Keep it simple stupid.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.  ~Leonardo DaVinci

I have a way of complicating things. I'm really good at it. It all starts in my head and translates into action (or more often, inaction) and that sort of gets the complication ball rolling.

An example: I like coffee, especially on a Sunday morning. But I can only handle about one cup before a gross and disgusting feeling starts to form in the pit of my stomach. So this morning I put the coffee pot on as usual, and 3 cups later I have a full blown battle surging in my head ("Uh oh, starting to feel gross". "No, keep drinking! This is what you enjoy on a Sunday morning dammit! It relaxes you!". "Ohhh...gotta stop drinking coffee and start drinking water...you're supposed to be drinking lots of water!". "Just drink the coffee!".

Upon reflection, I can clearly see that this is utterly ridiculous. What would have made far more sense would have been to savour the first cup of coffee, unplug the coffee machine, and switch over to water, thus avoiding the tornado-like swirling of thoughts in my head, as well as the inevitable ickiness that surely would have set in after more than one cup.

I am particularly bad at waging war with myself when it comes to work projects as well. A very astute university professor of mine once used the term 'paralysis by analysis' during a lecture and that phrase has always stuck with me. I am a prime example of someone who puts this into practice (or, you know, thinks about putting it into practice).

Then there are the distractions. Junk email. TV. Google. Updating my Facebook status. Keeping track of PIN numbers. Worrying what other people are thinking. I think all of these can be managed (except for the last one, which should be banished altogether). I just need to implement some systems to streamline them. I need to review my values to see what should be eliminated. I need to curb the verbal banter that runs through my head.

As you may have noticed, I haven't blogged in about a month. I simply got overwhelmed trying to balance everything that exists in my life. I forgot what was important. I made things more complex than they needed to be.

So that's my experiment this week: Keeping it simple. Going to bed at a decent hour. Turning off the TV. Managing my email. Thinking about what matters. Getting rid of what doesn't matter.

Simplicity = Happiness. That will be my mantra this week.

Week 12: Take time to grieve my Dad...

So taking time to grieve my dad was supposed to be last week's experiment. I half heartedly did some thinking about my dad, but I wouldn't feel right saying that I conducted the Week 12 experiment with full attention. So I've decided to give myself an extension and do some full throttle grieving.

I wonder sometimes if we use the word 'grieving' too loosely. If you've ever truly grieved, then you know what I'm talking about. I've been through grief before, so that's why I know I never grieved my father's death to the extent that I should have...to the extent that would have been healthy for me to experience.

No, when my father passed away last August, there were too many other considerations to deal with that got in the way of dealing with the fact that my dad was gone. As a professional event coordinator, when disaster strikes, what's a girl like me to do? I'll tell you what - get organized! Who has time to grieve when there are so many details, details, details to take care of. Picking out flowers, airport pick-ups, photo collages, Shoppers Drug Mart runs with your 80 year old aunt for pantyhose and distilled water for her oxygen machine.

My first priority became making sure my mom was "ok". Ambulances, phone calls delivering bad news, funeral arrangements, financial questions, new routines...I oversaw it all. Mom is adapting just fine. I feel responsible for her well being - she was my focus for months. She still is, but I've relaxed my grip a bit.

The week my dad died, after the funeral was over and relatives went home, I started to grieve. But not for my father. I started grieving the relationship with my family, more specifically my siblings. We're a blended family and I have 5 half brothers and sisters. My full sister and I were younger and grew up in a different time, place and experience. Dad had been the link to connect us all. We only saw each other on holidays. I was feeling like my family was disappearing one by one...my sister over 10 years ago, now my dad, next the relationship with my siblings. It was a lonely place. 

Oh - did I mention that two weeks after my dad passed away, I was hit at an intersection by a 90 year old man who ran a red light? My car was a write-off and the bruises on my body were NOT pretty.

So by now I'm sure you can appreciate the distractions that kept me from digging deeper to experience true grief over the loss of my dad Freeman.

Well, I'm very happy to say that since my dad's death, the relationship with my siblings has grown stronger than ever. We've all promised to keep in contact and we get together regularly. I am deeply touched by all of their kindnesses, and I feel truly committed to keeping our relationship going.

Now that I've vented a bit, it's time to get down to business this week and spend some time celebrating my dad, feeling some feelings, and figuring out how the memory of my dad should be stored in my heart. Out of respect for my family, I'll be sharing more about this process, and less about the specifics of the relationship my dad and I shared. I'll report back soon.

I gotta pee!!

This wraps up my week of committing to an increase in my water intake. I do like the feeling of enhanced physical wellness resulting from the toxins being released from my being. I also enjoy the mental visual of those nasty little buggers making an exit from my body.

But I gotta say, this running to the bathroom every 20 minutes is rough! I've been conscious about making sure I pee before heading out. Even so, I've had to stop at a few gas stations and restaurants for a little pee break during public outings. It's way easier (and more comfortable) than trying to hold it until I get home.

I'm going to try to be conscious about making sure I'm drinking enough water...it's a good thing all around. But on the downside...well, check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1zPKUe6PTc

Week 11: Drink lots of water

This week my experiment is to increase my water intake. Here a link that provides a knowledge based perspective on the benefits of drinking water:

http://www.totallydrinkable.com/health-benefits-of-drinking-water.html

More to come...

Warm Wishes...Peggy

A few months ago I discovered this fantastic website - www.postcrossing.com . In an attempt to pair down my postcard collection, I wondered if there was somewhere ~ or someone ~ I could send my postcards to. PostCrossing came up in my Google search, and has provided me with a really cool opportunity to connect with individuals from around the world.

