Butt-kickers

September is my time for "new (school) year resolutions" and I have a couple of big goals. Thankfully, I've found a pair of people who will help me achieve those goals. I needed someone to "kick me in the butt", so to speak, to make some progress and break me out of the ruts I've been in.

1) My Goal: Research / My Support Person: Eleftherios Soleas

As regular readers of this blog may recall, I wanted to work on a major research project involving readers choice award programs. This was way back in 2010 when I graduated from the University of Alberta with my M.Ed. degree. I've taken baby steps, thanks to fabulous people like Bozena White, Elizabeth Lee, Beckie Macdonald and Francis Ngo who have volunteered their time to help me understand the process. The Ontario School Library Association gave me a grant from the Margaret Scott Research Fund and now I have a fabulous research assistant who will help me get further faster. Terry is at Queens University. After our first Skype call outlining the work to complete, I had a list of jobs to accomplish - and a person to remind me to do them. I have some scanning and sending still to do this month but it feels so good to be doing something about it instead of just talking about it.

2) My Goal: Health and Fitness / My Support Person: Angela Olah

Last year, I noticed that I needed to improve my eating and exercising practices. My husband and I both committed to change. He lost 30 pounds. I lost 5 and gained it all back and then some over the summer. A couple of weeks ago, I investigated various personal trainers, emailed six, heard from four, and narrowed it down to two. One will do a detailed assessment for me (because I like getting multiple opinions). The other is the one I've decided to connect with regularly. Angela Olah runs a Boot Camp close to where I live. I don't think it's coincidence that on the first day I was scheduled to meet Angela and try a class, not one, not two, but THREE students patted my stomach and either asked if I was having a baby or commented on my big belly! Hello inspiration! I am keeping a nutrition journal to discover why the changes I made last year didn't alter things the way I hoped. I'll attend Boot Camp at least three times a week. I've already had three classes; I'm super-sore, but I can feel things tightening and moving in positive ways.

Terry, Angela and I have "clicked" and I'm looking forward to working with them. I'm looking forward to them pushing me, even when I'm feeling overwhelmed or discouraged. Everyone (in school and beyond) needs a butt-kicker in their life.