How about another DITTO on keeping a record of your rides!
I logged mileage and riding conditions starting from when I first got my bike. the original motivation was to know when it was time to do basic maintenance on the bike (darned chains need replacing @~800 miles). However the record has become a major source of motivation- I can see where I was and where I had trouble 6 mo ago and understand how far I've come in a very short time. Sometimes a ride can just be a bad day. Rather than dwelling on a bad day or a series of bad days as "proof" that I stink as a rider, the ride record is a great reminder that there are more good days than bad.

Congratulations on being a new rider. May you have some really great rides!