It's really simple. You sign up to send and receive postcards through the website. When you are moved to send a postcard, you simply send an online request, and you are provided with the name and address of someone who might be from your continent OR half way around the world. Once you send a postcard, you're entitled to get one back, and you won't know from whom until that happy day when it shows up in your mailbox.

I've sent and received postcards from Europe, Asia, and the USA. It's almost like putting a big hunk of good karma into an envelope (without the envelope) and mailing it off. I know my experiment this week is focused on written correspondence with friends and family, but I feel like the people I send and receive postcards with are my friends - even though we will likely only share that one single interaction in the course of our whole lives. We share information about ourselves, the places we are from, the weather, interesting or funny facts about our country and well wishes for one another. Cue the "I'd like to teach the world to sing..." Coca~Cola commercial.

I sometimes wonder about the journey my postcards take before they land in the mailbox of their recipient. Where do these written greetings go after I drop them into the post office box that's a mere 30 feet from my house? I picture planes, trains and postal carriers as part of the journey.

Here's a funny postcard I received from Josephine in Germany. Can you interpret what it says? I bet the guy in the processing line at the post office got a chuckle.

The Write Stuff

"Letter writing can strengthen your immune response, reduce the symptoms of depression and reduce the need to visit a doctor." Yup, that's according to Claudia Kalb, a medical writer for Newsweek. That's what my experiment addresses (literally) this week - Written Correspondence to Friends and Family.

I am a big advocate of written communication. I've been practicing it my whole life. With my mom's family being from Manitoba, my childhood was filled with letters to Grandma letting her know what I'd gotten for Christmas (I still remember one response from her: "Your Christmas gift sounds very nice. What is a ghetto blaster?").

After my friend Dana moved to Ontario in elementary school, our relationship essentially existed through the mail. We'd send long letters written on perfume scented stationary embellished with rainbow and unicorn graphics.

My mother encouraged my sister and I to write thank you notes. Heck, I even named my business after the idea of written correspondence (RED ENVELOPE Marketing & Communications..."Just like finding a red envelope in your mailbox, as a business operator, I have the skills to package an organization's promotional activities so that they stand out from the rest"). Ahem, this blog post sponsored by…

These days, I'm a busy woman. I just don't have time to write long, thoughtful letters. So this week I started by sending a couple of notecards to friends with just a short line or two in each. Not to sound hokey, but I do think it's the thought that counts. I believe my friends will appreciate receiving my short notes in the mail. Just like the notecard I received recently from a childhood friend who I ran into briefly at Christmas. It was a nice acknowledgement that even though we are both "all grown up", we can still give a nod to having a presence in each other's lives.

One letter I haven't written yet - but which I am going to commit to doing in the coming days - is writing to my penpal Carrie. Carrie (from Edmonton) and I were matched up as penfriends in the 4th grade. And although our letter exchange is no longer regular, we are still in touch (although severely overdue for some communication). I saved all of the letters and postcard received from Carrie over the years, and it's so funny to see how writings about her involvement in Ukrainian dancing as a girl turned in to trips to Cancun as a young adult, then announcements of wedding plans. Carrie, if you're reading, I'll be in touch soon!

If you don't send written correspondence to friends or family, is there anything that keeps you from doing this? There are SUCH cute packages of notecards available right now. If that doesn't sway you, maybe thinking about the warm fuzzes of sending and receiving a handwritten note will.

Say cheeeeeeeese!

So now that my hard copy photos are somewhat under control, I've moved on to dealing with the digital photos that are on my computer. How to organize them - that is the question.

I decided that the best method would be to organize them by year, month and event. So for example, 'My Pictures' contains files that look something like this...

2011-01 January (Mustang Convertible)
2011-01 January (Robbie Burns Party)
2011-02 February (Miscellaneous)
2011-03 March (St. Patrick's Day...I've already made this file in anticipation of the upcoming holiday)

This way the files appear in chronological order, and as long as I know when an activity happened, it should be easy to go back and find it. Now if I had a photo named, for example, "Leprechaun Peggy" and had just saved it as a random photo instead of under 2011-03 March (St. Patrick's Day), it might be difficult to find it a few years from now.

It's not a perfect system. For example, if I want to go back and find photos of myself, they could be scattered throughout various files by date and I'd have to hunt for them...unless I had a separate file named "Pictures of Peggy". But hey, what system is perfect?

Organizing my photos this week has been cleansing and it feels nice to have an organization process in place.

This link contains some good tips for organizing digital photos:

http://www.digitalphotos101.com/organizing-your-digital-photos.htm

I found this going through my digital photos. I took it a few years back on a trip to Halifax. Hee hee.

Take a picture, it lasts longer.

It's Week 9: Organize my Photos.

I started by sorting through stacks of photographs (you know, the kind that were produced from an actual film that would get dropped off at the drug store to be developed...). I have a big plastic tote jammed with photos...it's so full that a person could put their back out trying to lift it. The photos are organized mind you. Oh yes, about 10 years ago I started categorizing my photos by grouping them together in big manila envelopes.

The envelopes are labeled in marker with things like, London/Paris Trip 1993 or University Friends or Petey (our poodle growing up). The photos in these envelopes are very sentimental. But then there are others labeled Enrichment Camp 1988 or Vegetable Monuments, which included a photo of what I think is a giant smiling potato somewhere in the middle of New Brunswick.

