A couple friends and I have a goal of riding 100 miles over two days during Thanksgiving weekend. We've started preparing and go on long rides every week in addition to other physical training during the week. Today, Brenda, Alesa and I took a 23 mile round-trip ride to the Washington D.C. LDS temple. It was wet and rainy almost the entire time, but the temperature was in the 70's, so it wasn't so bad.
Here are some thoughts:
1. I love being outside.
2. The temple is a beautiful destination, a nice restful place, and a spiritually uplifting site.
3. It's fun to share fitness goals with friends.
4. I'm grateful to have physical strength and stamina----though I have a ways to go to make it twice as far as I did today.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Observations on Motivation 9/17/11
I want to share some things I have observed lately. Some of what I share will relate to the following topics: piano lessons, dieting, child-rearing, personal motivation and education among other things. These are some observations from this week.
1. Children are motivated by teamwork and meeting the expectations of the group. My son's piano teacher has "teams". Children within the teams play trios or duets. The trio groups are working on three trios. Each child has a high part, a middle part, and a low part between the three trios allowing them a chance to learn a part in three registers on the piano. They get together once a month and can practice what they have learned so far. Highly motivating! No one wants to be unprepared at the meeting.
2. Children are motivated by high standards and rewards for reaching them--extrinsic awards help, but intrinsic rewards are very valuable too. Son #3's geography teacher (8th grade) set the high standard of 97% on tests. If a student accomplishes that on every test, he doesn't have to take the final. Son #3 got a 99% on the first test! (May that continue after week 1.) Son #1 is being motivated by his desire to share a message of vital importance to the world. Son #2 is being motivated by high academic standards and being surrounded by good minds. Son #4 is motivated by being recognized for fulfilling his duties responsibly.
3. I am motivated when I have to report to someone and when I have set goals. I'm currently actively using nutrimirror.com, an excellent nutrition/dieting/exercise recording site that gives great feedback based on your goals and progress toward those goals. I keep track of what I eat every day and how many calories I burn with my exercising. On Tuesday, I weigh in and take measurements. I also have a friend with whom I exercise. We schedule our mutual exercising times a month in advance and honor those appointments. We have been doing this for about four years now. We meet usually 3x a week for an hour each time. Another friend and I have a goal of a 2 day-100 mile bike ride in November. I feel a great deal of motivation to get prepared so that it will be an enjoyable experience.
4. It is motivating to have a deadline. I belong to a book club which I've been a part of for close to 20 years. The membership has continually changed as people move, but I've lived here for a long time. It's motivating to have a date to meet and talk about a book. I'm currently reading "Unbroken" about Louie Zamperini, a track star for the 1930's and his involvement in WWI. It's written by Laura Hillebrand.
5. Finally, it's motivating to do something out of your comfort zone. I'll report on that in about two weeks.
1. Children are motivated by teamwork and meeting the expectations of the group. My son's piano teacher has "teams". Children within the teams play trios or duets. The trio groups are working on three trios. Each child has a high part, a middle part, and a low part between the three trios allowing them a chance to learn a part in three registers on the piano. They get together once a month and can practice what they have learned so far. Highly motivating! No one wants to be unprepared at the meeting.
2. Children are motivated by high standards and rewards for reaching them--extrinsic awards help, but intrinsic rewards are very valuable too. Son #3's geography teacher (8th grade) set the high standard of 97% on tests. If a student accomplishes that on every test, he doesn't have to take the final. Son #3 got a 99% on the first test! (May that continue after week 1.) Son #1 is being motivated by his desire to share a message of vital importance to the world. Son #2 is being motivated by high academic standards and being surrounded by good minds. Son #4 is motivated by being recognized for fulfilling his duties responsibly.
3. I am motivated when I have to report to someone and when I have set goals. I'm currently actively using nutrimirror.com, an excellent nutrition/dieting/exercise recording site that gives great feedback based on your goals and progress toward those goals. I keep track of what I eat every day and how many calories I burn with my exercising. On Tuesday, I weigh in and take measurements. I also have a friend with whom I exercise. We schedule our mutual exercising times a month in advance and honor those appointments. We have been doing this for about four years now. We meet usually 3x a week for an hour each time. Another friend and I have a goal of a 2 day-100 mile bike ride in November. I feel a great deal of motivation to get prepared so that it will be an enjoyable experience.
4. It is motivating to have a deadline. I belong to a book club which I've been a part of for close to 20 years. The membership has continually changed as people move, but I've lived here for a long time. It's motivating to have a date to meet and talk about a book. I'm currently reading "Unbroken" about Louie Zamperini, a track star for the 1930's and his involvement in WWI. It's written by Laura Hillebrand.
5. Finally, it's motivating to do something out of your comfort zone. I'll report on that in about two weeks.
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