Overview
Another new year. A clean slate. The best time to start strong on achieving goals. Am I right? I am!
In deference to the month of Bijonuary (and a major miscommunication), we’ve got ourselves one Motherpuppy of a jumpstart.
The Mission:
Start the year off moderately for maximum healthiness and productivity. Why moderation? Because that’s the key to longstanding health and success, presumably. The last couple years I’ve started with plans that gave no room for “failure.” On the plus side, I was able to stick with the plans, and felt GREAT! But, as with any all-or-nothing program, as soon as it was done it was back to the old habits.
So as the Immaculatize experiment evolves, this year let’s start the year off by getting crazy and allowing ourselves to get crazy, but only sometimes! As always, pick and choose what you want to work on.
A Plan: Very little alcohol, drugs, tobacco Very little fast food, sugar, or processed foods
At least 30 minutes of exercise, at least 3 days a week
At least 1 minute a day of meditation
Pick a goal and do it
So, “very little” looks ridiculous (and hilarious), but what does it even mean? Vagueness isn’t likely a go-to description for health plans.
But we’re all adults and kids here, so hopefully the point is clear: Commit to making healthy choices as often as possible. And not to look a certain way or just to prove a point, but to feel good so that you can get shit done.
I think we all know our relationship with our vices. It’s just about paying attention to how we treat ourselves and listening to our bodies. If we’re feeling shitty and unproductive and we find we’ve been drinking a lot, well, don’t do it for a while.
For me, I know if I am exercising regularly, everything else falls into place pretty quickly. So that will be my main focus, along with limiting sugar and alcohol intake as much as possible. And if (when) I am kicking ass, I’ll gladly partake in some vicery (not a word).
It’s all in the context of my goals which you can read about it my Annual Review and Plan for 2013. There are things I want to accomplish, and I need to be in good health to make them happen, so I need to constantly make choices that are in line with my goals. Nuff said.
Let’s make this year the best (moderately) fucking kick-ass year yet!
Immaculatize.com has been, uh, well, pretty slow, to say the least, in 2012. The good news is that the lack of activity was due to what has been far and away the most productive year of my life. Yes, my relationship with health and productivity continues to be of the up and down variety, but there’s no doubt that having a consistent focus on positivity continues to work it’s wonders, even if it constantly shifts from background to foreground. I have no idea what this site will bring in 2013, but as is becoming a tradition I will set some goals for it and everything else with my 3rd Annual Annual Review.
Worth noting, it’s important to revisit your goals periodically once you’ve set them. I didn’t look at my goals from last year until a couple days ago, which almost makes it a pointless gesture. HOWEVER, it was uncanny looking at how many of the specific goals were accomplished in spite of that. Which I believe is a testament to the importance of setting intentions, especially in a public forum.
Before I start, the requisite “Oh wow, another year has past, jeez, wow, that flew by”:
Oh, wow, another year past, jeez, wow, that flew by.
Buddy Peace is a music producer, DJ, and filmmaker based in London, England that found Immaculatize by way of The Long Shot (Podcast). He is a great contributor in the Immaculatize Facebook group, and has put together this impeccable blend of awesome, beautiful, and enchanting to inspire and motivate. Enjoy!
