So that 12 month sabbatical on blogging happened. All good intentions and such. But I'm feeling back to it again. Need to refresh, refocus and rejoin the search for the life that I'm missing.
First thing I'm going to look at is how to make this more picturey. Not a clue how to import anything to add ambiance to the posts so I'm going to learn that. In the past year I've discovered Polyvore and Pinterest. There's lots of images from there I'd love to share here.
Just in case you care about my 50 in 50, um.....didn't do so very well. Probably bit off a tad more than I could chew with that project. Although, overall, not a complete failure as I did create a list of things I want to be doing on a more regular basis. I'm just going to rename it. It's now my "You're not hungry, you're bored. Do something!" list. Hopefully that will get me off the couch and out in the big, wide world to learn, create, help and discover.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Monday, January 16, 2012
Rest of the 50
Finished my 50 in 50. Only took 3 months! But it's done. So here are the final 25:
26. Become a CPR Instructor.
27. Take a picture a day to create a year in the life
28. Take a class on beer
29. Take a class on wines
30. Come up with a signature cake and learn how to bake it perfectly.
31. Put all dad’s slides on the computer and create digital scrapbooks for everyone
32. Load all my CD’s on my computer and figure out how to back up to the cloud.
33. Research supplements and add them to my diet
34. Get an eye exam
35. Schedule a colonoscopy
36. Save all my change for a year
37. Go to an “attraction” a month: Museum, Gardens, Gallery, Zoo, Historical Site
38. Reduce my tv watching hours per week – use Destination Television concept.
39. Create a list of must see movies and order them from Netflix.
40. See the manatees.
41. Get certified as a group exercise instructor.
42. Watch one TED Talk per day.
43. Actually make the Christmas potpourri.
44. Create a places to go and things to do portfolio.
45. Figure out how much car insurance I should actually have.
46. Create a ritual of going some place besides shopping at least once per weekend.
47. Upgrade my filing system.
48. Scan all my recipes and create an online file.
49. Actually read and use my Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual
50. Cuddle my kitten every day!
How am I doing?
Well, I did complete one. My friend and I celebrated the new year by going to the east coast on New Year's Eve and watched the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean (not much of rise -- too much marine layer fog, but still counts!) and then drove back across the state to see the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico (beautiful sunset!).
I've sent one box to the boys and have a second one almost ready to go.
I've also taken a picture a day since the 1st. Some days I forget and end up taking a picture of the cat, but he's part of my life and he's done some weird stuff lately, so like the foggy sunrise, it still counts.
Other than those things, I'm still working on it. I plan on printing it out and putting it on the refrigerator so I have a reference.
Anyway.....that's the update. J.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
50 in 50 update
Here's an update on the 50 in 50 list. So far, no fast food since the week of November 6th. In fact, I'm learning to cook a few easy staples. I did a 3 day Reduce Stress diet last weekend and I really felt great after it so it inspired me to keep going. Bought a Clean Eating mag and am going to pick up the ingredients for a couple of new dishes this week. Of course, it's Thanksgiving on Thursday, so I'll be enjoying a bit of holiday eating with mom and our mutual beasts (one dog, one cat -- no harmony in that duo!)
So I spent some time working on some more of my list. Here are my new additions:
11. Learn conversational spanish.
12. Create a gift box with ready to go presents for friends and family.
13. Reorganize my storage closet.
14. Begin using coupons for shopping trips.
15. Learn to stock a pantry.
16. Learn how to cook several basic foods: hummus, roast chicken, chicken noodle soup.
17. Find a dentist and schedule 2 cleanings.
18. Send my nephews a monthly care package.
19. Learn to knit a basic scarf.
20. Learn to make icing flowers.
21. Create a computerized address book.
22. Update my will.
23. Get a mammogram.
24. Learn to juggle.
25. Get a catalog of birthday and anniversary cards ready for next year.
I already have the shoeboxes on my counter to make next week's boxes for my nephews. And I cut out a bunch of coupons and used them on my last two shopping trips. Yea me!!
Only 25 more things to come up with.