My new measure for deciding whether or not I keep a photo is to ask myself, "Will you want to look at this in a scrapbook someday?" and if the answer is no, the photo goes to the garbage (the entire Vegetable Monuments envelope did not make the cut I'm afraid).

I've been tossing friends' wedding pictures, photos of other people's children, and grainy images taken in the 80's and 90's. I've accepted that relationships change, and that some of those photos just aren't important anymore. (I've also noticed that my personal weight has changed, and I really don't need some of those less flattering pictures kicking around).

I feel the same way as I felt in my first week experiment pertaining to clutter - free of this material stuff that has being weighing down my life. I'm not going to apologize for throwing out the photo of my second cousin's first Christmas...I gotta make room for my own life, which all things considered is pretty picture perfect.

I'll keep you posted on the Enrichment Camp envelope.

I'm back!

So I took a little blogging hiatus last week, but it's time to get back into the swing of things. So here's my plan for the rest of this month related to my 50 Week Experiment:

Week 9: Organize my photos

Week 10: Written correspondence with family and friends

Week 11: Drink lots of water

Week 12: Take time to grieve my dad


Stay tuned!

Ommmmmm............

Since my last blog post (which I spoke of the first three chakras: Root Chakra, Spleen Chakra, and Solar Plexus Chakra), I've moved up the spinal column to study the last four of the remaining chakras. Each day I've focused on a different one, and while I haven't really been putting any of the suggested stimulants into practice, finding out information about each chakra has made me think about the things in my life that are out of balance, and how I can work on correcting this (hey, can't we all?).

The Heart Chakra is green and located in the centre of your chest. It channels our emotional energy. Looking at relationships, a balanced heart chakra contains love, forgiveness, compassion, the ability to have self-control and acceptance of oneself. To stimulate this chakra, suggestions include nature walks, time spent with family and friends, and surrounding yourself with plants. I'm going to test this one today, as I retreat to the basement to forget about the snow and re-pot some house plants.

The blue Throat Chakra represents our communication energy. This chakra is in balance as represented by the ability to express your beliefs, to be trustful, loyal, and to exhibit organization and planning. Stimulants include singing, poetry, having meaningful conversations, or listening to music that contains echoes or sounds of ocean waves. If I reflect on this chakra, I think for me personally, this chakra gets stronger and stronger as I get older. I guess it makes sense that as we age we trust ourselves more and are increasingly confident in expressing ourselves. I wonder what Oprah's Throat Chakra looks like...

The Brow, or Third-Eye, Chakra is located in the forehead, right between the eyes. It pertains to trusting one's intuition and insights and the ability to release fear and anxiety. Stimulants include star gazing, meditating, and rolling your eyes (I actually tried the eye rolling yesterday, and it made me feel like I was possessed! I wouldn't do that one in the company of others, as it is apt to scare them). 

Oooh, this is a big important chakra - the violet Crown Chakra. It is the last of the 7 chakras and sits on the top of your head (some suggest it sits about an inch above your head). This chakra represents our inspiration and spiritual energy. It is aligned if we are willing to learn about our spirituality and trust the universe. It pertains to our concept of "God". Focusing on dreams and writing down your visions will stimulate this chakra. I find that thinking of yourself as part of a bigger universe really puts things into perspective and helps you let go of things that you can't control.

The information I've shared about the chakras is really very rudimentary...there is so much more to express. I look forward to broadening my knowledge of the 7 chakras even further in the coming months.

I hope you enjoy this musical meditation about the chakras:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLB8AurZLEY&feature=related

Unblocka your Chakras

Chakra Week has been very interesting thus far. I told my mom about this Experiment, and her reaction was pretty much a cynical "Oh yeah". But I think the concept is cool and I am very interested to learn more.

Since there are 7 chakras, I am spending each day this week exploring a different one (you'll remember from my last blog post that chakras are energy sources contained in the body).

On Sunday my task was to explore my Root (or Base) Chakra. The colour associated with this chakra is red and it is located at the base of your spine. If you feel fatigue or depression, chances are your root chakra is out of balance. Luckily there are some stimulants that can help to charge up this chakra and exercise is strongly advocated. Other stimulants include eating red foods and drinks, using aromatherapy oils, and listening to music that incorporates heavy drum beats. Cool. I drank some red pomegranate juice, lit a red candle, and tried to get in a bit of physical activity. I have to say, I felt better. This seems to be a very important chakra, as it is described as "your main power station and it is connected to your physical vitality and endurance, mental perseverance and it is the centre that gives you your life's passion" (http://www.chakraenergy.com/). Sounds pretty key to me!

Monday was spent focusing on my Spleen Chakra. It is associated with the colour orange and is located about four inches below your belly button. This chakra connects you with your feelings and is linked to your enthusiasm, happiness and joy. It also helps you to live in the "now". If you feel disconnected or are often sick, yup, you guessed it - your spleen chakra is out of whack. Also, if you have, um, sexual issues, it's best to take a look at this one.

Stimulants include hot baths, massage, embracing sensation (trying different foods), and listening to music that 'flows'. I put on some Enya and tried to get in touch with my feelings. I discovered that Enya is good for that kind of thing.

Today I concentrated on my Solar Plexus Chakra. It's yellow and located above your belly button. This chakra is all about your mental awareness and is the centre that governs your ability to learn. It also governs your ego and emits optimism and confidence. If you lack confidence or focus, time to take a look at this one. Stimulants include reading, sunshine, and detoxification programs. I spent a short time reading today, and I tried to make a yellow smoothie, although - even though it had pineapple in it - turned out more orange than yellow.

