see that. I just don’t know what is going to fly off when it happens. I know if I stay where I am and doing what I am doing, it won’t end well. I can see it. Wisdom says that I need to put off the past as much as possible and that is what I need to do. The dross of the past needs to go and the new me forged from the iron that remains.
Rest Day Routine:
Morning Routine
Wife: Communication / Cuddle Time
Blogging – Organize, revise, write a new post for the next day, 15 min. work on fiction.
Cleaning – varies but one room of the apartment at least.
Reading – 1/7th of a book
Writing – 3000 Words
This is going to be good I can tell already.
Goals and Bucket List Items Achieved (Since Summer 2018):
Goals Achieved: 5
Graduated College with a BS in Political Science and minors in Economics and International Business – December 2018
Finalize last requirements for my degree – Internship by May 2019 – May 2019
Celebrate my wife and I’s 30th anniversary (June 10th, 2019) with a mini-vacation – June 2019
Maintain a daily blog streak of one post per day for an entire year (365 days).
By March 31st of 2020, to be the leader/participant in a group of some kind.
Bucket List Items Achieved: 0
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Happy Frigg and Freya’s Day. Also a Happy Birthday to my wife.
Journal Entry:
Sigyn is the goddess of loyalty and there is only one tale that survives that shows what this means. She is the wife of Loki and Loki’s punishment for killing the beloved god Baldur is to have a snake drop deadly venom on his forehead. Sigyn demonstrates her loyalty to Loki by using a cup to catch those drops so they do not hit his forehead. Periodically it was said that she had to leave to dump the cup and this is when Loki would feel the venom and writhe in agony causing earthquakes.
I am not sure if Sigyn is a good or bad example of loyalty. It is also questionable how she is loyal to – Loki or humanity. Is she trying to prevent the suffering of Loki or humanity at the hands of the earthquakes Loki causes as he responds to the agony of the venom? She doesn’t display loyalty to the rest of the gods as she is trying very much to interfere with the decree of Odin. If anything this story provides a great example of how fidelity or loyalty can get pretty complicated.
What I feel is needed with fidelity/loyalty is simple – priorities of loyalty. Rules also would help. I will probably discuss this in greater detail in my post in a few weeks in Of Wolves and Ravens when I touch on Asatru and Fidelity. My initial thoughts are to prioritize my loyalty among the list of divine, family, friends, and self. and then create those rules that create a balanced understanding. The thing is after so many years of being loyal to others at the expense of being loyal to myself, I feel loyalty to myself needs to be first. Then Loyalty to the rest is a sort of circle of fidelity around me. There is much thought an meditation to do here yet, so I will leave it at that.
For now, the story of Sigyn inspires thought on the subject of fidelity if nothing else. For that this one fragment of her story that survives is beneficial in that regard.
Discipline:
“Discipline is the willingness to be hard on oneself first and then if needed help with the development with others, so that greater purposes may be achieved.”
Principle: Apply discipline to every aspect of life that it can be applied.
Goal: To be following a full Paleo Diet by March 31, 2020.
Bucket List: Do a rebellious act on April Fools Day, April 1st, 2020.
Nutritionally, I need to tighten things down a little and get the carbs as much as possible out fo my life again. If there is anything I struggle with specifically it is things like bread and other common American diet things like that that are still in very limited ways part fo my diet. I am at the point where more micromanagement of my diet might be necessary to lose any more fat. Since March of 2018, I have dropped from 348 lbs. to 280 lbs. through a combination of moving toward a more Paleo Diet, weightlifting and walking. At this point, it is simply a matter of getting more specific in the dietary aspects. I am probably 80 % Paleo and I need to get to over 90 to 95 % with maybe a cheat meal once per week so eat things I enjoy.
Perseverance:
“Perseverance is the ability to stand up and return from defeat and failure”
Principle: Keep getting up after every defeat or failure.
Goal: To engage in an exercise program that involves weightlifting, hiking/walking, and stretching/ yoga an average of three days a week from April 1st, 2019 to March 31st, 2020
Bucket List: To get at least one tattoo by March 18th, 2020.
I think I have become too reliant on 13-week sections of weightlifting as far as the planning. By the 8th or 9th week it is hard to stay focused on the same routine. I am thinking, starting next week that my programs will be two months long instead of three with automatic changes every two months instead. This might keep things fresh. I am also thinking I ma ready to start adding in the barbell exercises again. Walking is becoming difficult as my boots are getting worn and I need to change them out. I really need that new job soon as there is a lot of little things that are starting to pile up that need monetary attention.
