Just like riding a bike?

"Just like riding a bike" is a phrase meaning that it is something you never forget how to do. Well I am here to say that that is just not true. Today I got on a bike for the first time since high school which was about 3/4 years ago and it didn't go so well. Yes, I know how to ride a bike but that doesn't mean that you won't get hurt. Riding a bike is simple right, I mean you peddle, steer, and use the hand breaks when you want to stop, so what is so hard about getting on a bike after some time off? Well, just because you remember the logistics of ridding a bike doesn't mean you won't fall off. As I rode the bike I found difficulty in turning corners while holding the break so I didn't go to fast or tip over. The balancing is much more difficult than I remembered and the stopping just as hard. So yes, I ended up falling down and getting a nice little cut and bruise but I got back up and tried again.

As I was riding my bike it reminded me of how relationships work. Simple right, two people like each other so they spend time together and if they like each other enough and long enough they get married and have kids. Ok, hit the breaks! For anyone who has been in a relationship knows it is SO not easy. There are balancing acts that one must do between the relationship, friends, family, school/work, ect without "falling off." Each relationship is different just like each bike is different. You have to get use to how the breaks work and how the bike turns on curves to be able to ride it steady without getting hurt. The same applies to relationships, you have to know how the other partner does things in order to make things work. And if you end up falling off the bike and getting your heart broken, there are tons of other bikes out there, who knows the next one could be the right fit and run perfectly smooth.

I Am Woman

I am a Sex and the City fanatic. I have loved watching the four girl friends going through the ups and downs of relationships and no matter what having each other. I have just seen Sex and the City 2 the movie with one of my girlfriends and loved it. The fact that the girls stayed close with each other despite everything and all their differences is amazing. The girls supported each other when one was having trouble and as Samantha says are "each other's soulmates." The idea that guys come and go but friends are forever is true. The guy you are dating today may be gone in a year but your friends will still be there to laugh with you about how you ever dated such a loser. Friends are important thing to have because they get you through the day.

Another thing I particularly enjoyed about this movie besides the strong friendship was the feminism in it. The ladies take a trip to the Middle East and discover how constricting life is for the women there. They learn that they are very lucky to have so many opportunities in the USA (such as not being persecuted for wearing shorts.) The women get together and sing a song "I Am Woman" which all the ladies in the scene begin to sing as well, yes it is a little cheesy, but I really enjoyed it. I Am Woman and I can be independent from men and have great girlfriends that will stick with me through everything. Overall, good movie to see and promote my strong single self with. :)

Whatever Floats Your Boat

I am a big fan of boating! I am lucky enough to have an aunt and uncle who own a houseboat that my family and I get invited to once a year. I absolutely love my time at the lake. I look forward to it every year. This year when I went, I thought about the guys that I had brought down with me to the lake in the past resulting in interesting weekends. One guy I brought down the weekend didn't exactly go so well and ended with me throwing a sandwich at him. The other guy I brought with me to the lake the weekend went very well as we made up silly songs. I think we were on our way to just being friends which lead to a fairly fun and uncomplicated weekend on the boat before we officially called it quits sometime later.

So this weekend I went off with my family for a great weekend away from it all. You know you are in the middle of know where when there is no Wal-Mart and you have no cell phone reception. And the thing is, is that every know and then I think you need to get away to a place like this. I had a great time laughing and playing around with my family. We did a ton of tubing, in which we gained several bruises and some great memories. I also got to do my favorite, wakeboarding. Overall a great weekend, with just my family and me, no additional guests necessary for a good time.

The Lonely Hearts Club

My mom and I both love to read. We have been known to spend hours in book stores. Usually she is the voice of reason that forces me to leave and not spend my entire day and my entire bank account in a book store. So this weekend Half-Price Books was having a Memorial Day sale on everything in the store, which of course we couldn't miss a sale on already cheap books, so we went. We wondered down the isles looking under the names of our favorite authors to see if there was anything we hadn't read yet. I was looking at the New Arrivals section and a book caught my eye called The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg. The cover had four girls walking on a crosswalk like The Beatles Abby Road record. Being a huge Beatles fan I picked it up and flipped open the cover to see if it sounded any good. Cover divulged that it was about a girl who has given up on men and starts a club called The Lonely Hearts Club. All I needed to read to immediately hook me on the book. I added it to my pile of books and then my mom dragged me out of the book store to enjoy the sunshine outside.

We went home and I read the book cover to cover and loved it. The main character Penny Lane (named after The Beatle song) has had enough subpar relationships and decides she will no longer date while in high school. Penny Lane's new mentality attracts many followers in her school making The Lonely Hearts Club grow to massive proportions. I highly recommend this book, no matter how old you are, this character issues a very wise insight to how women change and settle for men and discovers the importance of a good support group of friends. Because we could all... Use A Little Help from My Friends.