I feel a bit like I am Speed Chakra-ing and one day doesn't seem like near enough time to dedicate to each chakra. Each one is so intriguing, and I feel like I am only scratching the surface. But this week will give me a good overall understanding of each one, and then I can go back and spend more time on exploring the 7 chakras further.

If you're interested in celebrating the chakras, there are lots of great chakra meditations on YouTube, as well as funky chakra music. Check it out!

Week 8: Explore my Chakras

I was introduced to the idea of chakras about 4 years ago when I first started meeting with a life coach (that's another blog post altogether). I went to her seeking balance in my life. In one of our initial meetings, she spoke of chakras, and then asked me to close my eyes as she gently beat on her Tibetan gong. Sitting there wondering what I had gotten myself into, part of me was ready to bolt out the door and the other part was fascinated by the idea of this energy system known as chakras.

Since then my life coach has used more conventional communication practices in our work together, and I have opened up to the possibility that perhaps some of her "airy fairy" ways (as she likes to call it) have some real value behind them.

I really only have a very basic understanding of the chakras, so it made sense for me to dedicate one of my weeks of experimentation to its exploration.

So what are chakras?



Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning 'wheel'. It is believed that humans have seven main chakra centres - each of these seven chakras operates as a spinning wheel, sucking in the energy contained within our environment. Kind of like how the jet engine of a Boeing 747 sucks in clean, fresh air that helps to elevate the plane up and into the clouds...or like how that same engine can suck in a Canada goose, which can cause the plane to plummet into the ocean. It works the same for our bodies...good or bad, the things in our environment are being absorbed by our chakras.

The seven main chakra centers are aligned along the spinal column. When one chakra is out of sync it affects all the rest, possibly blocking your body's energy flow, or chi. If this happens it is usually felt on a mental, emotional or physical level.

 

"In reality little is known and understood about the human psyche and its intricate systems. However, medical science has proven that toxins and other impurities, which include negative thoughts, chemical enhancements in our food and other poor environmental factors, influence our body. Constant forms of “pollution” can cause chakra imbalances to manifest, which may eventually affect us on a physical level. So understanding the chakra system is more about how you can help improve your own state of health and all levels of your being." (www.chakraenergy.com)

I find this concept really fascinating, and because I am a visual person, I like how each chakra is associated with a colour and shape. I'm definitely not an expert on this topic, but I hope the information I share over this next week will be of interest to all of you as well.

Here's a further explanation of how the chakras work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaPy6fzPQaw

Because nice matters.



So the week wrapped up with a few small Random Acts of Kindness, and I did indeed follow up on my promise to reject my road rage and be a more conscious driver...at least for a day. That day was yesterday, which worked out well since I had to drive to Charlottetown and back.

When you are being a kinder, gentler driver, it makes your whole state of being more relaxed. I gave people their space instead of tailgating, when traffic was at a standstill I left a space so people in the opposing lane could turn left, and I let other people have the premium parking space. I felt better for it, like I had a little invisible halo above my head.

I also took some leftover PEI postcards and trading pins to the library, leaving them on the free magazine table. Someone I knew came along and were delighted to find this material, perfect to take along on their upcoming trip West.

I also tipped well this week, paid more compliments, and said thank you more often. I realized that I am already a pretty thoughtful person who is kind to others on a regular basis. However, I wish I had made a more concentrated effort on planning my RAKs instead of having them develop sporadically. I think I would have paid more attention to the effects my acts had on people. I would have also shared with RAK recipients that they had been 'targeted' - I think this would have helped with the 'pay it forward' part of things.

So I think I'll have to revisit this experiment again to give it a bit more 'omph'. Be kind to each other.

That light ain't gettin' any greener!

I have a bad habit that I am going to address tomorrow as part of Random Acts of Kindness Week. It's Road Rage. I know, how could someone as nice and funny and laid-back (?) as me, have road rage?  Ask my friend Mary, who I tailgated to work a few months ago. As I was wondering, "Why are those people going so sloooow?" Mary and her daughter were asking, "Who is that woman riding our bumper?". I believe it was at the very same moment - when Mary's daughter looked in her rear view mirror, and I peered into their back window - that our questions were answered. I immediately backed off in hopes that they hadn't seen that I was their tailgater. Too late.

There's something so frustrating to me about people who are driving too slow (ok, so I'll add the 'in my opinion' part). This is compounded by the fact that I am usually running late to wherever my destination may be, so inevitably I am trying to make up time, and wind up behind Grandma out for a country drive. But when roles reverse and I find someone riding MY bumper, I do what any reasonable person would do - I slooooow dooooown just to annoy the person.

So tomorrow, in an attempt to honour this week of RAK, I will not only succeed at being a conscious driver, but I will be courteous in the process. Want to cross the crosswalk? Be my guest. Having a hard time turning left onto Water Street after picking up your Timmies at the drive through? By all means, go ahead. Not comfortable driving beyond 25 km's per hour? Well, life is busy...let's all take a moment to slow down and enjoy the scenery.

It shall be interesting...I will report back soon.

Week 7: Perform Random Acts of Kindness

I'm leading with a snail's pace for my "Random Acts of Kindness" week. Yesterday I planned on bringing homemade brownies to a meeting that ended up being cancelled. Today I meant to drop those same brownies off to a senior's organization, but I forgot to take them with me. Even though I'm off to a slow start, I found RAK's all around me today.

