Tag: Personal Growth

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From Cookie Cravings to Homemade Treats: A Lesson in Grocery Planning

Written December 22, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

I decided to bake a batch of cookies. I usually get a box of cookies from the grocery store, which contains about 10 cookies. For some reason, I forgot to get some cookies yesterday. I was distracted with the ingredients for the dessert I wanted to make for the family Christmas party. 

My wife is not fond of forgetting to purchase anything or wasting food due to purchasing too much. So, my wife creates a grocery list for the menu for the following weeks. I am good at not getting extra items just because I saw them. I have a simple list I always want to get, nothing more.

This week was a bit unusual. I had to pick up extra items for the Christmas party, and I really should have taken a page from my wife’s book and made a proper shopping list. To make things trickier, one of the items I usually buy was relocated to a different section of the store. While searching for it, I got sidetracked and wandered past the cookie display—tempting, to say the least!

I felt a bit disappointed, but then I remembered we still had a bag of chocolate chips and some walnuts left over from other projects. That got me thinking about baking chocolate chip cookies this week. Since I already need to bake for Christmas, I’ll find a way to fit them in. It’ll just take an hour of dedicated time to whip up a batch.

I did learn something valuable, though. Whenever I need to pick up more than the usual items, I should make a shopping list. Even with just a few extra things, there’s always a chance I might forget something for one reason or another.

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Chasing the Final Kilometers: Lessons from My Year-End Running Challenge

Written December 12, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

I’ve caught up on the kilometers I needed to reach my end-of-year goal. It was intense, as I had to increase my running distance significantly to reach 1,000 km. I’ll complete my goal if I run at least 20 km over the next few weeks. I realized how much I’ve been running per week for the last couple of weeks. When I checked my log, I was running approximately 40km every week. I’ve been feeling more tired in the morning, and I can see why.

I will be running less, and I will start working on my running pace again. Since I’ve been running 40k each week over the past two weeks, dropping down to an average of 10 per week should be relatively relaxing. Hopefully, I can use that ease to refocus on speed.  

While running today, I met another Japanese person in our neighborhood, and I was excited to pass on the information I’d gleaned about him to my wife. He is walking a Siberian Husky named Yume. I also learned that he has four Shiba Inu. He was a professional soccer player but is now married to an American. I spoke to him in a few sentences in Japanese. 

I know I was reckless in changing my goal at the last minute. It was a calculated change, though. I was so damn close to reaching 1,000, and I thought there was no reason not to get that clean 3-digit running kilometer on my belt. 

It was hard regardless because I increased my running distance significantly. However, I learned something from the past few weeks: not to give in as often as I did over the year. For example, I frequently switched the 10k Saturday run to a 5k run. I’ve also skipped a few runs due to extreme weather.

We have had a few freezing days in the last few weeks, but I did not give in because I had a goal to achieve. I also learned to avoid extreme heat by running early in the morning. I modified my exercise schedule so I don’t get my legs worked up too much. So, I should be able to avoid the biggest deterrent next year and shouldn’t have to play catchup next December like I did this year.

So, overall, I did everything right.

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Adapting to Change: The Importance of Scheduling in Recovery

Written December 19, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

I’m all out of sorts today.  My wife has to go to a physical inventory Audit. She must go to the warehouse with an accountant to audit inventory yearly. So we’ve shifted our typical Thursday pasta meal and our BBQ Friday meal days. 

Here’s the thing: I have to adjust my schedule if anything changes. I typically create my daily schedule to work as efficiently as possible. There is something important you are taught at the rehabilitation center: having a solid schedule is one of them. We may still feel we have recovered completely, but that may not be true. Then, you may not notice that you forgot them. So, I also have a routine schedule linked to each other so that I don’t forget to do so.

My wife gradually delegated more of her tasks. I do much more tasks now than 5 years ago. I have inherited as much as possible if I can do it. For example, the yard work. Until 5 years ago, my wife used to do it. She used to do all the choirs in the house between her work. Gradually, I relearned more things to do. Scheduling those tasks helps me not forget to do them within the time I have to do them. Over time, I rearrange my routines, such as running or yard schedules, to fit into my exercise or journaling schedules. The more tasks I inherit, the more time my wife has. So, I try to inherit more of her tasks. 

I have adjusted to this seemingly small change for this Thursday and still complete my Normal Thursday chores. I believe I’ve done so, but so many of the steps in my process are linked to previous ones that changing one increases the risk of cascading as I lose the triggers for the next chore step.  Even with things a bit out of order, I’ve managed to backtrack to pick up the dropped pieces.  