Date with Dad

I've been dying to see the new Iron Man 2 movie and my dad suggested we should go see it. It was just me and him going to the movies. It was really nice. I don't usually get to spend that much time one on one with my dad and I definitely enjoyed the time I was able to spend with him on this "date." This "date" went perfectly, we had already agreed on the movie and when it came to snacks my Dad knew exactly what I liked. My dad immediately ordered two diet cokes and popcorn with extra butter. I didn't have to explain that, yes I understand that having buttery popcorn and a diet drink is pointless, I just like the taste, my Dad already knew that and likes the same thing. We got into the movie, thankfully in enough time to get to see the previews, which I love to watch. We whispered during the previews which ones we liked and we would have to go see together, without it being awkward wondering if you will still be together when the movie comes out, because well its my dad, he has to stick around. Lol. On the way home I rambled on about my friends and everything else that was going on in my life, probably boring the poor man to tears but at the same time it was nice to get to share my life with my dad and I know he appreciated that I was sharing.

Overall, one of the best dates I went on, just a simple movie with my dad. Spending time with your family is a great way to make better relationships in your family. I usually spend a lot of time with my mom one on one so I am thinking a date with my little sister is next on my list of things to do.

A Brand New Day

Rule Number 3:

Broaden my horizons and try new things.

So while I am single and not tied down, so to speak, I am going to go out and try new things. What better time than to discover new things and meet new people. There are so many things out there that I have never tried that I may very well enjoy. While out there broadening my horizons I could find a new passion. This time is about discovering myself and trying new things allows me to do just that. I will be looking for events and activites that I have never tried before. Through these new activites I can find new friends and new hobbies/interests.

If there is anyone out there who might actually be reading this and has an interesting activity for me to try, by all means, I'd love to hear it.

The Big Doosie

Rule Number 2:

No romantic relationships. Boys are just friends. (No boyfriends, flings, friends with benefits, etc.)

I have had so many different relationships in my life already and it is time for me to experience the single life. I am about to be a senior in college and the longest I have been single since I started dating was for two years in middle school. It has been a long time since I have been able to experience things on my own without a guy by my side. I do want to find a reliable man someday that I can trust. Just because I haven't found Mr. Perfect yet doesn't mean that I should settle for Mr. Right Now. I am trying to learn that I am worth having a great guy and don't need to date rude, arrogant jerks that don't appreciate me for who I really am.

This rule is the "big doosie" because this is the biggest limitation that I am giving myself in the challenge. I want to learn to love myself as a single person and not rely on a relationship to feel good about myself. In order to do this I have to eliminate the relationships from my life. This will be the difficult rule but I believe in the end it will be worth it.

The Rules

Rule Number 1: (aka my golden rule for this project)

This project is not about the lack of relationship with a boy but the presence of a relationship with myself.

Meaning I am going to be working on more self confidence and more independence. I'd like to have more "me time" I guess you would call it. I am a person that always surrounds myself with company, but I need to also be able to learn to be happy with the company of myself. Whether the "me time" be something like pampering, self-improvement (working out), or just relaxing by myself, I think it is something I should have in my life. During this 365 days (currently 362) I will improve the relationship with myself.

I will work to my self-esteem. I'm unsure exactly how to do this but I think positive thinking would be a good start. It may seem like arrogance to compliment yourself or think of yourself in such a high manner but if you don't believe you are worth anything, it is going to be hard for someone else to. So you know what, I AM a smart, pretty, and funny young lady and I AM worth something. Well, it's a start even though it just seems arrogant right now. Also, I am going to take pride in myself and try to make sure I give a good appearance by taking the time to look nice. Because I'm worth it. :)

Making a Decision to be Happy

I am what my friends have called a serial monogamous. I am 21 years old and have been dating since I was 12 years old in middle school. I have had 4 relationships that have lasted 6 months or longer, with the longest lasting 2 1/2 years, each time getting crushed in the end. I am tired of dating and being let down again and again. I have a tendency to not be single for long but you know what I have decided that I am going to be happy with being single. I don't need a man to make me happy. I don't need a boyfriend!

Pretty much I am going to focus on myself and the relationship between me and well, me. That is the one that is going to last a lifetime. No more boys. Not that I don't like boys, oh I do trust me, but right now boys are only friends and will be for the next 365 days. For the next year I am not looking for a boyfriend. Which works out fine by me as this fall I will be a Senior in college. I need to focus on my studies rather than trying to make a relationship work only to end with graduation and people going separate ways.

Now my dilemma with this pact is, what if Mr. Perfect (if he even exists) comes waltzing into my life this year. I am going to keep my relationship with myself first and take things with the so called Mr. Perfect very, very slow, like snail pace. I am not going to limit myself completely and say that if this guy that is absolutely perfect for me comes in and I turn him down because of a pact that I made with myself. However, I don't want to rush into anything and I don't want to feel like I have to be in a relationship with a guy to be happy.

Because for the next 365 days, I am going to be happy with being single.