When I went to teach my aquafit class at the pool tonight, a box of oranges sat on the counter, a gift from a pool customer for the staff - so nice! On my way out of the building there was a display for East Prince Family Violence Prevention - turns out they are also celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Week and were passing out lists of ideas for doling out compassion. Here were a few ideas from the list:

Eat lunch with someone new.
Listen with your heart.
Clean a neighbour's walk.
Offer a Hug.
Give an unexpected gift.
Say "hello" (doesn't this one make you think about how many times we don't say a simple hello?)
Open a door.
Thank a teacher.
Give blood.
Leave a thank you note.
Be tolerant.
Let another go first.
Give a compliment.
Offer a ride.
Forgive mistakes.
Drive courteously.
Share a smile.

More ideas can be found at http://www.actsofkindness.org/

:-)

Facebook Frenzy

So my sabbatical from Facebook is over, and this little drought didn't hurt me a bit. I logged on earlier tonight and you'd think after a week of Facebook abstinence I would be unable to control my cravings for updates from my friends and invitations to events. Honestly, after a few minutes online I was feeling kind of 'meh' about the whole thing.

This hiatus made me realize I need to pay more attention to what is happening in reality, rather than making what's happening online my reality. Cue birds singing, music playing and friendly waves to neighbours.

I'm feeling confident I'll be able to participate in Facebook in a more healthy way from now on. My plan is to log on once in the morning, once in the afternoon and once in the evening. This might sound like a lot to some, but compared to my previous practices, this plan will work well for me. I'll still feel like I'm informed, but won't be handcuffed to Facebook all day long.

I'm definitely surprised how this week went. My new found indifference toward Facebook is unexpected. I'm happy to say that you'll be seeing less of me on Facebook and perhaps more of me out and about in the real world. See you out there!

Did you know that according to Facebook...

There are more than 500 million active users

50% of our active users log on to Facebook in any given day

Average user has 130 friends

People spend over 700 billion minutes per month on Facebook (I think I may be responsible for skewing this statistic).

I like my current status.

I am well into my Facebook-free week, and it's actually been refreshing to break away. In the past, Facebook for me has felt like how an ankle tracking device must feel to Lindsay Lohan - always a constant reminder that you are bound by your addictions. Ok, that's a bit dramatic. But all the same, it's nice this week that Facebook is not constantly running in the background. I feel a bit more aware of things going on around me, and I have a noticeable boost in productivity.

Here are some strange but funny status that I came across:

Name….

says, "This too shall pass gas."

thinks nothing is better than pooing at work...you're getting paid to poo!

tastes purple.

is boxing in the Smart Car parked in his spot. Not so smart now are you!? Mr. Smarty smart car!

typing feverishly on his Blackberry pretending to do work but really updating his Facebook status.

being recalled by Fisher Price because he may contain traces of led paint.

inviting you to play with his touchscreen.

http://facebookstatus.blogspot.com/search/label/strange

Polar Bears are good lisiners.

That would have been my Facebook status tonight. I attended a meeting at an elementary school earlier this evening and this line was written next to a drawing of a polar bear hanging from a bulletin board. Cute.

But I'm not on Facebook...for the whole. entire. week. Withdrawal has not been too terribly intense, thank goodness. I did find myself searching to be entertained on YouTube immediately following my dramatic departure from Facebook a couple of days ago. Yup, a little fish out of water going on there for sure. I mean, Facebook is set to my homepage for heaven's sake. This is a big adjustment.

A little video for your viewing pleasure...

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7RrHXNyONc

Week 6: Give up Facebook (sniff, sniff)



I'm on Facebook a lot. It's integrated into my daily life. Granted, I don't just use it for personal nosiness (although I do use it plenty for that). I use it for my business, my work, my volunteer work, and to communicate with friends, family and colleagues. But the extent to which I use it is not healthy.

Since I work at home and spend a great deal of time on my computer, it's pretty normal for me to have Facebook running in the background. And to my detriment, I have the kind of personality where I'm always looking for quick satisfaction - whether that's in food or in Facebook, it's how I satisfy my urge for happiness.

When I have housework I'm not feeling particularly motivated to carry out, or if I encounter a roadblock in a business project that's going to take some time and energy to work through, I take a Facebook break / eat some chocolate. It's temporary relief, but it never solves the issue. Quite frankly, it's seriously interfering with my ability to be a productive member of society. My time could (and should) be better spent.

Don't read me the wrong way - I am not anti-Facebook. It serves a great purpose - I love how it keeps me connected with old, new and emerging friends. I have a strong desire for 'sense of belonging'. It's why I love to travel - it makes me feel like I am part of the world's people. I enjoy being part of a team that works together to bring mutual goals to reality. I am overly enthusiastic about being Canadian and how we proudly come together to celebrate our Canadianism. I am a devoted child of nature. And I like feeling like I am part of an energetic online community via my Facebook profile, statuses and updates.

It's time for a break though. Earlier this morning I fervently posted last minute profile updates and am ready to swear off of Facebook for the next 7 days. Sigh. As much as I'll miss it, I'm really interested to find out just how drastically my productivity levels will be affected without the distraction. I actually feel a little relieved to break free for a short period. Farewell Facebook Family, I'll see you in a week.

Faux Snow - Childhood Amusement Continues...

When was the last time you made a paper snowflake? For me, it was this afternoon. Do you remember the first one you ever made? Where you take your scissors, make a few basic snips, and then - with complete wonder and amazement - unfold it to find it has indeed taken the shape of heaven's frosty precipitation. You immediately grab your scissors to start on your second creation, getting all fancy with your cuts (maybe pulling out the hold punch) and then you've got one sophisticated snowflake on your hands. Complete Exhilaration.

