The 75-Day Challenge

So, here goes. I'm going to really put myself out here. I'm challenging myself to a “75 Day Challenge.” The truth is, I toyed with finding a fresh name for this, but realized it is but another way to procrastinate – and avoiding such behavior is the essence of this challenge.

Remember Julie and Julia? The movie about a young woman who decides to go through the cookbook of Julia Child – one recipe a day – blogging about it each day? I will parallel this effort. Nope, not a cooking challenge (Lord, help us) Eh, no, not a workout challenge. No...no not a new meal plan challenge. I challenge myself to blog every day, for the next 75 days, on the progress of my dissertation.

All I ask is for you (those of you who are interested) to hold me accountable – maybe don't even read the blog if you don't want to, but expect it so that if you don't see the link on FB/Twitter, ask me why!

Why 75 days? Because my (self-imposed) deadline is up then – October 15, 2013, 11pm. [And I'm so tempted to add some disclaimer about how nothing actually happens if I don't meet this deadline, but I do risk missing semester deadlines and will have to pay for another semester of tuition. And guess what? I've paid for 18 semesters of tuition since law school; some of those semesters I paid for both law school and graduate school. tuition  So really. It's just insane to keep this going.] I could explain time missed with family and the time I need to focus on, and commit myself, to my new job but that is pretty obvious... *Not to mention I would love to submit a new dance choreography piece in the Spring 2014 Open Marley Night*

Why do you care? Well, you may not. BUT if I finish in 75 days I will be able to attend functions, see my children, help out around the house... You know, live life a little.

Why now? I start a new job tomorrow. I'm on the track to completion of this dissertation, but I am scared (petrified) I will get lost in the tasks of this job only to find myself still writing my dissertation a year from now. [Not to mention in the realm of OCD world, August 1 is a nice starting date].

Why will this work? I keep my word. I am relying on the premise that I do not like to fail, and if I define “failure” as making a promise and not following through with it, well, then... this should work. PLUS, I hate to say it folks, but my gym routine will go on hold until it is done. I will teach, take walks with the dogs & children, but I cannot make this a priority at this point. 

Why a blog? A few reasons. I usually have a lot to say and a mere status update on FB/Twitter, etc. won't work. I have a blog that I set up a while ago on which I hardly write, so let's use it. AND I promise to post “funnies” about Samara, and I'm sure Mackenzie soon. Maybe not in every post, but enough of the time, I think. Plus this blog is “The Portioned Plate.” My life balancing act. This is the ultimate call to action.

Anyways, as I mentioned, this scares me – this asking others to hold me accountable.  This... this putting myself out there.  And frankly 75 days seems like a shot in the dark to me, in terms of actually finishing. So I commit myself to a very intense 2 ½ months.

Okay all. Time for sleep so I can be on task tomorrow. Peace.

The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. ~Proverbs 13:4