Fidelity:
“Fidelity is the will to be loyal to one’s Gods and Goddesses, to one’s Folk, to one’s self, and loyalty to one’s friends was as valued as highly as loyalty to one’s family.”
Principle: Be loyal to those who have been loyal to me.
Goal:Celebrate my wife and I’s 30th anniversary (June 10th, 2019) with a mini-vacation (achieved)
Bucket List: Discover all the countries of origin from my genetics and visit them all by March 18th, 2029.
I have already talked about my loyalty issues above, but the main thing is loyalty to myself. That cannot be overemphasized. If my other relationships undercut my loyalty to me, then it is going to be hard for me to maintain them.
Higher Virtue – Wisdom:
I am trying to make wise decisions here. What is the most loving thing to do? What is the justest thing to do? What is the wisest thing to do? All of this focuses on myself though, because if I lose me, then all is lost. I already know what happens when I forget myself and sacrifice everything for others. I end up destroyed and doing very foolish things. The wisest course will involve the most love, justice, and wisdom that is self-directed first and then to others second.
Rest Day Routine:
Morning Routine
Wife: Communication / Cuddle Time
Blogging – Organize, revise, write a new post for the next day, 15 min. work on fiction.
Walking – 1 hour.
Cleaning – varies but one room of the apartment at least.
Reading – half an hour for enjoyment.
My son and I have started a kind of two-person book club and we will be starting to read a book together. It is a natural fit in my reading slot here.
Goals and Bucket List Items Achieved (Since Summer 2018):
Goals Achieved: 3
Graduated College with a BS in Political Science and minors in Economics and International Business – December 2018
Finalize last requirements for my degree – Internship by May 2019 – May 2019
Celebrate my wife and I’s 30th anniversary (June 10th, 2019) with a mini-vacation – June 2019
Bucket List Items Achieved: 0
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Looking at the Metaphor of Norse Mythology and the three children of Loki, we at last turn to Jorgamundr or the Midgard Serpent. Thor will battle this monster at the end of the world Ragnarok. It is said that he will kill the serpent, but in the process will die from its venom. An epic battle with the beast defeated, spending one’s very life to do so.
The analogy could be made here in regards to the fight of one’s life. Everything prepares the self for the end. For me to live right up to the end and to live fully is the goal. The Virtues I call Self Virtues lead me to that end fully prepared for it. Discipline, Perseverance and Fidelity mold me into something that can face my end having spent all to live life fully.
So we see the epic struggle each person faces. 1) The forces that would cause low self-esteem, fear and lies need to be struck down with Honor, Courage and Truth. 2) The forces that would lead to co-dependence, laziness and greed struck down by Self-Reliance, Industriousness and Hospitality. 3) The forces that would cause us to lack self-control, quit or be disloyal defeated in the ultimate end through Discipline, Perseverance and Fidelity. The three children of Loki defeated through following the Nine Noble Virtues. This is my three-fold epic struggle.
Discipline:
“Discipline is the willingness to be hard on oneself first and then if needed help with the development with others, so that greater purposes may be achieved.”
Principle: Apply discipline to every aspect of life that it can be applied.
Goal: To follow A FULL Paleo Diet Plan from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
Bucket List: Do a rebellious act on April Fools Day, April 1st, 2020.
Diet is still a work in progress but the counts help me keep a lid on bad nutrition. My main concern is to keep the fat monster away while hopefully my training this spring will begin to see some more results as far as fat loss and muscle development. April 1st, 2020 is a long way away.
Perseverance:
“Perseverance is the ability to stand up and return from defeat and failure”
Principle: Keep getting up after every defeat or failure.
Goal: To engage in an exercise program that involves weightlifting, hiking/walking and stretching/ yoga an average of three days a week from April 1st, 2019 to March 31st, 2020
Bucket List: To get at least one tattoo by March 18th, 2020.
I am glad to be back in the gym. It was a good week too as I reassessed where I am. I have lost a little strength, but not much and I am figuring muscle memory will kick in a month or two and I will be back to where I was very quickly. I want first walk of the year to be in sunshine and at least 50 degrees. Nothing fancy, just start at the door to my apartment walk out 2.5 k and then walk back. Rails to Trails is like a block away so I can utilize that without even driving to it. It’s important though that the sun is shining for that first walk for symbolic reasons, after that I don’t care.
Fidelity:
“Fidelity is the will to be loyal to one’s Gods and Goddesses, to one’s Folk, to one’s self, and loyalty to one’s friends was as valued as highly as loyalty to one’s family.”
Principle: Be loyal to those who have been loyal to me.
