Why I'm having cold showers for a week

Don't worry my boiler isn't broken, although last winter there was a period when it wouldn't produce hot water on the coldest mornings! No it's something completely different from that.

I've started reading "The Flinch" by Julien Smith. 

It's all about why we've been programmed to not take risks or opportunities because we might "Harm ourselves" in doing so, when really it's all very safe!

As a Homework assignment he set the task of Jumping into a Cold shower for a week [there's no harm to anyone and according to him your body will acclimatise.] I've just done it for the first time and I can safely say it was the quickest shower I've ever had! I did try to stay in longer to see if I would acclimatise and by the end it wasn't as bad as the start but it still hurt!

I guess there are 6 more days to go so we'll have to see how it goes.

The really interesting thing will be whether this will help me take more risks in other areas.  

My Aims for 2012

In all honesty I have had a hard time pinning down my Aims for this year, This isn't because I haven't know what I've wanted to do in fact there have been some goals that I have been certain that I wanted to do. Unfortunately I fell in to the trap of planning.

It is without doubt easier to plan what you should do than to start doing it. In fact the longer you plan the better excuse you have for it not happening "well the plans aren't ready yet."

However:

 A good plan violently executed is better than the perfect plan.

Inspired by a post this morning which has helped refine my thinking I decided to drop some of my many many aims and instead focus on a few constant aim. A few mile posts for the year and also to have an experimental aim each month. Something to give a go at.

Thus I'll be open to any options during the year and yet committed to the long haul too.

So without further ado here are my mileposts.

1. To write an ebook 
2. To write another album of 12 songs, 1 a month
3. Complete a half marathon in the Summer
4. Change job
5. To buy only 10 new things this year*

*this doesn't include replacing broken things, or expendables such as food or toiletries. It is luxury things such as a new guitar/computer etc all the things I don't need but want. In some ways the exceptions should make this very easy, however I like the number 10

These are my long term goals.
Each month I will:

1. Improve my Russian via completing my Russian course book, attending a Russian discussion club once a week and spending an hour studying a week.
2. Improve my Teaching Via completing my two IH courses, continuing blogging and the 30 goals challenges.
3. Improve my writing via continuing the two blogs, writing an ebook on teaching dyslexic students English as a foreign language. 
4. Write 2 songs a month
5. Follow my Asics training schedule. [so I can complete my half marathon aim]
6. Fast 1 a week [starting with a once a month, then twice etc]
7. Complete daily bible in a year readings via YouVersion. 
8. Host a party [and find a reason for hosting a party.]
9. [This space is open in case there is a goal I wish to add later. Perhaps an experimental goal.

So finally all I have is my experiment for the month.

I will meditate [Using some guidelines set out in celebration of disciplines] each morning. 


So in total I have 9 goals for each month (one changing each month) and some long term achievements to aim for.

note: I will add more details on how I will complete my goals soon. 

Ukrainian Orphanages

I recently visited an orphanage just outside a town in Ukraine called Zelenodolsk. It was a great experience and so amazing that despite giving so little the kids seamed so grateful. What was especially powerful was the obvious history the people I went with had with the kids and the difference I could see that it made.

On our car journey I learnt a bit more about the difficulties that Orphans in Ukraine face. 

Whilst I had been aware that there were a lot of orphans in Ukraine and that many of them were there not just because their parents had died but also for reasons such as abuse at home and that there were a far greater number of orphans in Ukraine than in Britain. However I hadn't realised the challenges they face whilst they are in the Orphanages or once they've left. 

The first thing I heard was a story about how a director of an orphanage who would sell on the gifts that the kids were given. It didn't just happen once, this occurred on regular occasions. This is not to say it is a universal thing and the guys commented that since they have come more regularly they have noticed this has stopped [and a change of director didn't harm either.]

This reflected another point they made that orphans can be treated by many people as inferior just because they don't have parents. 

The final point was that at age 16, having had poor education, few possessions often having no family and few friends they are "kicked out" of the orphanages and left to it. No support, no help and usually no job. As such many of them "sink to the bottom" as one person put it. They turn to crime, drink, prostitution and that's just if they are lucky! I even heard of Orphans who were taken to Turkey, killed and then harvested for their organs.

Fortunately there are people who are at work helping these Children out here. I'll tell you more about some of them in the future.  

2011 Aims: November update

Well here we are. One month left of the 2011 aims and when I actually publish that It will be after the end of the year and the start of 2012! 