I think I may go out on my front lawn tomorrow and make a snow angel.

Look Ma! I did it!

So it's Week 5: Do Activities from Childhood. Today I made this paper garland. I think it looks great! Why did we ever stop making these as decor items for our homes?

February: 4 More Experiments...

I'm off to a bit of a slow start in defining my experiments for February, but finally - here they are...


Week 5: Do activities from childhood

Week 6: Give up Facebook (AAAACKKK!!!)

Week 7: Perform Random Acts of Kindness

Week 8: Explore my Chakras


Time to get to-it!

Lang may yer lum reek! (Live long and healthily)

Wow! What a party! Two days later and when words come out of my mouth, they are still being filtered through a Scottish accent. The Proclaimers lyrics are constantly running through my head!

Here are the highlights:

Such impressive attire!

No shit Sherlock!



This...

was used for this (hourly whisky toasts!)

The Address to the Haggis...



And haggis is served!

What would the evening be without some highland fling?

WHEN YOU'RE GIVING 'TALK LIKE A SCOT!' LESSONS, IT'S REALLY HARD NOT TO BE HIGHLY ANIMATED AND SHOUT LIKE A BLOODY HOOLIGAN!

It's Angus, the Multi-tartan'd Moose.

Henh, henh.

Reviewing the clan poster.



See you again next year Bonnie Lads & Lassies!

Cheeky, I know...

Time to get my humble abode decked out for Saturday's Robbie Burns Day Party.

Some clipart and crayons, and voila! An Andy Warhol inspired art piece!

Glad to be Plaid

That's my sister Shirley on the left, and me on the right. My mom made these outfits. Even as a 4 year old, I remember feeling like I was born to rock this outfit!

I went searching through my wardrobe the other day to see what I could wear for this Saturday's Robbie Burns Party. Seeing as I strongly suggested to my guests that they show up decked out in plaid or tartan, I figured I better make sure I would be dressed as authentically as possible.

To my surprise, there was no tartan to be found in my closet! I set off to Frenchy's and picked up two long skirts - one with a blue multicoloured checked tartan pattern (made in Cambodia oddly enough) and the other various shades of grey and blue (made in Moldova...what's up with that?). I still have to decide which skirt I'll be wearing, but I'll be happy with either. I'll also have some Scottish 'embellishments' to complete my outfit (guests will have to wait until Saturday to see what they are).

I picked up a few extra items at Frenchy's, so don't worry if you can't find any plaid in your closet, I will get you all decked out when you get here!

Here's tae us! Wha's like us? Damn few, an' they're a' deid! (Cheers! There's no one like the Scots!).

Week 4: Host a Robbie Burns Day Party

Time to start a new challenge after the excitement of last week in which I exceeded my goal of earning $200 extra dollars in revenue, thanks to my windfall of winning a car. Which actually ties in nicely to this week's theme. My win was part of a fundraiser for the College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts and my winning ticket was drawn at the College's Robbie Burns Day festivities.

I'll be hosting my own Burns Celebration at my home this Saturday evening. For those unfamiliar with Burns, he was the son of a peasant farmer who took to writing poetry as an alternative to working in the fields. He is considered 'Scotland's National Poet'. Burns Day parties are held annually on January 25 (his birthday) and typically celebrated with a traditional Scottish meal, drinking whisky, reading poems, singing songs, and a toast to the lassies.

I've been talking about having a Robbie Burns Day party for a few years now, but the timing was never right. But this Saturday twenty or so of my closest friends will jam themselves into my wee little home, have some drink and eat my mother's homemade Scotch cookies. When I think about my cultural identity, I most connect with being Scottish (after being a Canadian of course). My mom's father immigrated to Canada as a teenager and Mom always corresponded with distant relatives from his homeland who would send tea towels for her and plaid clad dolls for my sister and I.

When hosting Robbie Burns festivities, there's a whole protocol to the event. My party will have some of those traditional elements, such as the Address to the Haggis (Will it be a real haggis? My guests will just have to wait and see, wink wink). But we'll also be listening to the Proclaimers and introducing a 'Talk in a Scottish Accent' Hour.

Aye, we'll be smilin' like a bylt haddie (full of the joys of life). Can't wait!

Ride Sally Ride

Well, just when I thought this week's experiment of earning an extra $200 in revenue was about to be chalked up as a dismal failure, my luck changed rather abruptly late yesterday.

But before I get to that, I'd like to tell you what I've been doing this week in an attempt to earn some extra coin ('attempt' being the key word). I've been posting like a maniac to UsedPEI.com with hardly a speck of interest (except for the woman who wondered if I could drive a $10 item to Charlottetown...um, no). I've noticed things on the site seem to be pretty quiet, so my guess is that this is not time of year that people have extra money to spend / want to venture out in the cold to check out other peoples' stuff. I'm going to keep using this website, as I think it's a great concept and that eventually I'll have some success with it.

Trying to sell my craft wares didn't work either. And after assessing the state of my recycling, I realized there wasn't enough to bother delivering to the recycling depot. I could have taken on an extra shift at the pool where I teach an exercise class, but quite frankly, the motivation just wasn't there. I did redeem some Air Miles points and will soon be receiving in the mail a $25 gift card from Staples as well as a $10 card from Starbucks. That was my only real success this week, and even that's a stretch.

Yup, my vision was that this was going to be an experiment where, at the end of the week, I would be found smugly counting dollar bills in my living room. Instead, I was left feeling disappointed and frustrated. Until last night when I got the call.

