Last year, I had my quirky little mantra a better Jen in 2010. It didn’t work out. At all. In fact, I am further in debt than I was then. Sigh.
This year, I’m making a different plan. I will be 40 in March. And I’m pretty fed up with pissing my life away. My ex and I decided to get divorced 4 1/2 years ago. I moved out into moderate income housing. Rent is based on my income. My plan was to live here until I received my settlement from the divorce. I would put a down payment on a house or condo, and continue my life.
Only, I lost my job a couple of months before I received my settlement. I couldn’t find full-time permanent work, and ended up temping for almost two years before I was hired at the company I work for now. I did receive my settlement, paid off all of my bills, and put away $20,000. But then I pissed that away.
There is no money for a house. I’ve been living in this crappy duplex for 4 1/2 years. I even began to think that maybe if I could find a man, I would be able to move into his house, or we could afford a house with 2 incomes instead of trying to do this on my single income. And those thoughts began to scare me. I never, EVER want to be dependant on a man again.
Then in August, I had a health scare. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. A month later, I was diagnosed with high cholesterol and diabetes. I am only 39.
Diabetes scares the hell out of me. Both of my parents are insulin dependant. I don’t know why I though I would be immune. Somehow, I would be special, wouldn’t need to take care of myself and I would avoid this disease. For Christ’s sake, I weighed 100 pounds more than I did when I was 20 and got pregnant with Shaunna.
I’ve lost 25 pounds since August. I’ve got my sugars under control. And while the doctor has increased my blood pressure medication, she reduced the diabetes medication in half. But I’ve got a long way to go.
This is what triggered me finally taking care of me. And I have a plan. And a “Bucket List.”
- I am applying to an online college to finally get my Bachelor’s degree in accounting. While I had a horrible experience with University of Phoenix, I’ve finally figured out that due to my co-parenting schedule, there is no way I can do this on campus.
- I will continue eating healthfully and lose weight. I have lost 25% of what I need to reach my goal. I will lose the other 75%.
- I will quit smoking. I’ve picked my quit date 1/2/11.
- I will continue to increase the amount of exercise I am getting until I can meet the challenge of my co-worker and run the Manchester Road Race next year.
I will turn 40 in March. I am determined to make 2011 the best year of my life!
Good luck Jen……… I know thow the smoking thing is difficult. I just quit and have been smoke free for 11 days.
Things will get better. It may not seem it now ……. but they really do.
Jenny
Those are big goals but you can do it! I lost 75lbs doing weight watchers on-line but have now gained half of it back since I stopped recording my intake. Ugh! I don’t want tospend my life looking (or feeling) like crap. Thats what motivates me. Good luck!
Best of luck to you on that Bucket List! And on 2011 being a way better year for you!
I stumbled upon your blog because of Online Schools, which listed you as one of 2010′s top divorce blogs. I read through a couple of your posts, and I can see why you’re on the list – you truly deserve your spot on it!
I’m wishing you the best of luck! Those goals, though they may be quite difficult to achieve, can be met with determination and discipline. I hope 2011 does indeed become the best life of your life not only financial and health-wise, but in all aspects.
Oh, and by the way, I bookmarked this post on StumbleUpon, Delicious, Digg, Reddit and Google bookmarks.
Thank you and, again, good luck!
[...] is this divorced woman’s post that lists her personal 2011 bucket list (read it by clicking here). The goals are quite difficult, I must admit, but with the right balance of determination and [...]