The Thirty Day Year

Can You Do One Hundred PushUps?

photo credit: bitmask
Having just gotten back from a restful camping trip with my family, I decided to wander through the web in search of something new to do.
Boy, did I find it!
I have just signed up for the One Hundred Push Ups Challenge at Hundred Pushups.com.
The initial test revealed the unhappy fact that I am able to complete 8 pushups in total, which left my arms quivering like Santa’s belly and my spirit determined to do better next time. Soon, I vowed, I would have arms of steel, Superman (Superwoman?) arms, arms that will ripple not with mushy fat, but with sinewy, gorgeous muscle.

Well, at least arms that can carry me confidently through one hundred pushups!

Apparently being able to do 8 pushups makes me just about average.
I’m at a level 2 according to their site, and will be able to complete 100 pushups before I know it!
Maybe not in my customary 30 days (although of course that is my idea. Not theirs. They figure a 6-week program is in order. Hmm…perhaps 2×30 days?).
Anyway, wish me luck, and why not head on over there and sign up for the challenge yourself?

Wonder if I should challenge my brother to an arm wrestling match in, say, six weeks or so? Hmm…

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Of All The Nerve!

photo credit: ??????™

Do you know someone who does things as a matter of course that you wouldn’t dare to do?

I don’t mean walk on fire type of things, or race into burning buildings to rescue kittens.

I mean everyday things.

They go places in their career because they take some sort of risk you never would have dreamed of.

And even if you had thought of it, you wouldn’t have done it, because if it didn’t work out properly, you could have lost your job.

But they did it, and it worked out well, and bully for them, but how the heck did they know it would turn out well in the end?

They didn’t.

Do you secretly wish you could do the same sorts of things, but somehow, they seem too frightening, too powerful, too life changing, too–well, they just seem too much, is all.

Do you ever wonder why some people jump in with both feet, while you meekly dab in your big toe to just maybe test the waters?

Call it courage.

Call it love of a challenge.

Call it what you will.

It’s the something inside every one of us that propels us forward, prompting us to take action where others will not, pushing us forward to try new things, to invent, to create, to excel.

Courage. Nerve. Confidence.

You gotta love the ones that have it.

The good news is, that you can grow your courage muscle.

Like any other part of you, it just needs to be used on occasion.

Try something a little different.

Go to different places.

Try different types of food.

Learn a new language, then go visit a country where they speak it.

Try things.

That’s all it takes to build your courage muscle.

Then, like any other muscle, with regular use, it will grow stronger.

More resilient.

Trying different things will become easier.

Don’t try foolish things.

Don’t go sticking your head into the mouth of a lion, or anything like that.

Try good things.

Things that take you at first just a bit beyond your comfort zone.

Gradually, you will find it comfortable, and need to stray further from the edge.

Then you will be the one others will be looking at and wondering where you got the nerve.

Strayed from your comfort zone? Have a related story or experience you’d like to tell? Why not share? Comments are always most welcome!

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Oh Boy, Oh Boy!

Woo-ho!

I just got my copy of Holly Lisle’s Create A Plot Clinic book from Lulu!

This wonderful book promises to teach you (and I’m stealing this from the back of the book. Hope nobody minds!)

*How to choose and use your structure

*How to create story ideas from 20 easy tools

*How to organize your plot before you write (I need this. Last time I attempted a novel, I got through part of chapter 8, then had no idea where the story was going. Hence, my purchase of the book! Oh boy, Oh boy!)

*How to adapt the plot while writing

*How  to deal with “late, great ideas and your stubborn muse”

*And much more!!!!!!!

Awesome!

I can’t wait.

And it got here just before we are going away for a week camping!

Will I have time to read?

Will I have time to work on my writing?

Stay tuned, and find out.:-)

(Oh boy, Oh boy!)

Here’s some of the great writing help books available from Holly Lisle!

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