Day 2 of 21 days of gratitude:
pizza - had it for dinner, love it
mac book air - traveled for work, so light!
toe nail polish - pretty toes!
Favorite moment of the day:
Mom: Do you think when we are reincarnated we have to come back in a future life or can we come back in the past?
Dad: Are you asking me a question or am I just selectively hearing you?
Showing posts with label happy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happy. Show all posts
Monday, May 13, 2013
Sunday, May 12, 2013
21 days of gratitude
I went to a management conference a few weeks ago and a guy named Shawn Achor gave a talk about The Happiness Advantage. Essentially, we can train ourselves to be positive, thus relating to happier. He said some pretty interesting stuff, but at the end, gave 5 ways people could live a more positive life. He has a quick TED talk if you're interested, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXy__kBVq1M.
I decided I'm going to try one of his tactics. The one I'm giving a shot first is 21 days of gratitude. For 21 days, I have to list 3 things I'm grateful for. Each day I have to pick 3 different things than what has already been listed. Instead of scanning my atmosphere for negatives, I'm going to train myself to think of the positives.
Welcome to Day 1.
Mom (duh, Mother's day), sunshine (was a beautiful day) and short hangovers (Mitch's graduation party was last night).
I decided I'm going to try one of his tactics. The one I'm giving a shot first is 21 days of gratitude. For 21 days, I have to list 3 things I'm grateful for. Each day I have to pick 3 different things than what has already been listed. Instead of scanning my atmosphere for negatives, I'm going to train myself to think of the positives.
Welcome to Day 1.
Mom (duh, Mother's day), sunshine (was a beautiful day) and short hangovers (Mitch's graduation party was last night).
Monday, April 22, 2013
Waiting
Do you ever feel like you're waiting for something to happen? I'm not sure what my deal is lately, but I feel like I'm somewhat zombie-like, passing the days to get to the next, almost as if I'm waiting for the day. What's gonna happen on that day? No idea. I'm not sure if I'm waiting for the next life stage, or something else. I figure I'm waiting for the next big thing to happen. Presumably that would be meet mr. right and get married. But that's in a "normal" world, and my life has been anything but normal, so why would that be the case? Not sure what it is...but I'll be here when it comes.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Rocking the Parkway
Well, I'm back. It sure has been a while, but there's been lots going on in my head! Maybe this will once again become a forum for that.
This morning began with a 6:30am alarm going off. Not so abnormal except that it is Saturday. My first reaction? Turn the thing off and go back to sleep. Then I remembered it was 5K day.
After much internal debate about whether to skip the race (yes I already paid, yes I was already awake, yes I am a really good sales person) I decided to go. I was sure I'd feel better after.
I parked atrociously far from the start line due to complete lack of preparation and it took me 20 minutes of walking just to get there! I lined up behind EVERYONE because I was so late. Approximately 36 seconds after I stopped walking I heard the countdown to begin. Off we went.
The run was actually pretty good. I haven't exercised consistently (great New Years resolution huh?) in about 8 months. The first half was up hill, thankfully the end was all downhill. When I do these races I make a deal with myself that I will only walk if I am going to die. Death is a pretty distant reality if one is being serious with oneself, so I really just make myself run the whole time.
At the finish line I saw some friends and circled back to my distant parking spot to wait for a friend running the half-marathon. As she ran by me and snagged a high five, I, for the first time ever had a CRAZY thought. It was the pang of, I should do this. The half-marathon thing.
Interesting how the exercise euphoria can make one think absurd things. I hate running for a long time. I won't do a half-marathon. But I might just get back into this exercise thing. Who knows what I'll do then.
This morning began with a 6:30am alarm going off. Not so abnormal except that it is Saturday. My first reaction? Turn the thing off and go back to sleep. Then I remembered it was 5K day.
After much internal debate about whether to skip the race (yes I already paid, yes I was already awake, yes I am a really good sales person) I decided to go. I was sure I'd feel better after.
I parked atrociously far from the start line due to complete lack of preparation and it took me 20 minutes of walking just to get there! I lined up behind EVERYONE because I was so late. Approximately 36 seconds after I stopped walking I heard the countdown to begin. Off we went.
The run was actually pretty good. I haven't exercised consistently (great New Years resolution huh?) in about 8 months. The first half was up hill, thankfully the end was all downhill. When I do these races I make a deal with myself that I will only walk if I am going to die. Death is a pretty distant reality if one is being serious with oneself, so I really just make myself run the whole time.
At the finish line I saw some friends and circled back to my distant parking spot to wait for a friend running the half-marathon. As she ran by me and snagged a high five, I, for the first time ever had a CRAZY thought. It was the pang of, I should do this. The half-marathon thing.
Interesting how the exercise euphoria can make one think absurd things. I hate running for a long time. I won't do a half-marathon. But I might just get back into this exercise thing. Who knows what I'll do then.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
The Gym
I wish I was as good at talking people into things as I am talking myself out of going to the gym. I mean, I'm stellar at it.
I try getting up in the morning, but for some reason, when I know I want to get up early, I can't go to sleep the night before. I need to just break the cycle, but I haven't yet, so, in turn, I haven't made it to the gym yet.
