dedication

I have had my Blackberry for a year this week, and with that came the downloading of frivolous social networking apps. I've been using Foursquare pretty much since I got my phone.

When I checked in at the gym yesterday afternoon, I noticed it said I had checked in 98 times. First I was excited that I've gone so many times, then I realized that I've gone that many times in just one year. Since I plan to go for my usual classes this week, I will actually hit 100 check-ins within one year, and that makes me proud. About one-third of my days this past year involved exercise at the gym (I have actually exercised outside of that too).

It's a little pathetic to admit, but Foursquare is actually part of the reason I've gone so often. When you attach useless points to a check-in and establish mayorships, it keeps my competitive side happy. I rack up useless points, and for about three days, I was mayor of my gym. Looking past the silliness of it, it's a small personal accountability system. "Come here often? That's three times this week!" Something is keeping track of how many times I go, and it keeps me informed. I'm also on a 20-week gym streak that I can't bear to break anytime soon. Of course that means as much to me as the physical progress I can see in myself.