'cause i know the biggest crime is just to throw up your hands

My 22 rules for Health Month this month:

• Wake up before 11am at least 5 days a week
  This may be the laziest "early wakeup time" ever, but if I didn't have this rule, I would be getting up at 1pm days where I didn't have class. Therapist approved rule.


• Eat breakfast at least 5 days a week
  Last month I totally rocked this rule! Which is a huge change from when I started, when I ate breakfast maybe 1 day a week. Dietician approved rule.


• List things you're grateful for 5 days a week
  I don't know that this is making me any more grateful, but it does provide a momentary mood boost. Therapist approved rule.


• Allow 100 cigarettes a week
  I actually went up on this rule a little bit. I want to keep track of how many cigarettes I smoke truthfully, not feel compelled to fudge even the tiniest bit. (If I can't remember exactly, that's one thing, but if I'm fudging so that I don't have only 1 cigarette to smoke on Saturday, that's another.) Nobody approves of this rule but me.


• Go out and be social at least 2 days a week
  Went great last month. Depending on what happens with H (who stood me up on Saturday)... this may not go so great this month. But I'm willing to give it a go. Therapist approved rule.


• Take my medication every day
  This happens to be an easy, established habit for me. I suppose I could make it harder by saying I have to take EVERY DOSE of my meds on time—maybe I'll switch it up next month by saying that. Everybody approves of this rule.


• Practice bassoon at least 4 days a week
  I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS. Therapist approved rule.


• Study classwork at least 3 days a week
  I'm giving myself two weeks off from this rule during this month, actually, but I thought it was still important to have because finals are next week. Eek. Teacher approved rule.


• Meditate for 5 minutes at least 4 days a week
  This was a rule last month & I did okay. This week I'm going to interpret this to mean "not while in bed and falling asleep" which is mostly when I meditated before. I have to actually sit down and meditate. Therapist approved rule.


• Allow high-fructose corn syrup 2 days a week
  This is really an "allow non-diet soda 2 days a week" rule but I think I'm using my custom do rule for something else. Maybe. Or I just figured this one got close enough. This is a dietician approved rule.


• Walk your dog at least 1 day a week
  Did CRAPPY on this one last month—I think I did it once. But it's a new month and I'm going to do it! Dietician approved rule.


• Do household chores for 5 minutes at least 4 days a week
  Let me explain the five minutes thing: I have this deal with myself where I can do anything for five minutes, and then if I really hate it, I'll stop. This helps get rid of the "but I hate X" feeling and helps me feel more like "okay, I can do anything for five minutes."
  This is a bitesizedcleaning-approved rule.


• Write 1 page in a private journal at least 4 days a week
  I write on dreamwidth, not in a private journal, but eh, close enough.


• Do yoga at least 2 days a week
  Again, another rule I totally blew at last month, but damnit, I will succeed! Dietician approved rule.


• Read a book for at least 30 minutes 3 days a week
  This is a new one and should be totally easy.


• Allow 28 sodas a week
  That's 4 sodas a day—I think I can manage this. If not, I may have to have some "soda free" days.


• Drink at least 7 glasses of water a week
  Starting slow. I'll up this if I do well on it this month. (I'm counting crystal lite and water with lemon/lime as water.) Dietician approved rule.


• Allow seconds 2 days a week
  This is a No S Diet rule and dietician approved rule..


• Allow snacking 3 days a week
  This is a No S Diet rule and a dietician approved rule. I'm allowing it three days a week in case I screw up on a No S day. Next month, depending on how I do, it'll either be stricter or stay the same.


• Eat greens at least 2 days a week
  I'm always buying salad greens and then not eating them & they go bad in the fridge & it's just a mess & I feel super guilty because THERE ARE STARVING KIDS in the world—so this is an attempt to clean out my refrigerator, really. Dietician approved rule.


• Allow added sugar 5 days a week
  This is a No S Diet rule which I am modifying because I didn't want to start out only allowing it on S days and FAIL MISERABLY. Dietician approved rule, although she'd prefer less days. I told her next month maybe.


• Floss at least 3 days a week
  I don't floss. Ever. So ... yeah. Probably should start doing that. This would be a dentist approved rule if I ever went to the dentist, either. -hangs head in shame-

If I end this month with 1 or more life points, I will... get a massage, for realz.
If I end this month with less than 1 life point, I will... try again next month.

i got to give myself one more chance

In yet another instance of Erika assuming the worst & finding out that, no, it's not an apocalypse brought about by her mistake——

     Heath's son had appendicitis and had to have his appendix out on Saturday, which explains why he didn't get in touch with me then.

I'm going to gently advise him that in the future, if an emergency comes up, I'd appreciate a heads-up as soon as he has time.