One of my excuses was that the gym would be too busy and I didn't want to deal with the evil looks from those "real" gym goers.
Last year I got in a mini-facebook argument with a pilates instructor because she posted something about the expected first-of-the-year gym rush. You know the complaints: people taking the regulars' spots, crazy parking, people not knowing how to use machines, etc...
My argument is this: If you are a "real" gym goer and go all the time, congratulations. You're amazing. Unfortunately I'm out of practice and haven't gone for a while. What would make me more likely to go? People that greet me and ask my name. A welcoming sense of belonging. A quick instruction on the machine or patience when I'm almost done with my 30 minutes.
I strongly believe people fall out of practice going to the gym because they don't feel involved, or as part of something. There is little accountability and the excuses come quickly.
But, what if I went to the gym and someone asked me my name, and said hi when I came in, and said nice work when I got off the machine? I'd probably be more likely to go again. Maybe I'd see that person, maybe I'd be accountable to them, even if I don't know them. Maybe, just maybe, I'd like going to the gym, not just because the endorphins make me happy, but so do the people there.
I decided I'm going to try it on Monday morning. I'm going to go. I'm going to say hi to people. I'm going to smile and I'm going to try and make myself part of that community. Then, maybe I'll go back.
I try getting up in the morning, but for some reason, when I know I want to get up early, I can't go to sleep the night before. I need to just break the cycle, but I haven't yet, so, in turn, I haven't made it to the gym yet.
One of my excuses was that the gym would be too busy and I didn't want to deal with the evil looks from those "real" gym goers.
Last year I got in a mini-facebook argument with a pilates instructor because she posted something about the expected first-of-the-year gym rush. You know the complaints: people taking the regulars' spots, crazy parking, people not knowing how to use machines, etc...
My argument is this: If you are a "real" gym goer and go all the time, congratulations. You're amazing. Unfortunately I'm out of practice and haven't gone for a while. What would make me more likely to go? People that greet me and ask my name. A welcoming sense of belonging. A quick instruction on the machine or patience when I'm almost done with my 30 minutes.
I strongly believe people fall out of practice going to the gym because they don't feel involved, or as part of something. There is little accountability and the excuses come quickly.
But, what if I went to the gym and someone asked me my name, and said hi when I came in, and said nice work when I got off the machine? I'd probably be more likely to go again. Maybe I'd see that person, maybe I'd be accountable to them, even if I don't know them. Maybe, just maybe, I'd like going to the gym, not just because the endorphins make me happy, but so do the people there.
I decided I'm going to try it on Monday morning. I'm going to go. I'm going to say hi to people. I'm going to smile and I'm going to try and make myself part of that community. Then, maybe I'll go back.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy 2013!
This is the list. Things to do in 2013. Ready? Go.
1. Make 2013 calendars - better get crackin!
2. Get 70,000 steps per week - Let's be serious, I won't work out every day. I travel, I like to go out to dinner, I have a beverage from time to time, but that doesn't mean I can't make up for it on the other days.
3. Get up earlier - plain and simple, I have to work out in the morning and I have to eat breakfast. I'm too busy after work to work out in the evening every day, not so many excuses in the morning. Breakfast is just good for me. I don't eat as much crap during the day, I generally eat better all around, and it helps me not be grumpy.
4. Decorate this house - I've lived here for a year and while, yes, there has been significant construction, that's no excuse for nothing hanging on the walls in the rooms that haven't had anything done to them. Now to sorting through pictures.
5. Speaking of pictures, make some more photo books. They are really the best way to showcase pictures, and there is no reason not to have more of them.
6. Meet new people - I like my friends, I really do, but doesn't mean I can't make more of them.
7. Eat more dinners at home - I eat better (when I actually go grocery shopping) and I like entertaining, so why not combine the two. It prevents money flying out the windows and generally bad nutrition choices.
Really this all rolls into the theme of 2013 which is Happy. Eat better, exercise more regularly, surround myself with friends and be comfortable where I live. Not resolutions, really just better options for living.
1. Make 2013 calendars - better get crackin!
2. Get 70,000 steps per week - Let's be serious, I won't work out every day. I travel, I like to go out to dinner, I have a beverage from time to time, but that doesn't mean I can't make up for it on the other days.
3. Get up earlier - plain and simple, I have to work out in the morning and I have to eat breakfast. I'm too busy after work to work out in the evening every day, not so many excuses in the morning. Breakfast is just good for me. I don't eat as much crap during the day, I generally eat better all around, and it helps me not be grumpy.
4. Decorate this house - I've lived here for a year and while, yes, there has been significant construction, that's no excuse for nothing hanging on the walls in the rooms that haven't had anything done to them. Now to sorting through pictures.
5. Speaking of pictures, make some more photo books. They are really the best way to showcase pictures, and there is no reason not to have more of them.
6. Meet new people - I like my friends, I really do, but doesn't mean I can't make more of them.
7. Eat more dinners at home - I eat better (when I actually go grocery shopping) and I like entertaining, so why not combine the two. It prevents money flying out the windows and generally bad nutrition choices.
Really this all rolls into the theme of 2013 which is Happy. Eat better, exercise more regularly, surround myself with friends and be comfortable where I live. Not resolutions, really just better options for living.
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