Goal: Celebrate my wife and I’s 30th anniversary (June 10th, 2019) with a mini-vacation
Bucket List: Discover all the countries of origin from my genetics and visit them all by March 18th, 2029.
Put my first money in the bank for both my tattoo fund and our mini vacation fund. I am really focused on getting a new job right now and hopefully the added resources for the genetics test and the country visits in the next ten years.
Higher Virtue – Wisdom:
I try to address each fork in the road, each crossroad with wisdom. Does this action lead to love, justice and wisdom? Wisdom. Tough call sometimes when you’re hurting, when what you want is relief from pain instead of making the best choice. This week has been like that.
Weekly Routine:
Weightlifting/Stretching – Minimum 3 days per week.
Walking – Minimum 3 days a week
Job Search – Minimum 3 days a week
Cleaning – 3 days a week.
Writing – 3 times a week
Latin – 3 times per week
Cheat Meal Count: 3 per week.
Really looking at getting this in place this coming week. Moved Latin here. Makes more sense to do it on days off and/or when I can see I have more time. With only a month to go left in the semester, I am looking forward to the end of it so I can take a breath and focus that time on something else.
Goals and Bucket List Items Achieved (Since Summer 2018):
Goals Achieved: 1 Graduated College with BS in Political Science and minors in Economics and International Business – December 2018.
Bucket List Items Crossed Off: 0
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
By the time this post drops it will be Friday at 8 am. I will be at work, but I will be thinking about iron. It has been about three months since my old gym closed leaving me gym homeless. It would have to say it has been hard, not just because I don’t have a place to train, but because the gym was a place to get my mind right. It was one of the many tools I used to fight The Grey and I am excited to bring it back into my life. I have missed the iron.
I joined a new gym Monday April 1st. It is a block from where I work, so I am planning on heading there after work and banging out some set and reps. This winter I have not lost much of what I gained last summer. I probably have put on a few pounds but my diet has been pretty tight for the most part, plus my work is fairly physical. I am hoping this new gym membership will allow me not only to return to where I was but take my progress to new levels. My only goal for each workout is to make it better than the last time.
Discipline:
“Discipline is the willingness to be hard on oneself first and then if needed help with the development with others, so that greater purposes may be achieved.”
Principle: Apply discipline to every aspect of life that it can be applied.
Goal: To follow A FULL Paleo Diet Plan from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
Bucket List: Do a rebellious act on April Fools Day, April 1st, 2020.
I decided to slow down on this diet thing, not because exercise is coming back into my life as far as walking and lifting. No, my thoughts are to read my book again on Paleo and start to follow their advice on how to implement it. I am sticking to what I am doing currently and will over time change my diet to be more Paleo centrist. It has worked well for me. I should be implemented fully by the end of the month if not sooner. It’s one of those one bite at a time things to eat the elephant. Is elephant meat Paleo friendly?
Perseverance:
“Perseverance is the ability to stand up and return from defeat and failure”
Principle: Keep getting up after every defeat or failure.
Goal: To engage in an exercise program that involves weightlifting, hiking/walking and stretching/ yoga an average of three days a week from April 1st, 2019 to March 31st, 2020
Bucket List: To get at least one tattoo by March 18th, 2020.
I was going to walk this last few days. The weather is still a little cold, but in truth I think my new exercise program should kick off with a trip to the gym. It’s symbolic. A restart should always have some sort of symbol to mark the occasion and I feel the moment I reach down for a deadlift for the first time in three months, I will be off and running. I have decided on a three-day split. Pull, Push and Legs. Pull being Traps, Back, Biceps and Forearms. Push being Chest, Delts, Triceps and Abs. Legs being Quads, Hamstrings and Calves. This keeps me in my three days a week minimum and hitting my whole body in that time frame. I am going to start off with 4 x 10-12 with a rising pyramid as far as resistance levels. Once muscle memory kicks in after a month, I should be doing what I was doing before my last gym closed.
Stretching will be a part of it before and after. Next week the weather is supposed to be very Spring-like. so walking my first few 5 k training walks will commence then.
I have started a savings plan that will lead to my first tattoo. More on that under fidelity.
Fidelity:
“Fidelity is the will to be loyal to one’s Gods and Goddesses, to one’s Folk, to one’s self, and loyalty to one’s friends was as valued as highly as loyalty to one’s family.”
Principle: Be loyal to those who have been loyal to me.
Goal: Celebrate my wife and I’s 30th anniversary (June 10th, 2019) with a mini-vacation
Bucket List: Discover all the countries of origin from my genetics and visit them all by March 18th, 2029.
My savings plan is basically to take a little more out of each of my checks and set it aside. Part of this will be for my first tattoo and part of it for my wife and I’s mini vacation. In a couple of months the vacation will take place and then in three months I will see where my tattoo money is at.