So I spent some time working on some more of my list. Here are my new additions:
11. Learn conversational spanish.
12. Create a gift box with ready to go presents for friends and family.
13. Reorganize my storage closet.
14. Begin using coupons for shopping trips.
15. Learn to stock a pantry.
16. Learn how to cook several basic foods: hummus, roast chicken, chicken noodle soup.
17. Find a dentist and schedule 2 cleanings.
18. Send my nephews a monthly care package.
19. Learn to knit a basic scarf.
20. Learn to make icing flowers.
21. Create a computerized address book.
22. Update my will.
23. Get a mammogram.
24. Learn to juggle.
25. Get a catalog of birthday and anniversary cards ready for next year.
I already have the shoeboxes on my counter to make next week's boxes for my nephews. And I cut out a bunch of coupons and used them on my last two shopping trips. Yea me!!
Only 25 more things to come up with.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Happy Birthday to Me!
It's my 50th birthday today.
Spent the weekend with two wonderful friends being pampered and relaxing. Lovely.
Home now. Trying to maintain the sense of calm and quiet mind that accompanied most of my weekend.
Trying.
Happy birthday to me!! :)
Spent the weekend with two wonderful friends being pampered and relaxing. Lovely.
Home now. Trying to maintain the sense of calm and quiet mind that accompanied most of my weekend.
Trying.
Happy birthday to me!! :)
Thursday, October 13, 2011
12 by 2012
A sweet, little blog I read is doing a 12 by 2012 goals challenge for the end of this year. This seems to fit very nicely with what I'm trying to do here, but with my 50th just around the corner (and ready to leap out and bit me in the ass..) I'm upping the ante to be 50 for 50. Fifty things to do, clean-up, create, see and/or just have happen in my 50th year.
Sounds like fun!
Here we go:
1. Check my credit score and start fixing it.
2. Average 4 hours of exercise per week.
3. See the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean and the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico in the same day. (Not so hard when you live in FL, which I do)
4. Revive my Sunday letter writing tradition.
5. Take a golf lesson (or two).
6. Create a wardrobe plan and begin assembling quality pieces.
7. Visit each nephew at their current home.
8. Finish my cross stitch Christmas stocking.
9. Add meditation to my daily routine.
10. Stop eating fast food.
That's my first 10. 50 may take awhile (but less time than my "willing to do list" which is still germinating.)
Maybe I'll eventually link this to Oh, hello friend! and go public. Maybe.
Sounds like fun!
Here we go:
1. Check my credit score and start fixing it.
2. Average 4 hours of exercise per week.
3. See the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean and the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico in the same day. (Not so hard when you live in FL, which I do)
4. Revive my Sunday letter writing tradition.
5. Take a golf lesson (or two).
6. Create a wardrobe plan and begin assembling quality pieces.
7. Visit each nephew at their current home.
8. Finish my cross stitch Christmas stocking.
9. Add meditation to my daily routine.
10. Stop eating fast food.
That's my first 10. 50 may take awhile (but less time than my "willing to do list" which is still germinating.)
Maybe I'll eventually link this to Oh, hello friend! and go public. Maybe.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Balance versus Harmony
After a luncheon where the speaker suggested that perhaps it isn't balance we should be seeking, but harmony, I found myself thinking about this whenever my monkey mind wandered from it's usual path of worrying and trouble making.
According to Merriam-Webster, harmony is the "pleasing or congruent arrangement of parts; inner calm" while balance is defined as "an aesthetically pleasing integration of elements; mental and emotional steadiness." At first glance, the definitions seem very similar - "pleasing", "parts" = "elements", "steadiness" = "calm" - but in my mind, they are completely different.
To me, balance implies the ongoing struggle to maintain a perfect equilibrium. Think tight rope walkers - do they ever just relax during their time on the tight rope and let something else take over? Um, no or they fall off and either have to start all over again or see a doctor immediately. Same with juggling balls or spinning plates. All similes used to demonstrate how much focus it takes to keep our lives in balance.
However, harmony.....now I'm thinking music or dance. One section or group or performer has the lead for a while then another comes to the front while the others rest, pose or play in the background. Each note or movement contributes to the overall effect, but there are built in rests for everyone. Yes, it's a balance of parts because everything or body can't just play or perform at their loudest or at center stage all the time and being able to physically balance oneself is important in dance, but when a group is resting, they are really resting. Not practicing. Just waiting. Sure, they have to count a bit to know when to come back, but the more you practice, the less you have to count and the more you are aware of the rest of what is going on around you to know when to step back in or start playing again (that would be that mindfulness thing that keeps rearing its ugly head in my search). Sometimes the other part is completely offstage somewhere changing into a new costume, having a drink during the saxophone solo or is even finished for the day.
