"Just when the caterpillar..."

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly" - Proverb.

This is the quote on my brand new journal, which currently has 200 pristine (a nicer word for empty) pages waiting to be filled over the next 12 weeks. It is one of my summer goals to work my way through a journaling book titled The Artist's Way which requires me to wake up early (I know, me?) to write 3 pages, freehand, every morning as well as complete other tasks and assignments. (I tried to start many journals in my life. The last in January. It has five pages filled. Last entry, February 16th... Apparently, dedication is not my strong suit)

And it's going to be hard to wake up earlier than the already ridiculous time of 6:45am to be on campus to teach an undergraduate course from 8:00am until 9:15a. "But Caroline," you may be thinking, "you can nap after you teach." I wish...

This summer, I am also completing my practicum for my masters marriage and family counseling program. So I'll be spending 30+ hours a week for the next 12 weeks working on an child and adolescent ward at a local inpatient psychiatric hospital.

And my last, and probably most ridiculous goal is to complete P90X in those 12 weeks. So when I get home from teaching/counseling for 10+ hours, I think that my lazy butt is going to work out for an hour to an hour and a half EVERY day. (Did I mention that I can't even remember the last time I went to the gym... or ran... or did ANYTHING remotely good for me?)

And I know the only way I will have motivation to do this is that I'm about to publish it on the internet. So it feels like a pledge of sorts.

Tomorrow will be a test. I have to drop my car off for repairs at 7:30a and be at an orientation at the hospital at 8:30a. So my plan is to wake up at 6:15ish and try the journaling. And to do the first day of P90x when I get home.

So these are my lofty goals for this summer.

1) Journal everyday and complete The Artist's Way book.
2) Complete the full P90X workout program.
3) Be an amazing teacher at 8:00a when I haven't been up that early consistently since high school.
4) Complete my practicum/first real experience with clients relatively unscathed and vastly changed.
5) Learn to cook (?. I know. I haven't fully developed this goal. I just know it is something that needs to happen.)
5) Maintain both my relationship and my sanity.

Wish me luck. Or give me advice. Or pray for me.