As such next month I am going to start reassessing my goals for next year. I'm going to start with a complete clear plate not even looking at my aims for this year to see whether the same things come up or if anything else comes up instead.


If you want to see a review of my previous months goals then click the link here.

1.I will give at least a 10% tithe in addition to any other giving I will do.

The habit of setting aside my tithe at the start of the month before any other money has well and truly been entrenched! In addition I have noticed that I really am in better control of the money I have. I am very please here. 

2. Making Prayer a stronger habit. 

This month I have actually started reading the chapter on Prayer in the book Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. So far I can certainly say that I really needed the kick up the back side that it provided. It is truly worrying how many things I wasn't doing. 

3.Use skype more to chat to people back home/Britain

I managed to have my first long chat with my family this past weekend and I also caught up with a very good friend. So overall very good!

4.  I will improve as an EFL teacher.

Definitely true this month. My new blog is well on it's way and I have taken part in the first International House on-line workshop, Joined in with many more #EltChat meetings and started some new reflective practices! All in all a lot of new things that I can really see have helped improve me even more. 

5. I will improve my Russian.

I have managed to get more speaking practice this month and it would again appear that I am currently pushing beyond my plateau of last month. However, despite this I am not really taking structured approaches to improving my Russian. It's actually only writing this I have truly realised how true this has been and as such have no immediate ideas about what I should do to solve this. On the plus side I have noticed my pronunciation has improved and become less apparent. 

6. I will write more songs. [this goal isn't being pursued, instead I tried to write an e-book...and failed! BUT I did try.]

7. Host a weekly meal at my flat.

I managed to host one meal this month... This new school year certainly seams to have seen me be worse at inviting people round but also people accepting invitations. I guess I should follow the parable of the banquet and invite those who have nothing round...However that seams really scary, especially across the language barrier!

8. Regular and higher quality blogging.

Well apart from the start of the month where a strong cold knocked me for 6 and blogging went down bellow 1 a week I have somehow managed to get over halfway through my series on Top 10 TEFL tips and keep this blog going, I have also used images more and focused more on my layout. In addition I have also been following Jeff Goins intentional blogging course which has certainly given me food for thought.

9. I will get involved with some form of charitable work in the Ukraine.

Still a big no here :(

10. I will make a Public video each month.

Again it would appear I haven't made a video for this month. I could blame the illness and increased workload but their just excuses. 

Superhero films of 2011 reviews

This year was frankly a great year for my love of Superheroes. In  the cinema there really have been loads of great superhero films and so I've decided to compile them here, look at the good the bad and the ugly with the best coming first.

Captain America.


Best superhero of the year in my opinion! Captain America has always been an interesting character due to his superpowers basically being that he is the perfect human, quicker, faster, stronger, more reactive etc but other than that he doesn't have any powers, he can't make lazer beams from his eyes for example.
However it's quickly brought into the storyline that really Captain America's power is his self-sacrifice, bravery, and spirit.

The characteristics of Captain America aren't just "Woo America" which I was worried it might be but instead appeal to more than national ideas.

In my opinion this was the best of the year.

X men first class
An interesting film about the origins of the X men set against the Cuban missile crisis. It covers the backstories of some very important characters brilliantly and really sets up the different positions of the different groups who come to blows.

There are a few messages in there about being true to yourself, accepting yourself as you are.

All in all it was a great film however I can't really think of too many reasons why!

Thor
The Thor comic book series has always been interesting as it contrasted the mythology of Norse times and science. In this movie the reckless Thor is...er...reckless, stripped of his powers, goes to earth, falls in love, changes and then becomes the responsible Thor [though I suspect he is still a little reckless]. Some great acting with Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Tom Hiddleston as Loki.

The film clearly sets up for the avengers movie coming out next year and so perhaps races through some plot lines that might have been nice in a second movie [for example, why not make Thor's transformation and growing up take longer and be more realistic for that reason.]

There is also the great message of responsibility, giving up what you love for a greater good and self sacrifice including a messianic like resurrection.

Green lantern.
Over all the biggest dissappointment of all the superhero films, mainly due to the awful computer graphics for the suit, in all honesty just having a green lycra suit would have been better.

Despite this the film deals with the ideas of fear and will power [courage?] and the fight for will power to overcome fear. The main protaganist although strong willed goes weaker when he gains superpowers which is an interesting contrast. Ultimately he saves the day [sorry for spoiling it] however there is the question left of what will happen of the "ring made of fear" [sequel!]