I was not much of a planner before the brain stroke. I know scheduling is very important because I forget otherwise. 

I’ll need to do more anomalous things tomorrow, but it shouldn’t be too difficult. I’ll just have to keep running through my mental checklists of everything I need to do and chip away at them until everything is completed.

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Overcoming Challenges: My Journey Back to 10 Pull-Ups After a Stroke

Written December 16, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

For the first time since I stopped doing pullups every day, I could do 10 consecutive pullups. It was quite a big deal for me. When I was a teen, I was doing gymnastics. Before the brain stroke, I was able to do pull-ups. When I was paralyzed after my brain stroke, I stayed on the bed for over one month, losing substantial muscle mass. 

I started using a pull-up machine, which my wife bought me on my birthday a year before my brain stroke. I used to use a door frame pull-up bar. It was convenient because the device was mobile. After we moved to this house, she thought it would be better to have the machine since I used it. The machine even allows me to work on my abs.

Once I was more comfortable with my running schedule, I started to work on my muscles. So I reassembled the machine. I struggled a lot, even completing one at the beginning. However, gradually, I gained more and could do 5-6 times. During the summer, I had to reduce the amount of muscle exercise because I had to do so much yard work, which was quite exhausting. So, when introducing the muscle exercise, I realized I lost my muscle again.

I’ve been working on my muscles every day. Although I do different parts of the workout daily, I train my muscles daily. Despite losing my muscles, it took much longer to rebuild them.

It is still hard work. For example, while the last three were hard today, finishing the final pullup required a lot of grit. I’m pretty pleased to get back to this baseline.  I’m sure it’ll get easier to do all 10 in the following weeks, and if I’m able, 

I will push myself to higher numbers. If I reach 15 before next summer’s demands, I will shift my schedule back to running before breakfast and cease my other exercises. Then, when running is again pushed to after breakfast, I can start back at 10 pull-ups.

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Pushing Through Challenges: My Journey to 1000 Kilometers

Written December 13, 2024

reviewed 12/21

Hello Dear Readers,

It has nearly ended with my last-minute goal adjustments. The change was in effect only for one month, but it was more challenging than I initially thought. 

We are having chilly weather, which is my biggest obstacle these days. Seriously, running 10 km can be daunting. I don’t even remember how I managed it since I used to do it regularly last year. , even though

Today is chilly, so every breath hurts my nose as if I were eating horseradish or Wasabi. I don’t mind this type of nose shock when eating delicious food, but it is not as pleasant when trying to run 10 kilometers. Despite the chilly temperatures, I succeeded in completing my scheduled 10-kilometer run.

At this point,  I think I’ll only need to do one more week of 10km to achieve my 1000-kilometer goal for the year. I’m glad that I’ve already completed my speed goal for the year since I find it very difficult to run faster when I’m pacing myself for a 10k. Once I complete this goal, I will accomplish one or two. 

My general plan is to try for speed again next year and shave a minute off my time for a 5-kilometer run. It was difficult to shave off 1 minute this year, so I expected it would be difficult again. I am also considering doing more 10-kilometer runs than this year. A regular 10-kilometer run will help me increase my lung capacity. I will consult with my body and log all I can do. 

Before I had a brain stroke, the first year I started dating my wife, she introduced me to running. I was never a runner, but my wife introduced me to the Couch to 5k program. By the end of the program, I learned to jog 5k. Then, my sister started doing the Couch to 5k program. I stopped running, though.

This was my 2nd attempt at developing a serious running habit. I know how not to complete my running goals. While learning how to run in my 2nd effort, I realized something more substantial: consistency and persistence with your decisions. Don’t be a perfectionist when it comes to your goals. If you fail at doing it a day, return to it the next day. If you don’t do very well, then adjust your goal. Just be consistent with the goal. Even with some improvement, it can be significant after several years. 

I will consult my running with my wife and a friend to see if it makes sense or get their advice. For now, I will be happy that I am about to complete my 2nd running goal for the year.

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Chasing Milestones: How Running Transformed My Life and Goals

Written December 11, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

Since I adjusted my running goal for the year, I’ve increased my routine running to 10k. We had cold weather for several days, and it’s taking a bit of extra motivation to start my regular run. On a day like this, my 10k can seem more daunting.

Here is a thing: I am within 100 km of my 1,000 km run goal for 2024. If I follow this schedule this week and next, I will reach the goal even if I switch to 5k again for the rest of the year. As the goal is near, I’m pretty confident in achieving it.

