Digital Diary: Wedding Planning, Fitness, Reading Goals!

Welcome to another digital diary entry! It’s been a while, so let’s chat.

It’s been a while since I’ve written a regular life update. Although life has been busy, I have been working on a lot of plans for The Road Writer that I hope to launch here soon.

Wedding Plans!

Wedding planning has been…a lot.

A lot of excitement.

A lot of joy.

A lot of planning.

A lot of stress.

Some days I enjoy wedding planning, but most days, I am confused and overwhelmed. Very overwhelmed.

I thank God for my friends who have been so helpful during this process. The encouragement I have received from friends and family is really what keeps me going. My mom has also been a huge help with calming me down during this season. The truth is, I am both excited for my wedding day and also ready for it to be over.

My prayer has been for the Lord to restore my joy in this season because there is so much that feels like it is trying to snatch it away. Good news is that this wedding will be paid off by the wedding date. I refuse to pay for a day after it happens. I’m already scared of credit and the only debt I have are my student loans that will be paid off before the wedding as well (another praise report).

Fitness

I have always had a healthy relationship with the gym, but this year I wanted to take my fitness journey to a new level. I want to challenge myself to do more than just “workout”. I want to be fit on all fronts. Furthermore, I have changed my desire from wanting to be thin to wanting to be strong.

As some of you know, I always used to complain about my dad’s genes and my broad shoulders and naturally stockier build. When I get stronger, I get thicker. For years, I hated how lifting weights made me look in regular civilian clothes, so I shied away from heavy lifts (specifically with my upper body).

Now, I want to be strong. My body is unique and special to me and should not be hated because it does not fit a particular aesthetic. I will always be a bit bulky, but I might as well be bulky strong. And the more that I centered my fitness to strength and power, the more confident I have felt. The feeling I get from watching my body lift heavier each month is euphoric.

Aside from weights, I have been increasing my cardio and endurance. I am also adamant on remaining athletic. Like I said previously, I want to be a well-rounded gym girly. So I’ve started doing something I never thought I could do: run.

Now I may be overexaggerating as I have obviously ran the majority of my life for various reasons. From PE and recess to warm-ups before a workout, I have ran in some capacity. However, I was never a runner. I did not run for fun, especially long distance. The idea of a runner’s’ high was ludicrous to me. I could never understand why so many people found running to be an enjoyable experience.

Regardless, I knew I wanted to improve my cardio and fitness stats, so I chose running. A cheap hobby with easy overhead. All I need (at least starting off) are shoes. As time progressed, I have sought to add upgrades to my equipment. I have a running vest now and I used to have a sports watch (before I lost the charger). Eventually, I want to get HOKAS or some new balances for extra support.

I am now aiming to run a mile in 15 minutes. As things stand, it takes me around 20 minutes to meet a mile since I walk in between most runs.

Short term goal: A 5k.

Long term goal: A marathon.

Don’t worry, I know that will be years from now, but I want to prove I can do what I once felt was impossible.

Reading Goals

One of my biggest Adulting gripes is that I cannot read as much as I want as a full time, employed member of society.

After getting off work, then going to the gym for 1.5-2 hours, I then come home to eat, get ready for the day, pray, and start all over again. No time for reading to the extent I enjoy. However, I have still been finding time to read, even in my busy schedule.

My first and greatest love will always be thrillers. Maybe it’s my chaotic nature but I love to stay on the edge of my seat when I’m reading. Although adult fiction does a good job of providing that thrill, I’ve found that YA thriller is unmatched. I started a series (without realising it was a series) called Escape from Furnace. It’s an older YA thriller and I was devastated when I got to the end, only to be left on a cliffhanger! I had to take a break because that book took my emotions through the wringer! Now I’m ready to read the next book in the series and I am adding it to my March goal of two completed books this month.

Upcoming Events

I have so many upcoming adventures that I’m excited to share with you all. Last month I officially booked my first cruise! I have never been to any of the islands, and I feel like a cruise is a must as a travel lover. I also went to Emerald Isle recently and I’m looking forward to sharing that with the blog. There are plenty of changes happening in my life and I am grateful for God and His faithfulness in all of it.

I am a bit overwhelmed and most days I have no idea what is happening. Sometimes I wish the year would be over so I could go back to some normalcy. Just fun days and routine nights. However, I will continue to be faithful where I am until it’s all over. In the meantime, I’m doing everything I can to maintain my joy and enjoy this life of mine to the fullest.

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