Turning 29 was a momentous occasion for me. Not because I did anything particularly grand, or even consciously felt something 'special' about the number - as I do with many numbers - but because I felt a force, a gentle hand really, starting to usher me into my 30's with a sense of contentment. Granted, I admitted to just about anyone who would listen that turning 29 terrified me because there is no turning back, and after this I will somehow 'officially' be an adult, and I don't feel that grown up yet, and .... it went on. But secretly, I was looking forward to embracing the big 2-9. I sort of think of it as an age of grace; still youthful and savvy and at the same time mature and dignified. I like to imagine this is what my 30's will be like too. That somehow I will harness the sex appeal and class of Ginger Rogers and Rita Hayworth and simply glide through a decade-backwards and in heels.
This was the inspiration for my 29 Project. While gliding along on the elliptical one afternoon right before my birthday, it occurred to me that I should challenge myself to something for 29 days, in honor of the not-so-momentous-yet-a-little-bit-it-is event. As I mulled over what I would consider doing (or not doing) for 29 days, the idea evolved. There are a lot of things I tell myself I should do more often. There are a lot of things I want to do more often. Yet, that old creeper 'time' keeps getting in the way. I will often resolve to be more 'x' or do more 'y' or stop 'z'...but it rarely sticks. I am never disappointed in myself for this. I like to examine what was hard about it, why I stopped, or whatever the case had been, and gain some new sense of awareness. It also gives me more to reflect on for my next resolution! I realized that trying to accomplish something for 29 days should be fairly manageable and I really had no excuse not to do it. After all, it is less than a month. If I can't keep it up, no big deal-I'll be doing something new next month anyway!
And so here it is: my plan for The 29 Day Project.*
Each month I will have a goal, something to achieve for 29 days straight (I guess February is a freebee, unless its a leap year).
The goal will be something I would like to form into a habit. A good habit. Something that involves self improvement without denying myself things I enjoy. "No Sugar" is a good goal I guess, and certainly doable for 29 days, but I would rather focus on integrating 'positive' and maybe allowing the 'negative' to leave on its own. So, eating three different colored vegetables a day, would be more my style. (P.S. I think we are supposed to do that anyway.)
The goals will also be realistic. I would really love to go to the beach everyday for 29 days and, quite frankly, I think it would be great for me. However, I am fully aware that it would also end up being more stressful to attempt to maintain than it would be relaxing.
I will document, as best I can, my journey each month. I have brainstormed a list of Projects, some of which may not be very interesting to read about, but I have found that if Blogs are good for something-for me anyway-it is accountability.
See you August 1st.
*I'm not sure if the name "The 29 Days Project" exists anywhere in the social media yet, but I'm just going to say in advance that when Oprah finds out about this and puts me on her network-the name is mine!
Sounds like a very worthy project! All of us should do something like this toward constant self-improvement while we still have the strength, ability, and mindfulness to do it. Congrats to you for trying this. I'd like to recommend a book that you may have read already: Benjamin Franklin's AUTOBIOGRAPHY. It's a great classic, of course, but one of its best parts is the section where he lays out a plan for developing good habits. Check it out, and let us know what you think about it. Best wishes to you on this!
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