March Challenge | Of Jabs and Kicks

First of all, I made this my March challenge because I  knew it wouldn't be that hard to accomplish (cheater!). Or so I thought. With my erratic work and travel schedule, I barely made time for one class a week. 

I had been attending Muay Thai sessions since January. It all started as an accident. I signed up for a Poi class (as an attempt to lose a few pounds) and somehow, I ended up in a wrong schedule. Too ashamed to walk out of the session hall, I just went on and gave it a try. At first, all I did felt really awkward. My form was poor and my punches were an embarrassment. But gradually, I got a bit better with it, day after day. After 3 sessions, I got hooked. Who would have thought that this girly-girl would go for something so "macho"? I surprise myself, as well. Personally, I think Muay Thai is for everyone, male or female. It improves physical strength, speed, agility and discipline. In fact, I don't find myself panting after walking up five flights of stairs. I can carry around heavy weights for longer periods of time, as well. And for a girl who always appears to be a weakling , I can throw a straight or a jab like a mean b*tch. (haha.)

I plan to continue with Muay Thai for a few months more. Perhaps, I will throw in yoga a couple times per month, as well. IJ has just talked about it in the previous post and it got me missing yoga once again. :)

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Next Challenge: No fastfood for a month (Oh no!!)

Current situation: I LIVE FOR FASTFOOD. 

First Blog Challenge Accepted.

Funny how I confidently accepted IJ's blog challenge in a heartbeat then suddenly finding myself cowardly thinking twice about it right after. As much as I love tackling challenges like a boss, I have an innate aversion to change. The feeling somehow sprouts from the fact that I learn frustratingly slow and with that, breaking old habits and incorporating new ones are impossible pursuits. Yet almost every wise man (and woman just like IJ) I've met in my life has always reminded me that to become a better version of myself, changes must be made. I'm glad IJ just forced me into doing this by announcing it online. I don't have a choice but to comply, do I? (haha.)

and now that I have come to terms with the need of some changes, I would like to share to you my list. The items may not be considered as "habits". They are important and not-really-important tasks I've been putting off for a very long time. As to why I have chosen to do them, I will explain in my monthly posts. :)

March: Take Muay Thai classes at least twice a week.

April: No fastfood for a month (Oh no!!)

May: Be in the office 10 minutes before the time.

June: Declutter closet and reduce clothes by 15% per week.

July: Social Media Blackout for a month.

August: (fluently) speak 10 Spanish sentences/expressions.

September: Make an investment plan. Implement.

October: Finish a book or two.

November: Make someone happy each week.

December: Travel solo.

Let the challenge begin.

(PS. Yen, I've checked out zenhabits.net and now, I'm hooked! Thanks for sharing this.)

Our First Blog Challenge

Hola everyone! I'm excited to share a blog challenge that I will be asking Honey to do with me. I actually haven't asked so she will know once she reads this post (Hi Hon! Lol). Lately, I have been reading a lot from Leo Babauta's blog, zenhabits.net. Every end of the year, he shares his list of 12 habits that he wants to develop in the coming year. It's like New Year's resolutions only that you focus on one habit every month for "maximum effectiveness" or so he claims. This isn't exactly a new idea but I am greatly inspired by Leo and will certainly be glad to try it nonetheless. I know it's too late for New Year's resolutions but it's never too late for change! Since there is nothing like online bragging to get a kick in the a**, I am sharing my list starting March until December of this year and would like to invite Honey to make and share her own list. We'd be perfect accountability buddies! And just to be really accountable, we should post at least one entry each month about how we are doing (or how we did) with each item on our list. And it can be ANYTHING we want that will help us in any way. What do you think Hon? I know you like challenges so I'm assuming it's a yes. Haha! Here's my list:

1. March:  Practice Yoga at least 5 days a week

2. April: Wake up at 6am on weekdays

3. May: Mindfully listen to someone when conversing

4. June: Read one chapter of a good book daily

5. July: Read one blog entry in Italian daily

6. August: Write one paragraph (10lines) daily

7. September: Eat 1 vegetarian meal daily 

(Okay, seafood and dairy products allowed but no red meat.)

8. October: Declutter for 15 minutes daily

9. November: Meditate 10 minutes daily

10. December: Know one Japanese character daily