150 Steps For August 2010

[Lucky2be]

OK, here's the challenge. Take 150 steps towards your goals this month. Nothing big - just little steps that take you where you want to go. A step is something that moves you towards your goals, and either takes at least 15 minutes or is emotionally difficult (like making a call you've been dreading). A goal is anything that moves you forward towards what you want. It doesn't have to be part of a lofty, thought-out goal. If you want to get in shape, your exercise sessions are steps. If you think you ought to get out more, getting out is a step. Each day, check in with the steps you've made so far.

[Unity]

that's a long post for a spam

[Lucky2be]

I'm not sure why you think this is spam. Mannix asked me to post the steps thread for August. Did I do it incorrectly?

Lucky2be

[Lucky2be]

The challenge for the month of August will be to survive when my stepmother leaves town and leaves me alone in the house with my dad which makes me uncomfortable.

Since I quit smoking I have the energy to get up and leave the house before my dad gets up and to not get home to 7 p.m. when he went out for dinner. In short, I don't have to see him at all.

I had to spend all my money in July to pay for car repairs and the dentist and a haircut and things like an umbrella and a carryon so I couldn't set the money aside to go to a hotel.

Lucky2be

[Unity]

Lucky, I wasn't referring to your post, there was a spammer here this morning and the post has been deleted before you read it. It was very long and detailed.

[An8el]

Yeah, it is always interesting how quickly we are to take things personally, isn't it?

Does this mean you're going to join us on this thread here Unity?

I'm ready to be a stepper this month. Am not going anywhere, just consolidating my scene. This thread is for those people who want to do it all at once, without specializing in a certain topic - these have migrated to the "challenge" threads...

(Maybe I'll slip in some snorkeling while I'm at it. But I guess this would be part of the consolidation to a healthier me!)

[Lynx]

Hi Ssteps,

I finished a long day on Friday by completing the draft of my manual due at work. I promised it by 8/16 and it's just the 1st, so I have lots of time. I asked the I Ching when to "release" it, and it hinted that Tuesday late in the day would work. So, It'll be another long day at work Monday and Tuesday, but it will be out of my hands. One of the hexagrams actually used the phrase 'washing your hands' so time to let it go.

There's another project I want to get re-assigned to in a larger role, but the I Ching cautioned that I need to be on guard, take small steps, be excessive in small ways to help matters return to the mean, but watch out for brigands and petty people. Sigh.

Lucky, I feel for you and your situation. Breathe, all things must pass.

An8el, yeah, enjoy HI. You're where a lot of people fantasize being!

Mannix: How can we support you?

Lynx

[Unity]

Hi An&el, I have considered returning here for a steps type goal over the months, but I haven't got round to working it all out yet.

Taking it personally -it was bad timing in that Lucky didn't see the offending post. I had to go and edit all the other posts that I wrote straight after the spammer in case anyone thought I was being difficult.

[Mannix]

Hi, everyone,

Thanks, Lucky for posting the 150 Steps. I just got back into town.

I'm not sure what's going to happen this month. I was in Cleveland for my grandmother's birthday party. I got some unsolicited advice from my aunt, who is also a business owner although nothing related to music. She thinks I shouldn't be so ready to give up the music business because it sounds like it could be a nice source of income. But I'll have to figure out what's best for me.

I'm worn out from the trip. It was a long car ride. Hopefully I can rally for tomorrow.

Good luck to everyone this month,

-- Mannix

[Lucky2be]

Hi everyone:

Unity: I didn't take it personally. I knew something happened, and thanks for clarifying it. I hope no one I know has infiltrated this site. Everyone in my town is so wierd. I just went to a Dancesport site and there it was posted no more dances but Mark is hosting a tango party. I'm thinking there were complaints behind my back that I was attending the parties when I don't take dance lessons there. Meanwhile, since the quit smoking law has gone into effect, the people at the smoking coffee shop were freaking out and using me as a scapegoat because I quit smoking a year and a half ago so I left and went to a different side of town. Well, now that you can't smoke at all at the old place, some of the people from there are showing up at the new places smoking outside.

What it comes down to is that I don't fit in with the nonsmokers, and I don't fit in with the smokers. This happened last time I quit smoking in 2005/2006. I got so tired of having no friends that I became friends with a smoker and went back to smoking. Another time in 2001 I couldn't take it either. The only people who were friendly to me were a bunch of guys smoking outside the Salvation Army so I bummed a cigarette from those guys and went back to smoking.

In order to be a permanent nonsmoker will I have to get used to being an outcast?

Lucky2be

[Lucky2be]

Lynx: Thank you for your words of support to all of us on the July thread and on this thread. I feel a strong connection with you because you consult the I Ching. I also consulted the I Ching often, but I haven't been doing it lately. I found it is very helpful at those times when you need a hand to hold. You sound like you're really on top of things with the manuscript.

