sol17-4 How do I know for sure?

I am participating in the
Slice of Life Story Challenge (SOLSC).
All participants are writing about one moment, one part of their day, every day of March 2017. 

A big thank you to Two Writing Teachers for providing this unique opportunity
for teacher-writers to share and reflect.

I like to follow routines.

I like "programs."

I like to compare my results from one day and build on them for the next.

I find these to be motivational, 

'a shot in the arm,' 

a way to reorganize my brain from 'no, I have no time' into

'of course, I can make that happen.'

Which is why I am writing every day in March for this Slice of Life Story Challenge.

Which is why I have a Fitbit, tracking my daily 10,000 steps.

Which is why I said yes to my niece to participate in a Facebook "Secret Group" Fitness Challenge, doing insane exercises every day for one month (15 February through 15 March).

I have only had a very few days of all these 'systems' overlapping and I realize I have turned into a bit of a robot:

Wake up, 

get out journal and write draft ideas for slice(s); 

check time for getting out the door for school; 

check Facebook for today's new exercise routine and make plan for when it will fit into the day (before school or after school?);

attach Fitbit to clothes so that all walking steps are recorded; 

go through work day; 

when you return home, check - 

have you entered blog post? take time to write.

have you walked enough? take time to walk.

did you do new exercise routine? take time to exercise.

It's actually a little amazing how everything is fitting into place, how everything is getting done...even in the midst of a week that included two evenings at school and all the extra duties and preparation for these. Check! still following all routines!

I will admit to living for the weekend - today! yes, it is here! - and having time to process and reflect, to re-organize, regroup, and get ready for another crazy week ahead.

So, it is both ironic and funny that I discovered two technology fails today. Just in time for reflection.

One, my three-year old Fitbit is dead, dead, dead. Yes, I attached it to my clothes every day and I walked, walked, walked, but there is no evidence of this anywhere. Wait a minute, did I walk enough this week? Yikes, how do I know for sure?

Two, my scale. 18 days into this insane exercise challenge and I wondered, have I lost a pound or two? Anything? In 18 days? Let's see! And I jump on the scale - and the screen stays totally blank. Yes, really, my scale is dead, dead, dead.  Wait a minute, is this increased exercise making any difference? Yikes, how do I know for sure?

Maybe I have these new routines taking up too big a space in my head. Why should seeing a number on a device bring me peace? Doesn't the act of walking do this? Doesn't a sweaty workout do this? Does writing about it do this?

There. Blogpost #4. See! I know for sure!