Unit 10 Blog Entry

Tidings,

   In review of the way I rated myself and how those ratings have changed, here's how I previously rated myself:

In Unit 3 I rated myself thusly:

Physical: 7
Mental: 8
Spiritual: 2.

With the Unit 9 post I rated myself in this manner:

Physical: 8
Mental: 9
Spiritual: 5

   The score has indeed changed througout the course of this course and I completely agree with the ratings based on the things I've learned and learned about myself over these past 9 weeks.

   In review of the goals I've set for myself here's how I've started progressing towards them:

Physical: My goal here was to compete in a triathlon. Since that blog post I've added two miles to my long runs and have purchased a new seat for my bike that doesn't make my legs go numb. It happens and it really saps my energy trying to get the blood back into them after I get off of the bike. This will help immensely in my triathlon efort.

Mental: I stated that I would work on my stress response. I haven't exactly done too well already on that. I had a bad day today and while I didn't let it ruin anyone else's day, I didn't do too much to make anyone feel welcome around me. So that's not a good thing. It eventually rolled off of me. But while I was overcoming my disdain for the unfolding of the day I was a bit of a twit. Terrible. Clearly I still need to work on this.

Spiritual: I stated that I would continue efforts to help people around this area. I have continued on this endeavor already and started a fund to take local underprivileged kids to the Guadalupe to go tubing in three weeks time. I already have enough to take 15 kids and have coordinated transportation for up to 30. I'm actually quite happy about that! Not resting on my laurels, though. I have lots more to do.

This course has helped me connect with other people on a more substantial level. I've always been a good listener but nowadays I'm able to be a better listener by paying attention to nonverbal cues and navigating the dead spaces of conversation more fluidly. Taking the time to appreciate time with meditation efforts and the like has changed the way I prepare for things that I generally dislike doing. Meetings for example. Instead of going in dreading the time that I'm going to waste, I think about how I can use the meeting to benefit the work that I do as a result of the meeting.

   Overall, I've become a little more light of heart and less full of some kind of "get things done" angst. I still want to get things done. Don't get me wrong. I just feel more comfortable knowing that I'm going to get it done and I don't have to let my body wear the need to do so carry around the weight of my responsibilities.
   The biggest difficulty I had in this course was overcoming my initial displeasure with the meditation exercises. I sniped and snarked and poked holes through the message instead of just allowing myself to meld into it. I'm over that now. Mostly. And I'm happy that I am. The exercises, I feel, have certainly been for the better.
  
Good things.

Thank you, everyone!

James Banks