//Track Listing//
1. Buddy Peace: ‘Go Mean!’ [Excerpt] / ‘Long Shot’ podcast: Episode #301 ['Tipping'] / Buddy Peace: ‘Dawn Chorus’
2. DJ Signify & Sixtoo: ‘No-One Leaves’
3. Jenny Lewis: ‘Run Devil Run’ [Buddy Peace remix]
4. Clinic: ‘Mr Moonlight’
5. The Whitefield Brothers: ‘Yakuba’
6. K. Frimpong & His Cubanos Fiestas: ‘Kyenkyen Bii Adi M’awu’
7. Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté: ‘Warbé’ / The Sound Of Young America featuring Merlin Mann (2009-06-19) [Excerpt]
8. Arthur Russell: ‘Keeping Up’
9. Zoe Keating: ‘Arrival’
10. Stars Of The Lid: ‘Mulholland’
11. Tycho: ‘Melanine’
12. Mono: ‘Giant Me On The Other Side’ / ‘Everything’s Gotta Be Perfect…’
13. Eddie Kendricks: ‘My People… Hold On’ / Neil Young: ‘Songwriting Rap’
14. J Dilla: ‘People’
15. Paris Zax: ‘Part Of The Act’
16. Howe Gelb: ‘But I Did Not’
17. Lightnin’ Hopkins: ‘Mr Ditta’s Grocery Store’
18. John Holt: ‘Man Next Door (Got To Get Away)’
19. Antoni Carlos Jobim: ‘Manha De Carnaval (Morning Of The Carnival)’
20. Charles Bradley: ‘Heart Of Gold’
21. Neil Young: ‘Heart Of Gold’ [live at Massey Hall]
22. Goldmund: ‘Turquoise Hexagon Sun’ [Boards Of Canada acoustic cover]
23. Phoenix: ‘North’
24. Sage Francis: ‘The Best Of Times’
25. Daniel Johnston: ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Your Grievances’
(Editor Note: CAN-endars are still available, and all proceeds go to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! You can also check out a new commercial for them here. And now a look at the wonderful CAN-endar ads that have been popping up on Facebook of late, and some words from their illustrator, Valerie Dambold:)
I’m sure CAN-endars could sell themselves but I was just so darn inspired it led to a series of ads I’ve been plastering on Facebook and my heavily viewed blog. (side note- I must apologize to that one person who visited my blacked out blog today. Sorry one guy, but I had to let the masses know about PIPA and SOPA… Oopah!)
I guess the CAN-endar ads sort of started with this little guy. Sir Maculous Fluffington the 41st. Let’s just blame all on this nonsense on him.
The Mascot of Bijonuary!
He was so lovable he inspired my first CAN-endar ad. My real dog is jealous by how much I love this guy.
He fetches CAN-endars!
Then along came this guy, Sir Awesomus Slothington the 23rd. Just kidding. He doesn’t have a name. He’s a wild sloth. I don’t know him personally. He is also the featured creature in Seize the May!
Update: His name is Larry.
Everyone should stockpile some non-perishable CAN-endars! Where else can you get all 4 fun groups?
Clean up in aisle awesome! CAN-endars are spilling over with positivity!
I was truly impressed by how well received the CAN-endars were when they were introduced by Jamie on the The Long Shot (Podcast). Really, I think they sorta liked them. I was so moved I created a testimonial ad for each of the crew and a very special guest.
I am very very amused by Sean Conroy’s very very mixed feelings. Sean even commented on his ad with a simple, “Yay.” I think he meant it.
Sean Conroy
The Bitter Buddha, Eddie Pepitone, is blown away by the beauty of Bijonuary!
Eddie Pepitone
Amber Kenny – she might not have said much but I believe her testimonial was heartfelt.
Amber Kenny
And a very special testimonial from a very special guest, Mr. Brett Gelman!
Brett Gelman
Finally, I had my own Navin R. Johnson moment when the CAN-endars arrived on my doorstep so this just needed to happen.
He has his CAN-endar...and that's all he needs!
So there they are. All in one place. A little overwhelming huh? Is your head spinning? No worries. That feeling is just your heart telling you to run out and buy your very own CAN-endar. BUT WAIT! Before you go running out the door you can get your CAN-endar right HERE! Remember – they are only $12 and all proceeds go to LLS… like you could forget.
Last year, I started the practice of doing an Annual Review – a personal assessment of the past year to see what worked, what didn’t work, and what could be improved in the ways of health, happiness, and productivity. First let me say, “Holy fuck!” It’s been a year?!” Cuh-razy. Time is flying faster than a Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor! (Which are fast, according to Wikipedia.)
