I Won’t Say I Failed

Posted: August 2, 2011 at 4:00 pm

Now that we have reached the tail end of the second day of August already, I figure I should shake a leg on getting caught up with my goals post for the month. I learned a big lesson from my goals last month – I tried to take on too much and put too much pressure on myself. I tried to burn the candle at both ends with earlier morning wake-up calls, non-stop days of mothering and other tasks, and then not enough relaxation at night.

I actually didn’t do all too grand on my July goals because of the overextension of my time and energy. I missed the mark on the following goals I had set for July:

I refuse to say I failed, though. I did feel aware of stretching more and working on my core – so I made a greater effort than normal with those two activities. I may not have hit the goal, but I did do more than previous months. I may not have accomplished as much studying as I hoped, but I did get through 4 chapters and took the time to know the material well. And I did pass other goals with flying colors:

  • I stayed on top of my half marathon training (even with a rocky last week)
  • we rocked our budget last month
  • applied to the Fitfluential ambassadorship
  • I am now thisclose to being finished with any Healthy Living Summit prep work

Where does all of this leave me for this month? I have ONE goal! Better time management. I don’t want to end up burned out by the end of the month again. I want to simply focus on the things that matter each and every day. My goal for better time management will revolve around making time each day for:

God with prayer and Bible study

Family with play time with the kiddos and connection time with the husband

IMGP0261

Health Time with choosing foods that make me feel good and keeping up with half marathon training


eep! going to have to do TWO MORE than that this Saturday

Professional with regular study time

Passions by continuing to share what I feel called to share here.

So my goal is simple. I want to manage my time well enough to have each day entail the above and then just allow for other aspects of life to fall into place where they fit. I remember once hearing an analogy in church about our lives are a glass jar. We each must fill our jars with beautiful pebbles (those things that truly matter to us in life) and sand (the relatively inconsequential parts of life).

jar-rocks-2jar-rocks-3
source

If we try to fill our jars with the sand first, we won’t have room for the quality pebbles. However, if we focus on the pebbles first, the sand will naturally fit around them as it gets added later. That’s what I want to do with my time. My energy. My life. And that is my goal for August.

  • What is a brag you have for the month of July? And what do you hope for out of August?
  • And if you're so inclined...I would feel honored if you chose to nominate me for Mamavation's inspirational "tweeps"! You just tweet the following - I nominate @TinaFFF as one of the Top 50 Most Inspirational Healthy Tweeps, http://bit.ly/nnwaBM #Top50HT

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51 Comments to “I Won’t Say I Failed”
  1. I love that sand/pebble saying at the end. So true! I need to keep that concept in the forefront a little more often.

  2. jobo says:

    You absolutely did not fail! I am glad you didn’t see it that way either. You had some lofty goals for July, I remember reading them and being impressed but also wondering when you’d have time for it all 😉 I love your goal for August and love that of the things you kept up with was the half training! And I just tweeted for you 🙂

  3. Charissa says:

    I nominated you on Twitter! Just wanted you to know that I love your blog and your sincere love for God! Love your goals for this month!

    One of my goals is a ton more strength training, more time with God, and get some creative projects done!

  4. I really need to apply that sand/pebble analogy to the last month of wedding preparation… you’re always so inspirational!

  5. Tina I think you did great in July and you are going to do so well at your 1/2 marathon — seriously!!! I am so impressed with your running thus far.

    July — I had some awesome stuff happen to me at work — not stuff I talk about on my blog, but it was definitely good 🙂

  6. You should be proud of what you have accomplished last month. It’s tough being a mom to young children, a supportive wife, and making time for yourself so you can feel like you. Good luck with the 14 miles on Saturday!

  7. I need to make my goals too before it gets too late! I really need to get on a budget too!!

  8. I love the pebbles/sand/water in a jar story- I just heard it recently and it is so true! You need to focus on the basic foundation and everything else will fall into place.

    You definitely didn’t fail! August looks like it will shape up to be a fantastic month as well 🙂

  9. Jen says:

    I also nominated you!

    Love the visual with the jars. Each and every day we need to remember the big rock priorities.

  10. I love that analogy! Great! And I like your attitude. I often don’t achieve goals I set–but that is fine. It’s not a failure. Setting a goal is half the battle.. I think just realizing what your goals are is an achievement in itself.

    Also, yay for HLS! LMK if you need anything at all.

  11. I missed the mark on a lot of my goals this month, too. I overextend myself when it’s summer and I think I have SO much time, when really 50% of it was spent running around doing things for my brother’s wedding. I feel like I’m getting married!

  12. Emily says:

    Awesome job, Tina! You are looking and doing so great! My brag for the month of July is that I’ve been so much more bold and we doing things that I would usually be to scared or anxious to do. I am really trying to live life to the fullest and ditch the fear.

  13. I twitted/nominated for you!!!

    I hope for in August we get pregnant…but I’m trying to relax about it all at the same time! 🙂

  14. You most definitely did not fail! You are fabulous and I think better time managment is a great goal! Once school starts at the end of the month I’m really going to need to work on my time managment more

  15. I am excited your reading one month to live! that definetly gave me more goals for my life 🙂

  16. I love the sand analogy!!

    July had its ups and downs for me. But August is exciting…a family vacation to NH and then going to HLS 🙂

  17. Sandra says:

    You are such an inspiration. I got two things out of this post: 1. I am interested in this book “One Month to Live” and I’ve also been thinking about getting my personal training certificate, but seeing the books in your hands (although mine would be different since I’m Canadian) you’ve given me the bug!