I think one of the things on hold is the genetic test and part of that is I want to wait until I have a new job and extra income to save for it. I have a lot of time on this one but information is needed, so I can even begin planning.
Higher Virtue – Wisdom:
I feel my plans are starting to go in motion and it is very much like work to get this wheel turning the right direction. Discipline, Perseverance and Fidelity are hard ways to make yourself a better person but they all involve humility in the face of opposition and at times failure. But humility, in order for it to bring strength and wisdom, brings change not withdraw.
Weekly Routine:
Weightlifting/Stretching – Minimum 3 days per week.
Walking – Minimum 3 days a week
Job Search – Minimum 3 days a week
Cleaning – 3 days a week.
Writing – 3 times a week
Cheat Meal Count: 3 per week.
The first part of the week I tested the morning Routine and the mid part of the week I tested adding the Daily Routine. Today begins adding in the Weekly Stuff. It has not been as difficult as I would have thought, but there is a lot of preparation and build up work in some areas.
Goals and Bucket List Items Achieved (Since Summer 2018):
Goals Achieved: 1 Graduated College with BS in Political Science and minors in Economics and International Business – December 2018.
Bucket List Items Crossed Off: 0
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Well, not going to get to a Crossing Bifrost post this week either. I really need to get this realignment done so I can get on with other things. I will double dip next week to make it up to you. Maybe.
Now that I have aligned each Virtue with its Principle, Goal and Bucket List item, there is one task that remains so my three weekly journal posts are complete – Aligning my Routines so that what is on them is actively taking steps to reach those goals and items.
I don’t consider routine or forming routines to be a restriction on living life, but rather a tool so goals can be achieved. The goal is having more time to live life and achieve results that make my life more enjoyable. They actually, in the long run, give me more time to do what I want to do. This is because routine should be about being efficient and effective.
There are other issues with this as well. Certain habits that I need to develop because they good habits. Stuff that is more connected directly to virtue than a goal or item on my bucket list. But all of it must relate to a goal at least indirectly in that it keeps me developing skills and habits that help strengthen me in some way so the goals are easier to achieve. The other thing is activities that are flexible in that they can be used for one goal and then transition into another. Study, Reading and Writing are good examples as they can be used professionally, as a student or personally.
I have the same resources as anyone else: Time, Possessions and Relationships. Finding ways to utilize them to help me get to what I need and want is the issue here and Routines are a tool to help me do that. What I need to do here as well is identify things that will be the product of routine and others that are just items to list to be done.
Step One – List the Goals and Look at Full Bucket List.
Goal’s Listed
Maintain a daily blog streak of one post per day for an entire year (365 days).
Cross one thing off bucket list every year. Deadline March 31st.
To Write a Non-Fiction Book by March 31st, 2020
Find a new, better paying job by the end of March 2019 or before.
Finalize last requirements for my degree – Internship by May 2019
By March 31st of 2020, to be the leader of a support group of some kind.
To follow A FULL Paleo Diet Plan from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
To engage in an exercise program that involves weightlifting, hiking/walking and stretching/ yoga an average of three days a week from April 1st, 2019 to March 31st, 2020
Celebrate my wife and I’s 30th anniversary (June 10th, 2019) with a mini-vacation
Bucket List Items Listed:
Hike the Northern Lakeshore Trail along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Go Back to Budapest, Hungary for a vacation.
Learn Latin by March 31st 2020 to the point I can take a test and show my self proficient.
To own and run my own successful business or company.
Write A Novel and Get it Published.
To own a home by March 2024.
Do a rebellious act on April Fools Day, April 1st, 2020.
To get at least one tattoo by March 18th, 2020.
Discover all the countries of origin from my genetics and visit them all by March 18th, 2029.
Step Two – Revise Routines. Basically, I am coping the old routine and making revisions based on the above.
Morning Routine:
Review Nine Noble Virtues (NNV), Principles, Goals and Bucket List
Meditation – 3 min.
Check Communications and Email.
Paper Journal: Create Daily Log and To Do List.
Breakfast, Medications and Supplements.
Shower and Personal Hygiene
Get Dressed for the Day
This is the first thing in the morning when I get up stuff. This is every morning, every day. The idea is to set a tone and plan what to do for the day as well as remind myself of obligations. Once this is done, it is time to work the daily routine. I am having breakfast again as it is the best way to remember to take my medications and supplements.
Daily Routine: (in priority order)
Wife: Communication / Cuddle Time
Blogging – Organize, revise, write new post for next day, 15 min. work on fiction.
