Fourth Quarter - The Last Lap

It is now the fourth quarter of 2010.  Before I know it, the year would have come to and end.  I think it is time to take stock of what I have set out to achieve and where I have arrived at thus far.

2010 is suppose to be a year of unlearning, relearning and learning.  A year of discovering and rediscovering.  A year of growth.

Physical fitness was one of the area I wanted to address for a long long time.  Year in year out the motivation just wanes off somewhere along the way.  This time around I am pretty pleased with myself.  Never have I been this fit in my entire life.  The last time I got close to this state was during my varsity days.  The constant labouring work to put myself through school was an exercise by itself.  Coupled with long walks to and from University to save the money and the little food that is enough just to get by kept me fit.  Today I am better built.  The definition at the abdomen area is finally showing up bit by bit.  I can now wear clothes I could not last time.  Slim fit clothes finally looks good on me.

Now that I am on the right footing, I will keep it going and I intend to keep this for a long long while to come.   This is just the beginning.

Jogging has been an activity I had always wanted to do.   I finally made the leap of faith somewhere this September.  I am blessed to have a friend who gave me some pointers and ran with me a few times.  The confidence built up.  Never would I imagine that I could now jog for the distance I am doing now.  It is just the beginning.  Maybe a 5km competitive run followed by a 10km run somewhere next year?  All this is now possible.  I must say that the feeling after each run is exhilarating, probably caused by the endorphin excreted in the brain.

This statement which was posted on the facebook wall of a runner sums it all up:
"I run because it's my passion, and not just a sport.  Every time I walk out the door, I know why I'm going where I'm going and I'm already focused on that special place where I find my peace and solitude. Running, to me, is more than just a physical exercise...it's a consistent reward for victory! "

I finally had my braces fixed.  It was not as bad as I thought it to be.  Maybe the orthodontist was nice and did not try to tighten it up too fast.  I can see the improvement and I am very pleased with what I see in the mirror each morning.

My Mandarin lessons need brushing up and refixing.  I have been good at first, the slacking off towards the end.  The traffic jam to class and the work that cannot get off the mind was just too much to handle.  There is still less than three months to go.  I want to be able to confidently converse in the language before the year is up.  For this I have asked a fellow blogger to help me out.  He knows who he is and I hope to get it restarted next week.

Work wise, things can get better.  Things are not exactly what I want it to be.  A few notches up would be great.  It is getting mundane and boring to say the least.

Lastly I think the area I really need to work at beside my work is my relationship.  We still are at a friend stage.  One blogger put it succinctly.  You are both dating but just calling it any other name but that.  The truth is that the person has made it pretty clear what the person wants.  The only thing that is carrying me this far and beyond is my gut feeling.  I hope I am right and I don't screw myself up.