End of summer goals

For the last couple weeks, I’ve been feeling somewhat unmotivated. And unlike most other times when I’ve said that I don’t know the cause of my negative emotions, the truth is that this time around I know perfectly well why I am feeling the way that I am. Although I’m not entirely comfortable talking about it, I will say that my situation is comparable to the feeling you get when you’ve gone to a job interview that went amazingly well. Yet despite having answered every questioned perfectly and feeling that you were a good fit for the company you had applied to, you never got a call back. In other words, it’s kind of that feeling of “what the hell happened?” In any case, what matters in this story is that I’m learning to realize how certain situations affect my emotions, and consequently, my well-being; but most importantly, it is imperative that I take the necessary steps to get over the hurdles and continue living my life to the best of my abilities.

So, at this moment, my life is all about putting the focus back on myself and regaining the motivation that has helped me achieve my goals in the past. Obviously, the first step is therefore to set goals. Inspired by Victor’s “summer resolutions,” I’ve decided to set some “end of summer goals” for myself:

1. My first goal is to get back on track with my weight loss. I had a lovely time in Italy and although I regret nothing, the truth is that I did gain 5 pounds (and granted, 5 pounds for almost 3 months in Italy is not all that bad). So, by the end of September I hope to have lost 10 pounds (the 5 I gained in Italy plus an additional 5). 6 weeks to lose 10 pounds is pretty reasonable. In fact, if I actually end up losing more than 10, I’m sure I won’t be disappointed.

2. Complete a 6-week running program I found on the Women’s Health magazine’s website. I just love how running makes me feel. It makes me feel alive. It makes me feel completely aware of my body. And though it may seem odd to some of you, it’s a sensation that I adore. So, I want to improve my endurance and stamina (which seem to have suffered a bit as a result of my vacation.)

3. Study at least 2 hours for the GRE each day. Some of you already know that I’m trying to go back to Italy for my Masters (of Economics.) And in order to be considered for a full scholarship (which I need), I have to improve my GRE scores.

4. Read at least 1 book every week. This isn’t only for the pleasure of reading itself, but I’m hoping it will help me for the GRE as well (consolidation of vocabulary.) I will also attempt to write reviews on the books I read, to help me for the analytical writing portion of the exam.