The Beginning

My team: 

Karyn

Rachel

Thad

Look at all those lovely smiles! 

Karyn is great for general support, and she agreed to take a way my boxes of junk, and she "drives" my presentations. She also knows pretty much everyone, so is an awesome resource for finding help. And she's awesome.

Rachel is also working on a house project so we meet weekly to discuss strategies, show off progress, and drink delicious coffee. Plus I hope her enthusiasm will rub off on me. 

Thad is my partner in everything (or life partner if you will). Since it is our house that I will be transforming for this project, he is of course on my team. But mostly, he is the first person I ask for help on most things.

My alignment: Self Care

An alignment is something that you are aligning your actions towards to help get through what's blocking you from what you want. It can be something like Passion, Fun, Love, Peace, Self-Awareness, Courage, Wisdom, Accept Myself, and many more. After a weekend at a McCarthy Software Development Bootcamp I chose Self Care as my alignment. It is the thing that I need to practice most right now.
You know you have the right alignment when it touches equally on joy and terror. 

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
― Audre Lorde

For me this means…

• Not neglecting my needs for the sake of others (as I so much do)
• Getting more sleep (which means staying ahead on homework)
• Generally doing healthier things like walking more, eating smaller and healthier meals/snacks, less soda and more tea
• Allowing time to soak (think, absorb) when in the car, or bath, or wherever. Audiobooks and podcasts are great, but listening to my own mind is important too. 
• Be comfortable. Get better shoes, clothes, not starving or overstuffing myself. Changing into my sweats as soon as I get home (haha)
• Spend quality time with close friends and loved ones

There are various degrees to which you can practice your alignment:

1. I forgot what it was
2. I remember it but I don't use it
3. I use it sparingly, but to minimal effect
4. I use it often 
5. I use reflexively and without thinking
6. I use it in my sleep 
7. Integrated, it is a part of me (next step: find a new alignment)

So far I think I am at step 4, which is pretty good progress for 6 weeks.


Bonus team members: these guys help keep me sane(r)