Study / Homework / Research: half hour per day minimum or until all necessary work is completed.
Personal Business: record financial transactions, savings plan actions, budgeting, appointments, other.
Check Communications and Email after 2 pm but before 4 pm.
Latin – half hour
Weekly Routine Items
Nutrition: Daily Carb Count – 1
The reason this is in priority order is because it might not get finished every day and Weekly Routine Items are a special case in that when they can be done and need to be done they jump to the top of the list. Blogging is there at the top because of the goal to blog a post every day. Reading is essential for school and writing. Study/ Homework / Research covers work, school and writing. Personal Business is expanded to include a lot of items. Just wanted a time every day to ask the questions: “What personal business needs to be done today? And did it get done?”. Latin I debated but truth is it is probably one of those things I will have to do every day or it won’t happen at all. Nutrition is still a work in progress but allowing one carb high carb item a day will keep me from going completely nuts.
Savings Plan actions are purposeful activities where I save money toward certain ends. Right now I am saving a set number of dollars every paycheck toward my tattoos and a mini-vacation with the wife for our anniversary. Then after that saving up for the genetics test will be on my list. The idea is things that need money to do them need a regular plan of building that money to achieve them.
The trick with the Daily is it needs to be long enough so I don’t put it off but short enough that it is doable even when the weekly items are added. It has to have the right balance and that is why the Morning Routine has me making this up every morning to as the question of is this both Realistic and Challenging enough?
Weekly Routine:
Weightlifting/Stretching – Minimum 3 days per week.
Walking – Minimum 3 days a week
Job Search – Minimum 3 days a week
Cleaning – 3 days a week.
Writing – 3 times a week
Cheat Meal Count: 3 per week.
As you can see, I have decided to go with the number three a lot. Mostly this makes the log entry easy. Lifting and Stretching will come back into my life next week as I have decided to spend some of my tax return money on a gym memberships and I will probably do it every day after work. This should actually give me four days as week, but I allow for special things to happen where I might have to forgo once a week or so. Walking will probably be on days off along with the job search and cleaning. Writing I am going to look for days where it will work. The compensation for only having one high carb source a day is to give myself three cheat meals a week and that includes special occasions.
That should do it other than spending the rest of today doing preparation work to make this start happening Sun’s Day. Mostly this involves redoing mt lists for meditation and getting my paper journal prepared. This process has really streamlined things as well as made it simpler and more lined up. One thing leads to another pretty well. That said, glad the process is over although there are some small items to do on some of the items listed above to get the specifics. Time to make this thing work.
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
I have always been a loyal friend. I have always been a loyal father and grandfather. Understand if you mess with my kids (including my daughter-in-law and son-in-law by the way) or grand kids, prepare to reap something you will not enjoy. I am loyal to mother who yesterday turned 78. The memory of my father and grandparents I honor every day. I was loyal to my church and even at the end my thoughts were always on how I could withdraw without hurting them any more than necessary. I never turned my back on them, until they were misled into thinking I had, and turned their back on me.
No. Fidelity is a struggle in a very specific areas for me. The rest of it is solid. The areas that need work are obviously my wife and I and my trust issues now with possible new friends. The first is much better. My wife and I have been counseled and we have reached a place where we trust each other again and are supportive. We still have some issues of course like any couple but we are working on them together.
What remains for me is that I tend to trust people and give them the same loyalty I expect from them. The problem is that I assume they feel the same and they don’t, and I don’t pick up on that. It can make me naive at times as to what people, who call themselves my friends’, real intentions are or even their real nature. It has blindsided me more than once. In this last year it happened twice with pretty catastrophic results.
Well, at least until recently this was true. Now, I skeptical of everyone who calls me ‘friend’ with very few exceptions. I have made a commitment to keep my circle very small for this very reason. It also why not much has changed in regards to he virtue or principle I follow because I forged both of these things in the fires of betrayal – my own and of those toward me.
“Fidelity is the will to be loyal to one’s Gods and Goddesses, to one’s Folk, to one’s self, and loyalty to one’s friends was as valued as highly as loyalty to one’s family.”
No changes but perhaps some definitions are in order.
My gods are the virtues I follow and my philosophy of deism, humanism and paganism. Nothing more or less.
My ‘folk’ are my immediate family and those friends who have earned through their own loyalty the title of friend. Like the virtue says, my friends are family. I hope that is understood. There is only one difference. If friend betrays me, I have no problem throwing them out of the family.
Myself – yeah, in equal measure to those above I work on being loyal to myself and being truly myself. No more masks, no more lies to cover the real me. I will no longer be ashamed of my true self.
