Doc Hop

This post is coming to you a bit late today — partly because it was my long day at work and partly because I’ve been so busy lately that I needed to shut my mind off for a bit. After biking home I spent the majority of my evening watching movies and forgetting how to think. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Addam was off work yesterday, so when I came home I didn’t have to worry about how I would waste time while waiting for him to make it back to the apartment. He had stopped by the grocery store and brought me home all the ingredients I needed to cook some of the best, and healthiest, cheesy potato soup I’ve ever had in my life. (I know that “cheese” seems to negate “healthy,” but everything was either low-calorie or fat free, making it less than 250 calories per serving but just as rich and filling.)

I spent the evening peeling potatoes and slicing carrots. I threw everything in the crock pot and left it alone for the night, only to wake up to the smell of potatoes roasting in vegetable broth. I’ve never been much of a cook, but waking up this morning almost converted me. The smell may have convinced me to make cooking a habit if I didn’t have to wake up half an hour early to add in the finishing touches (a.k.a. — milk and cheese). Needless to say, I had a very yummy, very nutritious, lunch today.

I called my Aunt Martha when I got home. She was supposed to go home last night, but just as she was leaving doctors told her she had to stay. Since she was admitted last week her foot has started bothering her, and it’s gotten to the point that she cannot put any pressure on it. I know that she was upset that she couldn’t go home, but I feel relieved knowing that doctors are looking after her. As much as I’d love for her to be with friends and family, I’d rather that she be able to walk out of the hospital. She should be out within two to three days.

Thinking about my Aunt Martha and all the medical issues that she’s had to go through, however, has shown me the importance of staying happy and healthy. I’ve never been much into New Year’s resolutions, but this year I think I’m going to give it a shot.

I want to get involved within the community. I want to feel better by helping others and helping myself. For that reason, this year I plan to join — A) a gym that will help me distress while staying active and B) an organization that will allow me to make a difference for someone who needs it.

Ok, ok.  I know everyone decides to “lose weight” and do the gym thing after the holidays have gotten the best of them, but this is something I’ve been wanting to do for close to a year now. Miami is beautiful, but it’s getting colder, and I have a desk job. I bike home from work each day, but I need to find other ways to release endorphins and build tone. Coming from a completely non-financial standpoint, I think I’m finally at the point where I can do it and I’m not going to let a stereotype keep me from bettering myself. Now if I could only get past the unspeakable horror I feel at the idea of walking into a gym alone…

As for community organizations — I really don’t know what I want to do yet. I’d like to get involved in Big Brothers/Big Sisters or some sort of educational outreach group, but I don’t know that I work very well with children. I never quite know what to do or say around them and I’m not very “kid-friendly.” In fact, sometimes I swear that my mouth should have a child-safety lock.

All I know is that I’d like to do something very hands on. I want to build houses, hand out food, pick up trash — anything that will give me a tangible sense of making a difference. I want to feel that I’m doing good by someone. Anyone can sign a check, but I want someone to remember my face.

It’s only January, but I’ll make sure to keep you all updated on any progress I make.  In the meantime, I expect everyone to stay on my back about this. It’s easy to put goals on the back burner when things get trying, but I’m determined to follow through. Keep me honest.

“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.” — Benjamin Franklin, American Inventor, (1706-1790).