Since 2024 is nearly over, I must set my goal for 2025. I don’t think I will drastically change my goals, though. I just want to make 2025 a little better than 2024. Since 2024 is almost over, I will need to think about it before the end of the year. Fortunately, I also have a friend who runs, and I will ask him whether my goal makes sense.

Achieving goals makes me feel good, mainly because I must invest hard in them. My goal is an endless journey. I will never stop working out. I never thought I would be committed to running when I started it. I even used to tell my wife that I ran for her. However, I know she seemed to get disturbed by those comments. Things changed once I started. My wife gave me the proper running equipment because I initially ran with an everyday shoe. I still remember how much better running is with a proper pair of shoes. I was still running for my wife. I don’t know when, but the running goals became mine. I improved my running much better once I internalized the running goals. 

When I started to see the difference between myself, I understood the importance of setting goals. You will only reach your goals if you want them to be achieved. My wife likes to go on adventurous adventures, like hiking in the Grand Canyon or exploring nature in Key West. I hiked well when we went to the Grand Canyon, thanks to all my running. I don’t think I have a healthy kidney anymore. But I want to maintain my health. We want to do many things, such as going to many other national parks in the United States. I want to enjoy such activities instead of getting tired from the adventure. Running helps me with that.

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Running Through the Cold: A Journey of Mobility, Goals, and Resilience

Written December 6, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

Today was so cold that I thought I was running in an enormous Freezer. Since I had new running goals, I had to run 10k in this weather, but I was reluctant to do so because of the weather.

Despite the cold weather, I managed to complete my run. My wife, who ran earlier in the morning on the same day, complained that the cold weather made her body stiff. I understand what she felt. I also needed to expend much more energy in cold weather to run and keep myself warm. I couldn’t beat my pace time, but I got close enough to be satisfied with my effort.  

I have been exercising stoicism when it comes to running. No matter the weather, I try to keep my promise to run. At first, I started running because my wife wanted me to walk toward getting better. She wanted me to have more endurance and the ability to walk or run. Since the brain stroke, I no longer drive cars, so I always have to ask my wife to drive me around. The ability to walk or run is my freedom of mobility outside the home.

We moved to a house near a doctor’s office, a dentist, and everything else I wanted to visit alone. Unless it is bad weather, I do not even ask my wife to drive to those places. The house is approximately 1.3 miles from these offices, so I can easily walk there. It was my freedom of mobility. 

Several years since I started running, running became my goal. It is no longer my wife’s goal. I internalized my vision and created the goal. They may not be aggressive, but I am steadily improving my running ability. 

I came to understand that it is right to approach your goal more slowly. I adjusted my running goals as per my capacity. The most crucial part is you are committed to the goals. I create a yearly goal with another layer of small goals underneath it. I adjust them quite frequently. It happens to me that things don’t work out very well on many occasions. I often stumble upon stagnation. If you read my blogs regularly, you already know that. It could be daunting and frustrating. Over time, I learned to make frequent adjustments to the goals. I may tweak how I achieve the goal. I sometimes tone down my goals. The important thing is not to give up and to commit to your goals.

I’ll also need to run a 10k tomorrow, but at least the weather will be more conducive.  Aside from running in the cold, I completed all my routine Friday chores and ate my usual Friday food, along with the last cider we got last Saturday.

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Tweeked Around My Schedule To Achieve My Running Goal

Written December 1, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

When you have a strategic vision, it is vital to check your progress status. To reach my goal, I still need to run an extra 38 kilometers on top of my regular 25 kilometers weekly. So, I recalculated how close I was to achieving my goal to run 1,000 kilometers by the end of the year. If I increase 8 of my runs to 10km over the next 4 weeks, I’ll make 1,000 km. However, that would mean running a 10k on Christmas day, which might not be possible.

My sister and mother plan to celebrate Christmas at my other sister’s house. They invited us as well, but my wife couldn’t take so many consecutive days off as she had to prepare for the upcoming year’s end. So it looks like we are going to spend our Christmas by ourselves. My sister will also be moving by the end of the year after returning from the trip. They may need our help. So, I don’t want to have a too tight schedule. 

After tweaking my goals, I concluded that I’ll need to increase all my runs this upcoming week and likely do so again the following week. My plan is still tight. I’ll need to recalculate my weekly progress and update my plans as more information becomes available.

I like it around this season, but it can be challenging, especially if you adjust the goal at the last minute like I did. My wife started to post book reviews on Goodreads. She started updating what she read in July this year. Since it was only 6 months left when she started, she wanted to read four big books, each containing over 1300 pages. So, she initially made the goal 50. She ended up adjusting to 60 in November. 

