Another Year, Another Day

I am ready for the new year, are you? I'm not writing a soul-searching, "this is what I've learned, this is what I went through" momento this year. Instead I'm going to write that I really hope this year is much better than the last. Selling a house, improving finances, moving, overcoming a major health issue, going to school in a completly different field while working full-time was enough change for maybe a person's life time. It was definitely enough for me. However, that was basically my year, 'nough said.

This new year I'm going to finish what I've started, and I've got a lot of change ahead of me. I have a huge decision to make very soon, and I've been thinking about it for about 2 months already and I still don't know what to do. I'm sure I'll know what to do when the time comes, I hope.

Anyway, if you're one of the people trying to make a resolution you should pay attention. I was in the Dr.'s office reading some type of medical article and it was discussing how people change. Basically if you set a resolution, that's great, but you need to reward yourself with some attainable motivational factor for it to stick. I could go through the rigamarole of the article, but the bottom line is, if you want to make change a habit, you basically have to give yourself treats like you would trying to train a dog new tricks.

Psychologists found that if you give yourself some type of reward for every time you do the behavior you are trying to incorporate or change (ie exercise), then you are more likely to continue to want to do that behavior. It has something to do with endorphins and some other chemicals in your brain that I can't remember. Here's an example, you shouldn't tell yourself that if you work out for a week, you'll get that new iPod or a pair of shoes or whatever. That's too far away. The best way to do it is something like, you get to have a piece of chocolate or go see a movie right away ...whatever would be a motivational factor for you to accomplish your goal. They weren't specific about what kind of rewards you should use (or maybe I didn't reach the end of the article before my apt... can't remember.)

Point is, treat yourself EVERY time you do the behavior you want so that your brain starts associating positive aspects with the new behavior to make you want to do it more. When it becomes habit, then maybe spread the rewards out, and eventually you can remove them all together. It's like having a star chart for good behavior as a kid. :) Good luck!

Apparently God decided I needed to rest.

It's amazing what can happen in a few days! I went to the Dr. yesterday, and he is requiring vocal rest until I see him again. I was very upset by the news, because if I don't rest, then I could have more damage, but that also means I can't work. My work is my voice. The problem that he is implying I might have, hasn't been an issue for years and years. I have been careful with my vocal use so I find it hard to imagine it's anything other that this sinus problem. My stupid sinuses haven't bothered me since college, and it's like I'm back there again. I have a mondo sinus infection that apparently is affecting my voice to the point of swelling and irritation. If I don't rest I could cause more damage, and he also thinks there could be other pathology hiding behind the swelling. I really hope he's wrong! I was fine until I had the infection, and I seemed to be getting better with medicine. BTW Augmentin works, but it has horrible side effects. Avoid it if you can!

On another note, I found out today that my group won the technology integrator project at my school. I can't believe it! All that hard work really paid off! I win an iPod for winning and a Smart board for completing the project. I'm soooo excited. I wish I could have been at work to be surprised by the head technology people.

Anyway, pray that my voice is fine after this rest. Not talking for me, is like being in prison, so some people would be enjoying the time away. Me I'm just trying to find things to do that don't involve talking. UGH.

Too busy to write

Still alive. Barely hanging on. Almost done. Winter break is almost here.