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Oh friends, this Summer of Intentionality list is proving to be the most difficult. Learning new things is challenging my brain in ways I hadn’t expected. Please send me your tips and advice!

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To Learn: The whole list

Status update:

Weightlifting 101 – my friend and I have a standing date for the gym every week day of this summer. I’ve only taken one day away {first day of my tiny cold}.

Success!

So far we’ve concentrated on the basics: actually going to the gym {make that 2 days away – our first day we ended up at the Fox and Goose for breakfast, so don’t think the getting there is too small a detail}, using the standard weight machines that run the perimeter of the room and this week even venturing into the middle of the room where the more complicated weight machines live.

What I’m learning from this weight room experience is a) I love how it feels to push myself physically b) I’m totally intimidated to be down in that manly space without my girlfriend c) In order to maintain the results and benefits from this I’m going to have to do this every damn day of my life {thanks for the reminder, Amy!}.

The good news is I have a partner in crime who has the same fitness goals and I’ve already started to brain storm ways to keep this daily physical practice going once I return to work. I’m toying with the idea of before work training sessions. Maybe not every day, but who knows?

Any advice on building fitness into your daily schedule?

Status Update:

Knitting Lesson #1

I met with my lovely knitting teacher at Temple and she patiently showed me the ropes and even made a video our lesson. Benefit of working with a technology teacher? I’m thinking so.

What I am learning:  The hard parts of actually remembering to knit a little each day (tie a piece of yarn around my finger?), not totally freaking out about what to do when I mess up and scheduling a follow-up lesson. Lessons a plenty here. Keeping the inner critics chilled out is an exercise in and of itself.

Any ideas on how to get myself to remember to practice? Have I ever mentioned how much I need to practice practicing?

Status Update:

Skype Lesson #1

A webcam has been procured and Skype been added to my computer.

What I am learning: I am so not a fan of learning. I am a fan of already being good at stuff or faking it behind the scenes until I am able to confidently fake it in front of others. Hello, perfectionist monsters!

I think making a connection or two with close friends needs to happen so I can feel more comfortable using the new setup.

Any tips for getting more comfortable with technology? Care to share your embarrassing technology stories to help me feel better?

Status Update:

Photo Editing Lesson #1

Another lesson. Can you tell I’ve been crazy busy lately?

What I am learning: Again with the hard part: practice. It looks like I might have to bust out a daily 15 minute schedule on myself. I didn’t want it to have to come to that, but stuff isn’t getting done without it. Why am I so much like my 3rd graders in this way?

Status Update:

Backyard Traveling – definitely my favorite {most comfortable} part. I’ll be posting later in a little Teacher Travels series.

What I’m learning: I really love going bye-bye. Day trips, museums, visits to the ocean? Love them all. Oh and Northern California looks a lot like Europe this time a year.

What is your favorite Northern California destination?

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The biggest lesson for me in this process is I really, really like starting new projects and I still have trouble with the small doses every day part of practicing new skills. It would seem I really enjoy the grand gesture, big picture, the newness of things and have a seriously underdeveloped practice muscle. Still I have weeks left to go before I return to work, so there are still many opportunities for learning.

Please leave me tips, advice or a progress report about what you’re learning this summer.