My wife has long-term goals and vision but adjusts her tactics and goals weekly. I’ve never done this as frequently as she does with her visions, but maybe that is why she generally completes whatever she decides. She also ditches something that does not work very well. She said that sometimes, you don’t know if the goal is feasible until you have tried it. If you have too many goals running simultaneously to the point you have no time, it is important to let some of them go, especially if the goal is not attainable due to a lack of resources. She tells me that she made a fair number of mistakes in the past by not letting go. 

I usually schedule my time according to priority. I consider running a high priority and will maximize my running time. Then, I get into trouble when higher priorities than running, like spending time with my family, pop up. I do not manage my schedule like my wife, but my method works for me. That is the most important thing about strategic management.

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From Cold Mornings to Warm Reflections: Navigating Life After a Brain Stroke

Written November 16, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

It was one of the days that I felt like I just wanted to stay in bed. Ever since I got my brain stroke, I cannot stand cold at all. Before I had my brain stroke, I had a much higher heartbeat and blood pressure, and I always felt hot. We used to live in Canada; my wife complained because I would open our bedroom window while sleeping. Ever since I can remember, my wife has kept her temperature around 65F or 18C during the winter. So our house would always be cool in the winter. I was hot all the time. Now, I feel cold.

I had difficulty forcing myself from bed this morning. I initially woke 45 minutes before my alarm. During the summer months, I would start my run early. But it’s so chilly. I hesitated. I crawled back to bed after using the restroom and fell back asleep. When my alarm sounded, I turned it off and snuggled back under the warm covers, staying awake but in bed and warm for a half hour. Despite the early morning, my wife was already out of bed a few hours before me. She wakes up much earlier every day.

Eventually, I forced myself to throw back the blankets and start my day. When I woke up, my wife was already done running, studying Geman, and writing something in the notebook in the dining room. She has more things to do in her morning routine, as she will create the menu for the upcoming week and create a grocery list. Somehow, we bought four limes that became bad after ten days, which she was upset about. She does not like wasting food ingredients since we should be able to control that with proper planning. Also, she thinks it is sinful to waste food. I know she lists why we wasted the food on the lists.  Then, she would write about how to avoid such an event again. The year is almost over, but we don’t have one page of wasted food. 

Observing my wife also made me question whether I had wasted time today. I’ve been delaying my run in my office, allowing it to warm up further, but I think I’ve wasted enough time now and will start my run shortly. I still need to do weekly house vacuuming chores and clean leaves outside. 

Later, I talked to my wife about this morning, and she said she would put on the space heater before she goes running going forward. She also understands that my body condition is different. I hope it will work better. 

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Celebrating Milestones With a Pumpkin Spice Latte

Written October 18, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

I decided to skip my run today since we planned to celebrate the milestone of her citizenship journey by indulging in a trip to Starbucks for coffee. My wife had her citizenship test/interview early this morning. Shortly after finishing my winter exercises, she called me to say she was on her way home. 

Her test was at 7:35 a.m., so she left the house at 6:40 a.m., leaving her an extra 20 minutes. When she goes to the office, she usually leaves the house around the same time, so the time itself does not bother her. She was worried that she would get lost or have an accident on the way. 

She has been preparing for the exam since April, but she gets distracted by something she finds curious. For example, she learned about the list of cabinets for the United States. She can’t stop there. She would dig through what each department does. She says time is her most considerable enemy because she forgets about time. Honestly, the way she studies or does anything, no time is enough. She got into so many troubles when she was much younger. She had to compromise with the environmental forces to prevent what she wanted, such as time. So whatever she does is planned for a long time. Some of her goals could be traced over a decade. 

I could not believe it when she told me she had never tried the famous seasonal treat, pumpkin spice latte. She had just found out about it and was eager to experience it. Knowing she would be back in roughly 30 minutes, I did not have time to finish a run before she returned. I wanted to be ready to leave for our coffee whenever she wanted.  Since it was freezing this morning, I was not too upset about skipping my run; I’ll have to commit to the full 10k to compensate for today’s laziness.

My wife had a pumpkin spice latte. Since I haven’t had a pumpkin spice latte before this year, I tried the Pecan Crunch Latte. I prefer a pumpkin spice latte. My wife loved her pumpkin spice latte. She was wondering how the coffee tasted of pumpkin. 

We are planning to donate the materials used for the citizenship process. My wife was worried that she had written something in them, but I told her that some people could benefit. 

I am happy that she has reached another milestone, as I know she has wanted U.S. citizenship for a long time.