So I've been on Facebook for a while now and a little bit surprisingly, I really enjoy it. I like staying in contact with friends that I really wouldn't stay in touch with in any other way. In using Facebook I've developed a mental list of do's and don't's to keep Facebook enjoyable.
Now these are just my personal opinions so don't get mad or offended. While I do think everyone should live the way I think they should, I don't think they have to. Also, keep in mind that my tongue was surgically attached to my cheek years ago so take most of what I say with a grain of salt (for an example, see the previous sentence).
Without further ado:
1. Seek first to entertain. (Sounds like something straight out of Covey).
Isn't that the whole point of Facebook, entertainment? Share funny thoughts, anecdotes, cute pictures, etc. Don't take yourself too seriously. Share things that made you laugh or that amazed you.
2. Try not to offend but not at the expense of being a little bit edgy.
Don't intentionally offend people, but push the envelope a little bit. People can always unfriend you if they don't like your take or your sense of humor. I try not to post things that I think will offend everyone but I will post things that I think could potentially offend one or two. Sue me.
3. Don't use Facebook to tell people how depressed you are or how bad your life sucks or that you're bored.
Trust me, if you're bored, typing it into Facebook isn't going to alleviate your boredom. As a good friend of mine used to say, "There are no boring activities, just boring people."
4. Don't play the games.
Facebook is enough of a time-waster as it is. Don't exacerbate it by spending hours each day playing Farmville. Read a book, get some exercise, better yourself. There's a lot of life to be lived.
5. If you must play the games, please don't send me Game Requests.
6. Do use Facebook to bring awareness to a good cause.
I thought the Wal-Mart Fight Against Hunger thing was great. And other fund-raising efforts for good causes are great as well.
7. Don't re-post anything that includes the phrase "re-post this if...". Like "re-post this if you know someone who is great at kayaking" or "re-post this if you like pizza."
8. Especially don't re-post anything that says "I know most people won't re-post this..."
9. Don't have a cartoon character for your profile pic. You're just helping the pedophiles.
10. Don't post a list of how you think Facebook should be used. Nobody cares what you think.
Touché.
After publishing my initial list of ten, a couple more came to mind:
11. Don't post gripes or complaints about your spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, partner. Don't post that you're fighting either. If your relationship is in enough trouble that you truly need some support or advice, reach out to a friend or family member privately.
12. Don't post topless videos of your daughter, even if she is only two.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Resolutions: Recap and Recommital
Well, 2010 has come and gone and as I look back, I didn't do all that badly (although admittedly I was a far cry from doing well).
Below I give a little recap of how it went for 2010 and what I'd like to do for 2011.
Unfortunately, I didn't lose 30 lbs. But I did lose 25 and I feel better physically than I have for quite a while. My secret: running my guts out. I've actually started working out on my lunch hour which for me reduces my appetite significantly. Sure, I'm a little smelly when I get back to the office but that just means fewer interruptions and shorter small talk conversations.
For 2011, I'd like to drop another 20-25 lbs...get down to my “playin' weight" and see how that feels. I'm also going to do some weights this year where last year was exclusive cardio.
Run the 4th of July 5K in Grantsville (and humiliate all of my younger brothers and children)
I participated in my first Ray Barrus Memorial 5K and had a great time. Two of my younger brothers beat me, but one of them is a cross-country coach (or was at the time) and the other is twelve years younger than me and lost control of his bodily functions in beating me...for reals. So that means I only beat one of my brothers (because two were too big o' wusses to participate) but I handily beat my three older boys, their dad (fist pump), my sixty year-old dad, and my sixty year-old mom (although she was pushing a stroller). I also beat my little sister, but she had to quit because she was going to be late for work.
I went on to do a half-marathon training plan later in the year, which I completed and by the end of the year I was down to about a 22 minute 5K (where I think in July I got 25:30 or something).
For 2011, plan to do a marathon training plan. I didn't get into the Ogden Marathon so I don't know if I'll even do a "real" marathon but I do plan to run 26.2 miles in a row at some point.
Oh, and I'll be back at the Ray Barrus Memorial 5K as well, with a vengeance!
I didn't read 12 books, but I did read quite a bit. I finished Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. I read The Blind Side by Michael C. Lewis, How the Mighty Fall by Jim Collins, and worked my way through all of Malcolm Gladwell's New Yorker articles. I'm currently reading Andrew Jackson by Brands and am 1/5 through the unabridged version of Les Miserables.
For 2011, the book a month goal still seems reasonable. I'll shoot for it again.
Made it through Helaman while reading the Book of Mormon Institute Manual concurrently and most importantly got back in the habit of daily personal scripture study.
For 2011, plan to finish my current time through plus reread again.
Read all of the Old Testament selections from the Sunday School student manual
Not even close. We'll try again in 2011, but this year it will be New Testament.
