A Slimmin' We Will Go

I'm re-casting this blog and starting over. When I originally started posting here, I could only rage about inequalities and ineptitude that I found in others, while ignoring all my obvious faults. Condemning someone else implies that you are perfect. As my post from last July shows, I recognize that the world is better served by compromise, not condemnation.

My previous approach is not only incapable of effecting change but ultimately has lead me to a very unhappy place. It is a hard life, demanding perfection of myself and others. I'm not happy with myself, and it shows. I am frustrated that I have not been more help to my wife this last year when she needed it, and I want to be more help to her going forward when she needs me the most. I'm saddened that I haven't done all I can do for my daughter. I've been snapping at family and friends, I have very low energy levels... I'm not being productive or even pleasant. Something has to change.

So, in the spirit of a new year, I am pledging to improve. I once wrote an essay that the Meaning of Life is "To Improve." It's a simple but incredibly powerful concept. If everyone simple dedicates themselves to getting a little better... If everyone left each place a little nicer, a little cleaner than when they go there... If we all helped our fellows to reach higher heights... wouldn't the world be a wonderful place? And I can think of so many ways "To Improve." I can improve my vocabulary, improve my public speaking skills, improve my communications with my wife, improve my house, improve how I dress. I can start a charity organization to improve the welfare of homeless people. I can pick up trash and improve how the highway looks, for a couple of miles at least. I can do so many things, but I need to avoid over-extending myself. I need to pick one area and concentrate there first, then later I can branch out and move the world. So what to choose?

I fear sounding like a January cliché but the choice is clear... I need to start this process by improving the one area of my life that affects all the others. Perhaps, just perhaps, my lack of energy is related to eating horribly and being 100+ lbs. overweight? Perhaps my crankiness is partly related to the spikes of sugar that I loose on my system throughout the day? Perhaps I'm not getting my chores done at home because I'm sitting on my fat ass? So... I guess the gloves are off. It is clear to me that I am unhappy with myself, and unable to be effective in so many areas of my life because... I've let myself go.

So... drumroll, please... my Building A Better Bif Goal #1 is to...

Goal #1: Eat better, exercise effectively and regularly, and to lose weight.

There. I said it. It's on the table. Now I have to do it. I blogged it.

I feel better already.