Principle: Be loyal to those who have been loyal to me.
Recent events have the caveat ‘ ‘who have been loyal to me.’ Betrayal is hard when you do it and I now see more than ever the value of fidelity from me toward others. That said, I get truly pissed off about people who betray me as a result too. Once you do that, my loyalty to you goes right out the window. People screw up, it should be no cause to be disloyal to them. Something me and my wife have learned together which is probably what makes our relationship much tighter in some ways than it has ever been.
I just turned 50, so I am too fucking old now for friends that are disloyal or forming friendships that are not serious. My pack is small but we fight together and die together if necessary. This needs to be understood. So yes, you have to demonstrate loyalty now before you get that kind of loyalty from me. Thank you. Otherwise cue Pantera’s ‘Walk for fake friends.’:
Goal: Celebrate my wife and I’s 30th anniversary (June 10th, 2019) with a mini-vacation
Last year my wife and I were separated for our anniversary. This year we need to make up for that somehow. Don’t know the specifics, but a ‘weekend’ getaway type thing might be just what we need the most.
Bucket List: Discover all the countries of origin from my genetics and visit them all by March 18th, 2029.
I struggled with this one for a while trying to find something that tied in with fidelity. I mean getting a genetics test is easy. finding the means to research it down to actually visiting each country my ancestors came from is going to require some prosperity. From my mom’s side, that means France, The Netherlands, and Wales for sure. I could however find some surprises with genetics test. The first step would then be to get a genetics test. I have set as a time limit on this one my 60th birthday as I needed a true long-term bucket list item and didn’t have one yet.
Discipline:
“Discipline is the willingness to be hard on oneself first and then if needed help with the development with others, so that greater purposes may be achieved.”
Principle: Apply discipline to every aspect of life that it can be applied.
Goal: To follow A FULL Paleo Diet Plan from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
Bucket List: Do a rebellious act on April Fools Day, April 1st, 2020.
Time is pressing now on the nutrition element here. I need to spend time before Monday getting a plan together. The main issue is of course cutting out from my diet the things I cannot eat. Coming up with new things I can eat to cook and so forth.
Perseverance:
“Perseverance is the ability to stand up and return from defeat and failure”
Principle: Keep getting up after every defeat or failure.
Goal: To engage in an exercise program that involves weightlifting, hiking/walking and stretching/ yoga an average of three days a week from April 1st, 2019 to March 31st, 2020
Bucket List: To get at least one tattoo by March 18th, 2020.
I decided to take some of my tax return and get a gym membership near where I work. I will probably stop by after work every day and hit the stretching and weights. The weather is turning nice so walking is about to start next week too. It begins very soon.
Fidelity:
“Fidelity is the will to be loyal to one’s Gods and Goddesses, to one’s Folk, to one’s self, and loyalty to one’s friends was as valued as highly as loyalty to one’s family.”
Principle: Be loyal to those who have been loyal to me.
Goal: Celebrate my wife and I’s 30th anniversary (June 10th, 2019) with a mini-vacation
Bucket List: Discover all the countries of origin from my genetics and visit them all by March 18th, 2029.
Lots of family stuff which is good. I suspect the goals will be different things that reflect my gratitude for fidelity toward family and friends.
Higher Virtue – Wisdom:
I learned a lot of humility this last year. I suppose that this has paved a lot of wisdom for me in the same time frame. As I relive some of the memories from last year, wisdom and humility kind of beat the hell out of my foolish pride. It is not an easy time right now and that is for damn sure. I hope that through Discipline, Perseverance and Fidelity, I can find a gentler way to pave wisdom with humility, but I doubt it. I suspect I might be harder on myself than life is.
Weekly Routine:
Weightlifting – 4 days per week.
Cleaning – 3 days a week.
Walking – 4 days a week
Writing – 4 times a week
Cheat Meal Count – Currently 2
Tomorrow I will be doing a special The Rabyd Skald post to deal with my routines. I suspect all of them will change but the main issue is to take each goal and bucket list item and find something to put in the routines that works toward them.
Goals and Bucket List Items Achieved:
Goals Achieved: 1 Graduated College with BS in Political Science and minors in Economics and International Business December 2018.
Bucket List Items Crossed Off: 0
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
As I look at my life I can say if there is any virtue more natural to me than Perseverance, I don’t know what it is. Getting up off the ground is a skill I have mastered and I must say it is part natural and part encoded into me through four years of high school football. “Get off the ground”, “Coyotes never quit.” etc. pounded in my every practice and every play. It has become a lifestyle.