I wrote an 80 page screenplay and gave some pages to an actor to read. I ran into him the other day and his reaction suprised me. I feel uncomfortable giving the whole thing to people to read because I'm afraid they're going to think I am the character in the movie. Well, I am a lot like the character. However, I cut some of the most sexy scenes and ramped up the scenes in which the main character chases the guy. I guess you could say it went from being a romantic comedy to a psychological thriller which I think would be more exiting to an audience.

Lucky2be

[Unity]

Hi Lucky,

I can identify with the friends situation because I've discovered that if you want a decent social life where I live, you have to pretend to be someone you're not. And years ago after non-stop stress from other people's dramas I decided it wasn't worth it.

Mannix, re your aunt. I think people give advice like that if they aren't the ones having the non-stop hassle. Perhaps you need to think about all your time with music and which parts you enjoyed the most.

[Mannix]

Hi, everyone,

Up at 2:30 this morning.

Today is the first day with no appointments/commitments since I got back from my trip. It's a good day to stay home and catch up. I'm backed up on obligations for the music business. I want to try something my aunt and I believe Lynx suggested - setting a certain amount of time to work on the business and that's it for the day. I'm trying to estimate a reasonable amount of time and which tasks will move me forward. I don't have any gigs to perform until the end of August, but there are contracts to write for new jobs, and hiring for jobs in October.

As far as this thread versus the monthly challenges, I see this as a good place to discuss specific, difficult steps. Here, a step can be about any goal versus each monthly challenge, which has a certain topic. So my steps for today will be to set and follow working hours for the music business, and look at my "exit strategy" notes and come up with 1 or 2 concrete goals.

Hope everyone's having a good day? You're all probably asleep if you live in the U.S.

-- Mannix

[Lucky2be]

Hi Mannix:

That sounds like a great plan to take Lynx's suggestion and to try to compartmentalize the music business. Also, it's great news that you don't have any gigs until the end of August.

I see this board as a good place to try to figure out plans that are vague.

Today I sold a sweater I made to an acquantance at one of the coffee shops I frequent. It's nice because the money she gave me paid for the recent costs of the new sweater I'm working, which already added up to $55. Making the sweaters has fulfilled a number of goals all at once, including quitting smoking, paying back my brothers for some financial help they gave me, acting like I'm doing something for the family in lieu of attending family events, to name a few.

Yesterday when I went to buy more yarn I stopped in at the store that has my samples, and a man was shopping there who works as a designer for Ralph Lauren. I pointed out one of my kids sweaters that was hanging near by until the lady that works there came out to police the area. They don't like me to discuss my work every time I'm there.

I had a small success in that I did give my screenplay treatment to Robert, and he at least read it, although I couldn't tell what his feedback meant. I feel a bit of a letdown now because if I see him again there won't be anything to talk about now that I had a chance to talk to him about the screenplay. I thought he was an amazing actor but the last thing I plan to do is follow an actor from show to show, not after the fiasco with the Fred Astaire dancers.

So far everything is quiet on the western front. My stepmother doesn't leave on her long trip until next week. In the meantime, I'm quietly putting money back into my savings account so that I can leave if I want to.

Lucky2be

[An8el]

Yesterday I paid the rent. Then got an email that paying the rent the day before it's delinquent is too late. ARrrrgh! Room mate actually made me late this time, so I don't feel so bad about it. Last night, I sent an email off to my landlord/manager, doing the damage control because of timing of rent delivery. Found out that in order to avoid "delinquency" on the rent, I have to send it TWO days ahead of time before the deadline of the fifth of the month at 10am because mail doesn't get delivered until afternoon. Then had to be my own lawyer and read my lease agreement. It doesn't say $10. PER DAY as threatened, it says $10. per payment. Jeez, I've never been late on paying rent before, would just sweat about it. What a drag to have to deal with this - and it's not even my fault.

Then I found the email offering to send me the W-9 form that I found out that I need to have to get paid for teaching my AT class at the beginning of July. You'd a thunk that they already had such information - but nooooooo - they want me to fill it out yet again each year.

Took a walk yesterday to send off my friend who was visiting Sun-Wed am - I now know that it takes a minimum of 15 min. to get to the bus in time. Had a "false alarm" thinking that I'd lost my wallet - thankfully, it was just hiding in a pocket in something I stashed in my pack.

Sometimes I feel that I'm just going from one "heart attack" to another lately.

Found out how to make a rural POB in front of my house at the Post Office for free home delivery. Scrounged a black rural POB that is a nice big size. Have to find a post to mount it on and decorate it, installing the tongue to open the front of it with. Should be a fun thing to do! AND it will be a nice "landmark" to lead people to my new house.

Bought some food...got to visit a farm and talk to some nice characters who farm. I can ride my bike there, so will be fun people to visit.
Applied for a job at a copy place - it was a case of "distract the haole" because the "Help Wanted sign was in the window, but they said they wanted someone for their Kona office. Have a really hard time believing that one.

Got to get out of this attitude problem of mine... Maybe a nap is due.