  18. I know all about stretching yourself too thin. I’m sure it’s even harder with children! You’re my hero! haha. At least you did better with your goals; that always counts for something!

  19. Oh I absolutely nominated you on twitter. You deserve it 100%! I LOVE that analogy about the jar, sand, and pebbles. That is something I think we could all focus more on!

  20. Rebecca says:

    I love the pebbles-in-a-jar illustration. My mom used it at one of my cousins’ bridal showers several years ago to illustrate the way a marriage should fit together, but I hadn’t thought about it being an analogy for life in general! Awesome!

  21. I have been struggling with daily prayer/bible time. I KNOW August will be different! We can do it!

  22. Lauren says:

    Love that book!!!

  23. What a great August goal! And I definitely feel like that should be my goal too. I’ve been feeling so overwhelmed with things to do, then I feel disappointed if I don’t do them, or dont do them to my best ability.
    Go time management!

  24. You did not fail! Sometimes goals take longer than one month to accomplish, and sometimes you need more than one month to accomplish them. Keep at em!

  25. Karen says:

    Really like the analogy you shared! You definitely did not fail! I enjoy setting goals for myself as well but I don’t always achieve those goals. I never feel like a failure because to me, a goal is just one of the tools I use to keep myself motivated. I need something to work towards or else I start to feel lost.

  26. Coco says:

    I first heard that stone/pebble/sand analogy a few years ago and it is so powerful and true! I think you have your priorities right! Congrats on rocking your budget and paying down your bills.

  27. What a great analogy! Time management can be so hard sometimes. That’s something I’m always trying to improve!
    My be accomplishment for July was completing my first race. 🙂

  28. The Chick says:

    I just posted my progress post yesterday. What I am proud of for the month of July: 17.8 pounds down. If you are interested you can see my goals update and progress pictures for both my husband and myself here:

    http://fatchickfedup.com/2011/08/02/monthly-progress-pictures-and-update/

  29. Khushboo says:

    Congrats on all that u accomplished in July! I love that analogy! I’m proud of the fact that despite travelling all over during July, I still managed to keep up my workout schedule…proof that fitness is a part of my lifestyle :)!

  30. Efka says:

    I have always loved this jar example, I would just add that there is always time for a cut of tea with a friend 🙂 Try to add this to the jar too 🙂

  31. Whoo Hoo – You totally inspired me girl – I made a gaol to join twitter and finally did yesterday @CoreyLearn….Thanks – its so nice to get motivation from this awesome blogging community! xoxo from trinidad

    • Tina says:

      I fought getting on Twitter for so long…now it is so fun…and one of those things I have to watch with that whole time management goal. LOL

  32. Melodie says:

    Great goals for August 🙂 I love the rock/ pebble analogy… how often I foget this!

    My brag for July is a strange one I suppose – but after years of struggling with heavy depression, I finally decided to get on meds… I was nervous… but now, 4 weeks later I feel better than I have in over 15 years. If only I would have known that I really needed this medicine. I am just thankful that I made the decision to do it!

    • Tina says:

      That’s not a weird brag at all. It takes a lot to say okay to outside things like medication, but they can a lot of times be the best choice. Glad they are helping!

  33. Elena says:

    Great job in July! I’ve been noticing there is SO much I want to do myself and trying to remember – don’t try too much at once because of burn-out. So much easier said than done! I like how you acknowledge your successes and look at the positive (I’ve always loved that about you 🙂 ) and I think I am going to get a jar of sand and pebbles for my room as a beautiful reminder!

    You may have addressed this somewhere but I wonder if the overload was why you had the tougher week and needed the break last week? Regardless, I like how you reassessed, set new goals and are back on track! Happy Wednesday:)

    • Tina says:

      I totally think the two were related!!! And that’s another reason I wanted to step back this month. I don’t want that same burn out. It was not fun. 😉

  34. Brag: I walked 134 miles in the month of July – and I’m now 37 weeks pregnant!

    Hopes: Safe and healthy delivery… and lots of walking up until then!

  35. Lindsey says:

    Brags: It’s not really health/ fitness related but I was a really good friend, girlfriend, sister, and coworker in July. Sometimes I had to skip workouts in order to be there for others when they needed me. And I think that’s good!

    August Goal: MY THESIS!!! i have 20 pages to write by the end of the month. YIKES.

    • Tina says:

      uh, yea!!! That is an awesome brag. And one we all should strive to make every month, day, year, whatever. 🙂

  36. Sara says:

    I was inspired to start running by you and a few other bloggers. I can brag about starting couch to 5k and I am ending my 6th week this Friday! My brag for August is starting weight training with ChaLEAN extreme. I am running my first 5k in September!

    Thanks for being such a positive inspiration!

    • Tina says:

      Oh how exciting! Love Couch to 5K. Such a great program. And you’re on the home stretch now. 🙂

      You will do great on the 5K and with ChaLEAN. I’m sure of it!

  37. I love your Challenge Your Fitness top 🙂

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