I think for me harmony represents that it's okay to put something down and leave it down for a bit. Or be really focused on and put most of my energy into one project while just sort of dinking around on another project which may appear to be of equal importance to an outsider, but which I just can't get to right now. Balance would dictate that I give everything equal importance and try to compose my day or life in such a way that I touch on everything equally. That old pie chart where your life is supposed to look like a Trivial Pursuit game board with all your colorful little wedges so nice and evenly spaced. I have never had much success with that. I know all the parts - spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual, etc., but I'm not sure I've ever had a balance among them. However, I do know that there have been times when they have worked together in harmony and I have felt the beauty of the moment without a worry that I was neglecting something to be doing something else.
Harmony. It's my word of the week.
Still working on my willing to do list. It would appear I am not yet willing to commit my thoughts to paper on that. My old thoughts on balance would dictate that I should be diligently touching on it daily, but my new harmony paradigm allows me the opportunity to let it rest while I focus on something else. And I like that. I think that might be that "inner calm" thing.
J.
According to Merriam-Webster, harmony is the "pleasing or congruent arrangement of parts; inner calm" while balance is defined as "an aesthetically pleasing integration of elements; mental and emotional steadiness." At first glance, the definitions seem very similar - "pleasing", "parts" = "elements", "steadiness" = "calm" - but in my mind, they are completely different.
To me, balance implies the ongoing struggle to maintain a perfect equilibrium. Think tight rope walkers - do they ever just relax during their time on the tight rope and let something else take over? Um, no or they fall off and either have to start all over again or see a doctor immediately. Same with juggling balls or spinning plates. All similes used to demonstrate how much focus it takes to keep our lives in balance.
However, harmony.....now I'm thinking music or dance. One section or group or performer has the lead for a while then another comes to the front while the others rest, pose or play in the background. Each note or movement contributes to the overall effect, but there are built in rests for everyone. Yes, it's a balance of parts because everything or body can't just play or perform at their loudest or at center stage all the time and being able to physically balance oneself is important in dance, but when a group is resting, they are really resting. Not practicing. Just waiting. Sure, they have to count a bit to know when to come back, but the more you practice, the less you have to count and the more you are aware of the rest of what is going on around you to know when to step back in or start playing again (that would be that mindfulness thing that keeps rearing its ugly head in my search). Sometimes the other part is completely offstage somewhere changing into a new costume, having a drink during the saxophone solo or is even finished for the day.
I think for me harmony represents that it's okay to put something down and leave it down for a bit. Or be really focused on and put most of my energy into one project while just sort of dinking around on another project which may appear to be of equal importance to an outsider, but which I just can't get to right now. Balance would dictate that I give everything equal importance and try to compose my day or life in such a way that I touch on everything equally. That old pie chart where your life is supposed to look like a Trivial Pursuit game board with all your colorful little wedges so nice and evenly spaced. I have never had much success with that. I know all the parts - spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual, etc., but I'm not sure I've ever had a balance among them. However, I do know that there have been times when they have worked together in harmony and I have felt the beauty of the moment without a worry that I was neglecting something to be doing something else.
Harmony. It's my word of the week.
Still working on my willing to do list. It would appear I am not yet willing to commit my thoughts to paper on that. My old thoughts on balance would dictate that I should be diligently touching on it daily, but my new harmony paradigm allows me the opportunity to let it rest while I focus on something else. And I like that. I think that might be that "inner calm" thing.
J.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
What I'm willing to do.
One of the first things I've done in my quest for a life is to begin reading books and blogs and pamphlets, if I find them, on a variety of themes relating to happiness. Keeping in mind something a therapist once told me that "happiness is a transient condition," I'm not trying to become something I'm not, one of those truly, amazingly upbeat people, but just augment my ability to create a more positive outlook. So obviously, I began with Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project. Bought it on a glorious day in the early spring, picked up some lovely macaroons and iced tea and spent a morning in the park reading. Great way to begin, let me tell you. Good read full of nice ways to start paying attention to how you're living your life on a day to day basis. And after a lot more reading on the subject (see links), I am firmly committed to the idea that it is in fact how the day to day things get accomplished that get you to a deep fulfilling life.
What I plan on doing in the next several days is creating a list a'la Gretchen on my absolute truths, 12 commandments, whatever you want to name them. I am calling them my "What I'm willing to do" items. These will be the things I am "willing to do" to build a life that helps me to thrive and live as deeply as I can for as long as I can.
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