I won a 2011 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE! Talk about divine intervention! It was only earlier in the day (4:30 pm to be exact) that I had stopped in to the College of Piping to buy a ticket on their car lottery, which was to be drawn for later in the evening. Tickets were $100 each (no small potatoes!) and I hesitated a bit in the afternoon before finally going down to pick up a ticket. I like to think I'm a person with strong intuition, and something was telling me to take the risk.

Since I bought a new (to me) car just before Christmas, and a mustang convertible is not exactly practical for my life, I'll be taking the cash equivalent of the car. I don't exactly know what that number is yet, but boy do I have plans for how it's going to be spent (all in a responsible fashion, of course)!

So yes - this win has pulled me out of the fire, however I do still think it's possible to earn some extra cash now and then if you put your mind to it. It's important to be creative and persistent in your goal of increasing your revenue. Either hard work or, in my case karma, will step in and pay off.

Here's a little audio clip for your enjoyment...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sxc8Sm0nXpE

A long way from $200

I was hoping by now I would be bragging about how close I was to reaching my goal of earning $200 extra dollars in income this week. Sadly, I am far from it.

For the first time ever, I've been using UsedPEI.com to try and sell my things. I've posted numerous items - clothes, dishes, a rocking chair. The only thing I've had interest in so far has been some $10 plates...and they are not officially sold yet. I'd be curious in hearing other people's experiences with this website. Maybe this is a bad time of year to be selling things? Maybe I just need to be more patient?

So yesterday while I was in Value Foods, I was struck by what was posted on the dry erase board on the wall. Last week's winner of the store's 50/50 had a take-home pay of $1,200!! Cha ching! I'm sure I blinked dollar signs. The cashier told me that the weekly payout is normally only $200 (only?). I am in the vicinity of the grocery store on a regular basis, so I figured it would be a good idea to sign up and make the commitment to stop in weekly and sign in. Will I win $200 this week? Probably not. But one of these weeks, opportunity will be mine.

Week 3: Add an extra $200 to my income this week

I think this week is going to be interesting. Like everyone, I could always use some extra cash, and I'm willing to get creative about how I earn it (before you over think that statement, let me share that I don't mean in a Pretty Woman kind of way).

I've got some items sitting around from my Week 1 decluttering purge that I would be happy to put on the market. Since I need an actual market from which to sell these articles, I've joined the UsedPEI.com revolution and am happy to report that I've already posted 3 items. I am waiting with anticipation for inquiries about my wares to roll in. I've never sold anything off of this site before, so I really don't know what to expect. I may be thinking selling my stuff is going to be easier than it actually will be. I guess I'll soon find out!

I've got some other resourceful revenue generating ideas up my sleeve. I look forward to sharing my progress this week. Here's hoping I'm $200 wealthier by week's conclusion!

Sugar and Spice...

"What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of" goes the nursery rhyme. Well, this week in Experiment #2 (removing sugar from my diet) THIS little girl has been made of bread, bran bars and beer. Those were the things I may have over-consumed in an attempt to compensate for the lack of sugar.

I wish I had a revelation to report about how my sugar cravings are gone and I will never consume the drat substance again! Alas, it is not so. I will say that while I am far from willing to give up sugar and sweets, I did ponder the notion that perhaps I could cut back. And after not eating ONE sugary morsel all week, I know this is something that I can achieve. While I missed sugar this week, I did not miss the tired, sometimes yucky feeling that comes from consuming too much of the sweet stuff. I think this thought will keep me motivated and I will be less apt to overindulge.

Except for tomorrow morning's breakfast which I already have planned out: chocolate milk and an Aero bar.

How do you remember to spell dessert? Dessert has two s's, because you always want a second one.

I grew up eating dessert. A lot of dessert. After supper there was ALWAYS dessert. My mom was really creative in her presentation of after dinner sweets. Jello had bits of fossilized fruit, congealed into wine glasses. That was my mom's attempt at sneaking healthy stuff into me and my sister. But we had plenty of sugary, cavity causing temptations as well. I especially enjoyed bowls of whip cream, mini marshmallows and coconut all mixed together (actually, come to think of it, Mom snuck fruit into that too!).

It wasn't just supper. Lunch was also followed by dessert, usually something simple like a plate of cookies, but dessert none the less. Meals felt incomplete without it. That feeling, that lack of a conclusion at mealtime, has come back to me this week, as I resist the urge for some after dinner saccharine.

Mom gave us dessert out of love, and I have nothing but appreciation for it. Even though it's been a bit of a challenge, this week I have been able to understand that it IS possible to have a meal without being followed by dessert.

Here's a little video that is closely aligned with my feelings. This guy and I are totally on the same wavelength.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlSc1bdT9SI

Defeated by Chocolate

This is the aforementioned chocolate chip container outlined in my previous blog post. I could have really used a few of these tasty morsels today. I didn't sleep well last night, which made me feel a bit cranky today, which led to a fervent desire for something sweet.

Conclusion: Lack of Sleep + Being a Cranky Pants = Desperate Yearning for Sugar

Further conclusion: celery sticks are NOT a good substitute for a sugar craving.

Sugar, Sugar

Alrighty, I've just started Week 2 of my 50 Week Experiment: Eliminating sugar from my diet. This is a short term experiment only taking place over the next 7 days, thank God.