I know someday I may fall and not get back up. That came very close to happening last year. But I winced in pain and stood back up and kept walking. The Grey Wayfarer was born at that moment and to be honest was born of pure stubborn will to succeed or at least survive.
“Perseverance is the ability to stand up and return from defeat and failure”
It is the best possible definition I can think of. There are many, but this one just makes it simple and succinct.
Principle: Keep getting up after every defeat or failure.
Yep. Like this too. No better way to put it.
Goal: To engage in an exercise program that involves weightlifting, hiking/walking and stretching/ yoga an average of three days a week from April 1st, 2019 to March 31st, 2020
This basically combines two of my previous goals into one goal. It puts a full package and balanced exercise plan to work to improve my health. Along with Nutrition this is about improving my health and gaining long term health. All of these activities not only require perseverance to stick with, but also build strength, endurance and flexibility – key components of perseverance. It just makes sense to me for this goal to be this way.
Bucket List: To get at least one tattoo by March 18th, 2020.
My tattoos are going to be about my journey, so they don’t have to come all at once. They are also a measure of prosperity in my mind as I would use money that is more disposable income to get them. In any case I am taking a long view on this issue and setting a deadline. My list changes from time to time but there have been some consistent points. I will probably talk more about this next week.
Discipline:
“Discipline is the willingness to be hard on oneself first and then if needed help with the development with others, so that greater purposes may be achieved.”
Principle: Apply discipline to every aspect of life that it can be applied.
Goal: To follow A FULL Paleo Diet Plan from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
Bucket List: Do a rebellious act on April Fools Day, April 1st, 2020.
Looking at this diet question I don’t have a lot of time to really work on it, but the main issue is it being a Full Paleo Diet plan. Now when I say that, I make exceptions for a few things. There will probably be a cheat meal once per week. Special occasions will allow for alcohol and addition cheat meals. But mostly I am struggling with dairy. I will think on it some more.
Perseverance:
“Perseverance is the ability to stand up and return from defeat and failure”
Principle: Keep getting up after every defeat or failure.
Goal: To engage in an exercise program that involves weightlifting, hiking/walking and stretching/ yoga an average of three days a week from April 1st, 2019 to March 31st, 2020
Bucket List: To get at least one tattoo by March 18th, 2020.
Seeing the whole picture here means a visual representation of perseverance in my body – it’s health and how it looks. To build through perseverance a body worth putting art on is what you see here.
Fidelity:
“Fidelity is the will to be loyal to one’s Gods and Goddesses, to one’s Folk, to one’s self, and loyalty to one’s friends was as valued as highly as loyalty to one’s family.”
Principle: Be loyal to those who have been loyal to me.
By the time I get to Fidelity next week, I will either be very clear what should be here or completely lost. The wife, family and friends orientation will have to be present. The goal might still be on my list, but the bucket list is empty here. Another thing to think on.
Higher Virtue – Wisdom:
I think this realignment has been one of the wiser things I have done. It really is bringing things into focus and that is good. I think it also is going to bring my routines in line with everything as well.
Weekly Routine:
Weightlifting – 4 days per week.
Cleaning – 3 days a week.
Walking – 4 days a week
Writing – 4 times a week
Cheat Meal Count – Currently 2
Going to have to bring this into more compliance with everything. Next week is all about finalizing the realignment and getting the routines to actually do things that head toward my goals and the bucket list.
Evening Routine:
Take supplements and medications.
Brush and Floss Teeth
Out the Door Preparation
Reading – 15 min.
Go to Bed
Honestly, I think this routine might die. I think I would be better served in putting the things on it on other routines. If all I do is brush my teeth and go to bed that’s not a routine, that is just a smart thing to do.
Nutrition:
This is going to disappear after today. It’s under discipline with the goal, so I no longer need a separate section.
Weekly Recap:
Name change – Goals and Bucket List Items Achieved. And that is what this is going to do. Keep track of the number of each and what they were. I expect both of them to grow.
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Discipline is a very interesting word as it defines a lot of different things. Mostly in this context it is doing the things that need to be done every day to achieve the goals you want to achieve. When coupled with perseverance, it is an unstoppable force to getting where you want to go. I was recently browsing through Barnes and Noble in the business section and found that there were at least ten books on discipline and many others where discipline is a key element among a very few.
For me discipline expresses itself in routines and doing things when they need to be done. The issues for me; most of the time, are procrastination and The Grey. In any case though the one thing that keeps me moving forward the most is discipline and both those opposing problems are overcome by discipline.
“Discipline is the willingness to be hard on oneself first and then if needed help with the development with others, so that greater purposes may be achieved.”