Once I set my goals a year ago, I was supposed to be checking in on my plan periodically so I could get a sense of where I was at. I kept with it the first few months of 2011, but it quickly fell to the wayside as I got busier with work. Which makes the results all the more fascinating.
Let’s take a look, shall we?
Step 1: Review the Previous Year
Overall:
I entered 2011 with a lot of optimism and momentum. Here was my overall goal:
My theme and purpose for 2011: Self-Sufficiency, Productivity, and Overall Awesomeness. I want to become a self-sustained, self-reliant big boy again, that produces projects with measurable results, while constantly experiencing new things, working on myself, and inspiring others to do the same. In short, I want to be able to say at the end of the year, “This was far and away the best year of my fucking life. Oh, and less potty mouth.”
I can without a doubt say that 2010 was indeed “far and away the best year of my fucking life.” I grew more in 2011 than ever before, made more progress in my career, and learned more about myself and what I want from life, all while constantly striving for improvement, and seeing others around me do the same. So, mission motherfucking accomplished! (Potty mouth aside, which as you can tell, I’ve scrapped eliminating as a goal.)
Want to get things DONE this year? Your OLD calendar KEEPING YOU DOWN? Making you feel like you CAN’T get things accomplished?
Clearly it’s the calendar’s fault. Maybe it’s ALL calendars faults. WTF Caesar?
Well who needs a calendar, when you can have a CAN-ENDAR!
That’s right, introducing the first ever Immaculatize CAN-ENDAR!
What’s a CAN-ENDAR? It’s just like a regular calendar, but filled with optimism.
No, not like boring motivational calendars that you’ve used to no avail in the past, but REAL LIFE GENUINE AUTHENTIC OPTIMISM!
Not convinced?
Look at November for example. In a regular calendar that would just be November. BORING. WE GET IT. On the Immacualtize CAN-ENDAR, you don’t get November, you get NO VEMBER NO PROBLEMS! That’s right, we’ve messed with the words to make them more FUN! And when things are more fun, you’re more likely to do them, and doing things is what this CAN-ENDAR is all about.
PLUS! There are two handy blank spots each month where you can pencil in your two most important goals. That’s right it’s also utilitarian!
It’ll look good on a wall, great on a bulletin board, and amazing in a frame. All the while inspiring you to get things done.
Immaculatize is a proud advocate of Vanessa Ragland’s quest to become The LLS Woman of the Year. For more information check out her video:
For more info you can also join the Facebook Group in support of this cause.
So don’t hesitate, ACT! And get yourself one of these handsome wall calendars that’ll keep you motivated and help you change the world in 2012. Or at least get that 30 Rock spec script done before May.
ONLY $1 a month!
Calendar designs by Valerie Dambold, Jamie Flam, Vanessa Ragland, Jon Rojas, and Kasey Baker-Vermulm.
(This is a new Immaculatize feature, inwhere we post “clickable links” to other places on the inter-net that have informative, inspiring, entertaining, or otherwise noteworthy content. These links were compiled from posts in The Immaculatize Facebook Group by Kasey Baker VerMulm.) Bruce Mau’s Incomplete Manifesto for Growth. Tip #36 is “Scat” pertaining to words, not [...]
(This is a new Immaculatize feature, inwhere we post “clickable links” to other places on the inter-net that have informative, inspiring, entertaining, or otherwise noteworthy content. These links were compiled from posts in The Immaculatize Facebook Group by Kasey Baker VerMulm.) 50 tricks to get things done better and more easily Dinner decisions made easy [...]
Earlier this week during a hot procrastination sesh, I came across an article that struck a cord on NBA blog True Hoop: In the book “Driven from Within,” Michael Jordan talks about his crunch time mentality: If I miss a shot, so what? Maybe even a shot that could have won a game. I can [...]
~ The Short Version ~
Immaculata explores how to be productive and happy as an artist. And how to have a sense of humor about it.
Likewise it is the exploration, experimentation with, and practice of finding happiness, enlightenment, and enchantment in a world which oftentimes seems pretty assy.