I first must qualify what I mean by sugar. I've got a problem with sweets - cookies, squares, anything chocolate. So when I say that over the next week I'm going to eliminate sugar, that's really what I'm talking about. It's the pair of Timbits I sometimes order with my coffee, or the Moccachinos I treat myself to every time I go to Charlottetown (I think they're just called Moccas, but calling them moccachinos makes me feel important when I order them). Or if I can't find just the right thing in my house that will satisfy my craving, it's the desperate plunge my hand makes into the container which stores my chocolate chips.

This week I'll still be consuming things like orange juice (containing natural sugar, which I think is good for you, and I don't care what anybody says) and yogurt (which only has a small amount of sugar for flavouring and not enough for me to worry about). And I am not a big pop drinker, so avoiding carbonated beverages will not be an issue for me this week at all.

I am happy to report that today was a sugar-free day for me. I have been feeling undeniably tired all day, and I can't tell if its a result of this cold I've been nursing, or it is indeed the onset of complete and utter sugar shock. If it is my body that's crying out in desperation for sugar, I see that as a good thing. It means my body was obviously in need of a sugar detox, and that's exactly what I intend to give it this week.

Clutter be gone!

So it's the end of Week 1 of my 50 Week Experiment. It's been a satisfying week of decluttering as I've said goodbye to dishes I never use, CD's I never listen to, and Christmas decorations I just don't have room for anymore. Some things were easy to get rid of and left me feeling exhilarated as I realized how much more space opened up in their absence. And some things were harder to bid farewell to, like items from my childhood. Other things I just couldn't say goodbye to, like the handmade cable knit sweaters belonging to loved ones who are no longer here.

When I would feel stuck about whether something should be allowed to stay or get the boot, I asked myself this question: "After today, will you ever think about this item again?". And if the answer was, "Of course I will never think of this warped bulletin board found on the street during my university days ever again!", then it was easy to give myself permission to let it go.

Quantity also came into play. I realized I didn't need say, 20 candle holders. So the collection was slashed in half (ditto for frames, holiday napkins and that table confetti stuff - those tiny little plastic hearts and stars have a way of making their way into the mashed potatoes anyway).

I've just started reading Peter Walsh's book Does this Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat? Walsh addresses North Americans need to consume 'more'. He says, "Consumption is king. We spend too much, we buy too much, and we eat too much". I hear what he's saying - we distract ourselves with things like food and material items in an attempt to seek happiness. If you knew me as a kid or a young adult (or have ever helped me move), you know how attached I felt to 'stuff'. As the years have gone by, this need to be comforted by material items has lessened more and more. I recognize (especially this week) that in order to make room for your future, you need to get rid of the things around you that are just taking up energy.

That word - energy - kept popping into my head this week. I look at the pile of stuff on my dining room table that will soon make its way into boxes. I feel relieved to say it is just that - stuff. Now that my home is lighter, more open and contains the things that I truly love and care about, the energy that was once sucked up by all my 'stuff' can be released back into the air to be used for a better purpose.

I accomplished a heck of a lot this week, but there are still more areas of my home I want to sort through. And my garage...well, that a whole other project. Time to get the boxes out and get this stuff out of here.

Au Revoir Bonhomme...

The decluttering continued last night as I sorted through a container of stuffed animals and dolls from my childhood. They look a little sad to say goodbye, don't they?

The martini glasses did not survive the purge

Neither did the cool vintage martini shaker that (along with the glasses) have been in my china cabinet, unused for the last 4 years. I had to face it - I'm a wine girl...'shaken, not stirred' is not my style, and neither were the beer steins. When I caught a glimpse of them I would feel guilty, knowing that one of those brewskie glasses walked out of the Brothers Two Restaurant late one St. Paddy's Day not that long ago.

The china cabinet wasn't even going to be the first item on my 'purge list'. I was simply trying to make room for the 2 sets of wine glasses I received as Christmas gifts, and the next thing you know, there goes my uber cute tea pot (that drips all over the place when it pours) and the tablecloth weights that I've been hanging on to since my 20's that have never been used.

My goal with this week's experiment was to eliminate 5 items of clutter per day. As you can see from the photo (taken after only the first day of my decluttering process) that goal is going to be nooooo proooooblem. And if you see some familiar items and you're the friend/relative/restaurant manager who presented me with said items (knowingly or unknowingly), rest assured that both me and my china cabinet are feeling a little less weighted down today...now where is that corkscrew?

ALLER!: Mega declutter (January 2 - 8, 2011)

My space is pretty comfortable and really I don't have any major storage issues, but I feel a good purge will help to make my home (and my mind) a little less cluttered. I am motivated by odd thoughts - "What if you want to pick up and move to Ireland for a year...what will you do with all this stuff?" or "What if you suddenly die tomorrow? Your mother is going to have to deal with the liquidation of your over-abundance of craft supplies". So to prepare for such unexpected life shifts (and to make my life a little lighter) I am committing to getting rid of at least 5 items per day over the course of this week. No area of my home will be spared...I will be rifling through kitchen cupboards, opening and assessing bins of childhood memories, and re-prioritizing my CD collection.

I'm a bit nervous about this process...I'm a sentimental person by times. But I am also good at looking at things through lenses of practicality, so I think that will motivate me to toss, sort and redirect the material items of my life...it's only stuff, right?

I will keep you posted...

JANUARY....named after Janus, the god of the doorway

It seems appropriate as we step through the doorway of a new year for my first month of experiments to have a theme of renewal. Here are my 'experiments' for January:

January 2 – 8: Perform a (mega) declutter of my home

January 9 – 15: Eliminate sugar from my diet

January 16 – 22: Add an extra $200 in income this week

January 23 – 29: Finally throw the Robbie Burns Day Party I've wanted to for years