OK, I know this seems cliche, but I think it's important for us all to write what we have gotten out of this Challenge.
So, please share: What has the Better U Challenge done for you? Has it influenced your life? Made you think about things differently? Have you noticed strength where you didn't see it before?
On a personal note, I want to thank each of you for participating in the first annual Schnegel U Challenge! It has been such a great experience to work with you on this! Thank you, thank you!
This is Brad. I have enjoyed being a part of this challenge. It has helped the most in helping me find and make time to spend time with my family. I have learned that I can stick to something as minimal as flossing everyday if I just put a little more effort into it. Thanks Heather and Erin for putting everything together!
ReplyDeleteI've learned that I can either accomplish the bare minimum on some days or go beyond what I thought I could on others. There's a lot that can happen on any given day (as we have recently experienced). You do your best and that's all anyone can ask of you. I learned to serve how ever small when I'm just not feeling it. It's all been a good reminder that an eternal and positive perspective goes a long way. I've also learned to love reading the scriptures. The stories have become so intriguing and inspiring to me in ways I'd never had before. I'm really enjoying it! Thank you for waking me up (so to speak) and giving a good 'ol fashioned kick in the butt!
ReplyDeleteI was so looking forward to this challenge. I had no idea that the real challenge for me would be to endure to the end! 2 weeks into it I was ready to throw in the towel. When we began this I couldn't walk to the end of the block without being winded. Now I'm jogging and liking it! I've exercised spiritually and intellectually, experienced the joy of service and the satisfaction of a more organized home. That's a lot in 9 weeks! I've loved sharing all of this with each of you and really appreciate your support. I'm ready to start the next challenge!!
ReplyDeleteJoan - I am so proud of you! You rocked this challenge!! Way to go!
DeleteYou may have to get me jogging when you come. Haha.
DeleteWell done!
I've gained a new appreciation for the simple things. I've realized the simple things can bring me a lot of peace and satisfaction. I've also realized I can do more in one day then I thought I could.
ReplyDeleteI, too, have loved this challenge. Some of the tasks I was already doing, but the others were true challenges. I have learned that even on my busiest days when I got my scripture reading done everything else seemed to get done, too, even when I thought there was no way that it would. I'm going to miss Ed's "BetterU Thought of the Day" emails (unless he keeps doing it...hint, hint). That's been a favorite of mine! I feel like I've gotten to know everyone a bit more and it's great knowing that we're ALL better because of efforts doing this challenge! We made it!
ReplyDeleteThis is Emily. I got a husband who helped around the house more as part of this challenge. I am totally just kidding!!!! Anyone who knows us knows that Brad is the one who keeps this house in tip-top shape, but it was nice to think that there would be about 5 min. each day that we would use to do projects around the house. There were many times that I got sit and enjoy a dusted shelf, or an organized file cabinet, clean toy box, and etc. all while I read scriptures, read to Thomas, did a sudoku puzzle, worked on finances, etc. What a great experience this has been. I know I sort of slacked this last week, but that doesn't mean that at least for 8 of the weeks I didn't get a lot of things out of this Challenge. It had me stretching to reach my potential and becoming more like I should be. Thanks for all the effort Erin, and Heather, and anybody else that went unnoticed. I really appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteI wrote something for this and it somehow got erased so here goes again...though shorter.
ReplyDeleteI learned that some seemingly easy things can be hard and some seemingly hard things can be easy. I learned that I have time management issues (I can get all these done but not without losing sleep most days) and that maybe scheduling/planning should be on the list next time. I learned that I like exercising and eating better. I'm down 15 lbs since the challenge start. Yay! I'm spiritually uplifted daily and have had some fun times with my kids. I finally changed the name on my bank account after leaving it in my maiden name for the last 9 years. I was able to add to my food storage and Sylvie and I are almost done with Charlotte's web. Lots of good things...so when are we goign again??
I'm still working on some things, the progress on them being a good thing in and of itself, and for some other things the challenge helped me to realize what I was actually getting done during the course of an average day. More than anything, not wanting to fall behind that individual that was RIGHT behind me was (although not the purest) motivation to get my reading done before bed or pick up something a little bit more intellectual than the remote, and a lot of days it was that little competitive push that I needed to nudge me into action. So, you know who you are, thank you for the push.
ReplyDeleteIt sure wasn't me! ;)
DeleteSoooo, speaking as the person on your tail, I was just waiting for you to miss something and give me the edge. Thanks for the boost to not miss a point!!!
DeleteI learned ways to play to my strengths in order to accomplish all the things I needed to do. And by accomplishing harder things, I started to focus on those strengths instead of looking at my weaknesses first.
ReplyDeleteI learned that I need a schedule, and by succeeding at that schedule, I am actually more flexible when there is a hiccup in my day. It is also easier for me to be spontaneous when I know that I have accomplished important things already.
I also began to desire to do more things--to have the energy to get up and move, the thoughts for creative ideas, and the mindset to choose more spiritual things over frivolous ones.
I learned ways to play to my strengths in order to accomplish all the things I needed to do. And by accomplishing harder things, I started to focus on those strengths instead of looking at my weaknesses first.
ReplyDeleteI learned that I need a schedule, and by succeeding at that schedule, I am actually more flexible when there is a hiccup in my day. It is also easier for me to be spontaneous when I know that I have accomplished important things already.
I also began to desire to do more things--to have the energy to get up and move, the thoughts for creative ideas, and the mindset to choose more spiritual things over frivolous ones.
I think the biggest thing it did for me was my change my perspective on the day. I am usually so focused on the house clean and kids feed that I neglected me or neglected building relationships. I found that by doing 15 minutes here or there in different aspects other than cleaning my house I was more happy and fulfilled and didn't mind if the floor wasn't mopped or toys got left out. Surprisingly I usually still got the house done and with only adding small amounts of other things to my day. I think my favorite goal that made the biggest difference for me was Pre-planning/packing. I have been on-time to all of my commitments lately. It was shocking to see if I packed the diper bag or put the papers in the car the night before or first thing in the morning that when the time came to leave the house and someone had an accident or needed to change clothes or whatever came up I was still able to get out on time.
ReplyDeleteThis entire exercise has made or at least helped me focus on things that I previously ignored. My biggest challenge going forward is to keep doing the good things from this fun game, without keeping track or adding points each day - i.e., accountability to someone else. With more "free time" than most (no kids at home, etc.), my biggest challenge was and still is to make good use of that time. Just so you all know, I intend to keep emailing a thought for the day since that has been one of the most fun things for me - and I have learned much from doing so. I finished where I thought I would, near the bottom, but that is OK since I did much better than I thought I would when this started. Ed (still cannot sign in - maybe next time around).
ReplyDelete