2014 Goals: September Update

It's common for me to say, "I travel a lot for work - 10 weeks in a row during the fall and 6-8 in the spring, with a few sporadic trips in off seasons." Which is true, but I sometimes forget how disconnected one must become from their home life to travel that consistently. I always thought I'd be good at being a consultant, and now I'm confident it would not be a good long-term solution for me. I go to fun places, with good people - but as my friend Sarah figured out, the grass is actually greener where you water it.

I love my job. Finding bright, eager, accomplished students to enter a growing company with fun challenges/opportunities and a leadership development program is fulfilling. However, this weekend alone I missed a birthday, wedding, gala, and "retirement" party. Last weekend I missed a birthday, and a bunch of meetings, gatherings, events, etc which are part of my Minneapolis life that I love.

Things by awesome friends I'm missing but want to support:

• Release of Finnegans Dead Irish Poet 
• The Bellows EP Release Party
• Energy Dance Collective "Move Me" show
• Act II: STLF's Annual Event 

And onto the usual update...

Adventures for 2014

• Trying new forms of moving and exercising
• Back to Qoya this month, and lots of walking!
• Insanity DVDs are on my coffee table, which is near my DVD player
  
• Cooking for one (beyond pasta and eggs)
• I haven't gone grocery shopping in over a month. Travel happened.

• Practicing self-care
• Trying and mostly successful at reserving weekends for me, not work.
• Eating as well as possible on the road.

• Mixing different friend groups/life circles
• STLF and Global Shapers 
• STLF and MBV
• College friends and work friends
  
• Using paid time off
• Not in the cards right now - Mexico is happening this winter though!

• Enjoying performance arts
• Missed two this weekend being gone for work. Tough when traveling.
  
• Achieving airline status 
• Done! Silver status (which isn't much - but I did it!)

• Activating human drives
• Wish I had "The Charge" with me on the road right now. Went through a funk/rut earlier this month but feeling good now. Just need to name purpose, goals, values to make sure I don't fall into simply being content or complacent. Friends - hold me to this.
  
• Keeping plants alive
• Despite traveling, the work plant lives. Might be a super plant. 

• Listening to music instead of watching TV
• On the plane this is true. Not much of either though

• Thinking critically for fun
• GMAT books still not opened... we'll see what October brings
• Read True North and just started The Power of Full Engagement - trying to figure out how authentic leadership and genuine engagement fit within corporate structures. I'm committed to figuring it out.

• Living values through time allocation
• Discretionary time has been spent with family and friends.