I don’t really have a problem with this virtue as it is written. In fact, it is one of the best definitions of discipline I know.
Principle: Apply discipline to every aspect of life that it can be applied.
Don’t really have a problem with the principle either. It has kept me thinking on the issue of connecting my life to discipline. No the real issue is the goal and bucket list item. Both have to be self oriented and connected with discipline. I originally thought my weightlifting would be a good fit, but in truth while this can be hard at times, it is not the self-discipline I struggle with the most. No, that belongs to Nutrition. At the same item as I looked at the other goals and bucket list items, weightlifting does not fit anywhere else all that well. I realize the whole issue of health fits here as it is the most easily seen thing where discipline leads to results but at the same time. The weightlifting, nutrition and walking all are part of this taking charge of my body and living healthy as possible. So which to choose.
This is the point in the realignment that I realized that a complete rewrite of some goals and bucket list items might be needed to make this realignment a reality. I also looked at my goals and bucket list items and realized some just straight up don’t work anywhere. This is particularly true for the bucket list. So what goal to set and what bucket list item to pursue? It also becomes clear at this point that may goals I have currently are not that SMART. Goals should also have a singular point not be multifaceted. Simplicity here is key.
Goal: To follow A FULL Paleo Diet Plan from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
Nutrition is by far the most challenging thing for me and it is time I take in on full speed. This gives me the rest of March to prepare. I also can start to look at what items I can eat and drink. Mostly, what I see is eliminating dairy and the other items in my diet that I need to purge. Coming up with Paleo alternatives is going to be the real challenge and I hope a fun one.
Bucket List: Do a rebellious act on April Fools Day, April 1st, 2020.
Smoke a Joint, Get Drunk, Visit a Nudist Resort. I haven’t decided yet. Something along those lines. My tattoos are not on this list because they will be connected with Perseverance. The idea is to plan an act of rebellion and execute it. Live life a little as a reward for successful discipline. Something undisciplined to counter all the discipline.
One other thing. This realignment thing has pointed out that I can streamline the A Skald’s Life posts. I can do this by including the specific goal and bucket list item under each Virtue as well as the principle. This would allow me to consider them together. I will start this process next week.
Discipline:
“Discipline is the willingness to be hard on oneself first and then if needed help with the development with others, so that greater purposes may be achieved.”
Principle: Apply discipline to every aspect of life that it can be applied.
I think I have spoken enough on this today, but there will be changes to the routines that reflect all this.
Perseverance:
“Perseverance is the ability to stand up and return from defeat and failure”
Principle: Keep getting up after every defeat or failure.
As I said my tattoos will probably be here as the Bucket List Item. The goal might have to involve exercise. I do two things for this Walking and Weightlifting. How to couple these into one exercise program. Stretching fits in here too. Something that involves a complete exercise program is what I am thinking.
Fidelity:
“Fidelity is the will to be loyal to one’s Gods and Goddesses, to one’s Folk, to one’s self, and loyalty to one’s friends was as valued as highly as loyalty to one’s family.”
Principle: Be loyal to those who have been loyal to me.
Still thinking on this one but it involves relationships so my marriage. family and friends come to mind. Mostly though I think both the goal and bucket list will be about my wife and I. It may involve family and friends but it is going to focus on the two of us. I have some ideas but I will keep them to myself for now.
Higher Virtue – Wisdom:
The wisdom of all this realignment is centered on two principles – minimalism and simplicity. The goal is a more streamlined system of working the virtues out in my life that is simple. So the effort required is much less. I want o achieve my goals as efficiently as possible and that involves making the pursuit less time-consuming and yet remaining effective.
Weekly Routine:
Weightlifting – 4 days per week.
Cleaning – 3 days a week.
Walking – 4 days a week
Writing – 4 times a week
Cheat Meal Count – Currently 2
The decision to go full Paleo Diet and next weeks exercise changes will involve some rewriting of the routine here. I am hoping it will make these things more likely to get done.
Evening Routine:
Take supplements and medications.
Brush and Floss Teeth
Out the Door Preparation
Reading – 15 min.
Go to Bed
Still need an effective trigger here. But also look at the idea of beating diabetes so the first one just says supplements.
Nutrition:
Full Paleo by April 1st. Means doing some homework and dumping some things from my diet. I still think a cheat meal once a week is a good idea. Keeps you from going completely bonkers with cravings.
Weekly Recap:
The weekly recap is going to change because I think I can divide what I normally do here among the three A Skald’s Life posts as well. But a weekly recap is still needed on Friday but it might be where I keep my Goal and Bucket list Counts as well as have a more general feelings about the week and what needs work.
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
The Grey Wayfarer 