100% Home Teaching
83%
Spend at least two hours a week on my Sunday School lesson (I feel like this should be more, but don't know where to find the extra time. You're right, I could give up Idol).
Ummm, maybe...sometimes. I did give up Idol but for unrelated reasons.
Does one count? Dropping the expectation to monthly for 2011.
Organize a get-together with old friends (these are friends I haven't seen for some time, not friends that are advanced in age)
No, in fact I don't know if I even saw any "old" friends.
Send out a Christmas letter (Thanks to Jeanell, we do pretty well at sending Christmas cards, but I'd like to use that opportunity to bring people up to speed on what we're up to).
No Christmas letter either.
A last thing I'd like to improve on is becoming more involved or at least aware of politics and the important issues facing our country. If anyone has good recommendations of websites, blogs, books, etc., please post as comments.
I've done a little bit better here. Just try to read from a variety of papers on a variety of topics. I've liked the Economist app on my iPhone. Every issue, there's a set of "Editors' Highlights", usually about 4-5 articles, that I can read for free. Usually, that's about all I have time for anyway.
Well, I guess that's about it for this blog post. Wish me luck for 2011 and best of luck to everyone else in their quest for continual improvement.
Below I give a little recap of how it went for 2010 and what I'd like to do for 2011.
- Physical
Unfortunately, I didn't lose 30 lbs. But I did lose 25 and I feel better physically than I have for quite a while. My secret: running my guts out. I've actually started working out on my lunch hour which for me reduces my appetite significantly. Sure, I'm a little smelly when I get back to the office but that just means fewer interruptions and shorter small talk conversations.
For 2011, I'd like to drop another 20-25 lbs...get down to my “playin' weight" and see how that feels. I'm also going to do some weights this year where last year was exclusive cardio.
Run the 4th of July 5K in Grantsville (and humiliate all of my younger brothers and children)
I participated in my first Ray Barrus Memorial 5K and had a great time. Two of my younger brothers beat me, but one of them is a cross-country coach (or was at the time) and the other is twelve years younger than me and lost control of his bodily functions in beating me...for reals. So that means I only beat one of my brothers (because two were too big o' wusses to participate) but I handily beat my three older boys, their dad (fist pump), my sixty year-old dad, and my sixty year-old mom (although she was pushing a stroller). I also beat my little sister, but she had to quit because she was going to be late for work.
I went on to do a half-marathon training plan later in the year, which I completed and by the end of the year I was down to about a 22 minute 5K (where I think in July I got 25:30 or something).
For 2011, plan to do a marathon training plan. I didn't get into the Ogden Marathon so I don't know if I'll even do a "real" marathon but I do plan to run 26.2 miles in a row at some point.
Oh, and I'll be back at the Ray Barrus Memorial 5K as well, with a vengeance!
- Mental
I didn't read 12 books, but I did read quite a bit. I finished Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. I read The Blind Side by Michael C. Lewis, How the Mighty Fall by Jim Collins, and worked my way through all of Malcolm Gladwell's New Yorker articles. I'm currently reading Andrew Jackson by Brands and am 1/5 through the unabridged version of Les Miserables.
For 2011, the book a month goal still seems reasonable. I'll shoot for it again.
- Spiritual
Made it through Helaman while reading the Book of Mormon Institute Manual concurrently and most importantly got back in the habit of daily personal scripture study.
For 2011, plan to finish my current time through plus reread again.
Read all of the Old Testament selections from the Sunday School student manual
Not even close. We'll try again in 2011, but this year it will be New Testament.
100% Home Teaching
83%
Spend at least two hours a week on my Sunday School lesson (I feel like this should be more, but don't know where to find the extra time. You're right, I could give up Idol).
Ummm, maybe...sometimes. I did give up Idol but for unrelated reasons.
- Social
Does one count? Dropping the expectation to monthly for 2011.
Organize a get-together with old friends (these are friends I haven't seen for some time, not friends that are advanced in age)
No, in fact I don't know if I even saw any "old" friends.
Send out a Christmas letter (Thanks to Jeanell, we do pretty well at sending Christmas cards, but I'd like to use that opportunity to bring people up to speed on what we're up to).
No Christmas letter either.
A last thing I'd like to improve on is becoming more involved or at least aware of politics and the important issues facing our country. If anyone has good recommendations of websites, blogs, books, etc., please post as comments.
I've done a little bit better here. Just try to read from a variety of papers on a variety of topics. I've liked the Economist app on my iPhone. Every issue, there's a set of "Editors' Highlights", usually about 4-5 articles, that I can read for free. Usually, that's about all I have time for anyway.
Well, I guess that's about it for this blog post. Wish me luck for 2011 and best of luck to everyone else in their quest for continual improvement.
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