Happy Leap Year!

So, tomorrow is the Big Day. The 1st day of my "Happiness Project" and the start of my Vision Board. I'm prepared, made my resolutions, and with my affirmations in hand, I'm set on having a fulfilling life. I'm excited for this journey (God! I sound like the Bachelor, lol!) and can't wait for what the next 15 months will bring!

MARCH
Boost Energy (Vitality)

Resolutions:

-Go to sleep earlier.
-Exercise regularly.
-Toss, restore, organise.
-Tackle a nagging task.
-Drink more water, remember my vitamins.


I'm pretty good at making sure I get enough sleep. A typical person needs about 8 hours a night (which I'm getting). The average only sleeps about 6.9 hours during the week, so all together, I think I'm doing alright. But I must say, on those magical nights I get 9, sometimes even 10 hours in, I am on top of the world the next day. Having said that, my goal is to get in 9 hours a night (which means no more late night dates with Pinterest)!

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I've been tackling some of these resolutions over the last few months, and in the past month, I've been running three times per week and I feel great! I sweat like a pig, push myself harder than I ever have and within 3 weeks ran my first 10km (and in under an hour, I might add)! It's a great feeling and I'm really proud of myself. I've signed up for the Vancouver Sun Run on April 15th, and even though experienced runners say "It's over crowded, so don't expect to get a good time", it will be a great sense of accomplishment!

I'm definitely not a hoarder (although I've had issues with gift bags in the past) but it amazed me a few weeks ago when I managed to spend 8 hours in my "junk room" throwing crap out. It was mildly embarrassing actually because I was proud of my organising skills and the fact that I regularly get rid of things I no longer need. I'll blame it on my husband to make me feel better, but a lot of it was mine. Afterwards, I sold the shelving, side tables, etc I previously could not live without on Craigslist and put the money towards new dressers that we desperately needed. It was exhilarating! It inspired me to dung out my closet, the kids closets, the linen closet, laundry room and so on. I am a ruthless organising machine! Watch out basement, you have no idea what is about to hit you.

Oh god. The nagging task list. I'm in for it here, BIG TIME. We renovated our house exactly 5 years ago and for anyone who has ever renovated a house before, you know how easy it is to go over budget. Needless to say, a ton of things were never fully completed and it's funny how you don't even see it after awhile. I've been walking through my home as if I was interested in buying it. It's funny how all of a sudden, my house is gross. Dead ladybugs in the light fixtures (we just cleaned them, I swear!) and crayon marks on the wall I tried to scrub off and never succeeded. The list goes on. Replace siding on the side of the house where we boarded up some windows, finish painting the exterior (the front of my house is Hampshire Grey and the back is 15 year old faded blue. Transition strips, oh man. This sucks. But one of Gretchen's "Secrets of Adulthood" is "By doing a little bit each day, you can get a lot accomplished". So with that bit of advice, I'm trucking on.

The last is to drink more water, remember to take my vitamins. Speaking of more water, I'm actually quite thirsty. I'm dragging out my Tupperware water bottle (the really cool one that has a container that attaches to the bottom). Every morning, I'm putting my daily vitamins in the bottom container, so when I'm driving in the car and realise I forgot to take my iron, (Damn! Oh wait!) I have them in my water container! I did this last year and it worked out really well... That is until my mom and I went on vacation and I forgot the bottle. Did I mention I have a hard time following things through?!?

Sounds pretty easy right? I doubt it. One day at a time is all I need to remember and if anything, I'm a stubborn Gemini and nothing gets in the way of what I want. I'm off to get my vitamins because I'm pretty sure my other ones expired, write down all the nagging tasks (including going to the eye doctor which I've been putting off since I was 16) and typing out my resolutions chart.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."

-Aristotle

 

Thank god it's a leap year...

It all begins with the Happiness Project. March 1st will be my official start, which means I have one more day (thanks to the leap year) to get my resolutions down on paper. It's what inspired the entire vision board, so I'll start from the beginning...

5 months ago, I read the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. The book made me happier just by reading it. The book begins with a note to the reader:

A 'happiness project" is an approach to changing your life. First is the preparation stage, when you identify what brings you joy, satisfaction, and engagement, and also what brings you guilt, anger, boredom, and remorse. Second is the making of resolutions, when you identify the concrete actions that will boost your happiness. Then comes the interesting part: keeping your resolutions.

As she was identifying her resolutions, she discovered the same principles emerging, which she calls her "Commandments". They are meant to help you as you struggle to keep your resolutions. These are my affirmations.

1. Be Alicia.
2. Let it go.
3. It doesn't have to be equal.
4. Fake it till you make it.
5. Do it now.
6. Identify the problem.
7. Lighten up.
8. You are exactly where you are supposed to be.
9. Be grateful. Always.
10. Enjoy the ride.

She also came up with a goofier list: My Secrets of Adulthood. A list of lessons you have learned as you've grown up. I actually had a bit of fun with these!

Failing because you didn't try is worse than failing when you tried your best.
EVERYTHING happens for a reason.
Check your pockets before putting your clothes in the washing machine.
It's actually important to change the oil in your car regularly.
My mom is always right (except the time she told me asparagus grows in swamps).
If you are trying to prove a point, yelling never works.
People don't believe you are sorry when you scream it at them.
A glass of water usually cures a headache.
Your kids don't care how late you went to bed.
Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.
You are what you eat.


With those thoughts in mind, I'm ready (I think) to get this show on the road. I'll summarise the resolution for each month to give you an idea of the "Big Picture".

MARCH
Boost Energy (Vitality)

APRIL
Remember Love (Marriage)

MAY
Aim Higher (Work)

JUNE
Lighten up (Parenthood)

JULY
Be serious about play (Leisure)

AUGUST
Make time for friends (Friendship)

SEPTEMBER
Buy some Happiness (Money)

OCTOBER
Contemplate the Heavens (Eternity)

NOVEMBER
Pursue a Passion (Design)

DECEMBER
Pay Attention (Mindfulness)

JANUARY
Keep a Contented Heart (Attitude)

FEBRUARY
Boot Camp Perfect (Happiness)


When I first read the book, I wanted to do this with my husband. But after waiting patiently for him to finish reading it (which never happened, by the way), I realised that this is my journey, not his. Besides, one of my resolutions for April is to stop nagging, so I decided that if I had to harass him, it defeats the purpose. Since October, I've already started some of the resolutions that just couldn't wait. Getting rid of things you don't need, spending quality time with friends, tackling nagging tasks and starting a blog really have made me happier. It may seem like small things, but put together means big change!

And so it begins...

With my vision board complete, I’m officially on my way to completing my “Things-to-do-before-my 30th-birthday” bucket list. The countdown is on! 1 year, 3 months and 11 days. I also want to say, I don’t think my life is over at 30, it’s just the opposite, but I needed to set a deadline and the big 3-0 seemed appropriate. :)

Not only did I want my vision board to be meaningful, I wanted it to be beautiful and organised. My vision board is a Lotus flower and each petal is an area of my life I want to improve or change. In Buddhism, the Lotus flower represents rebirth and growth. The blue lotus flower refers to the common sense; it uses wisdom and logic to create enlightenment. When I look at my vision board, I want to remind myself that by achieving the goals I have set for myself, I am becoming the person I’ve always thought I want to be (and have some fun along the way)!

Career: Have you ever heard the John Casablancas radio ad for their Body Spa program of the little girl singing “Momma’s gonna buy you a mocking bird”, but she has changed the words and is singing about microdermabrasion and mudwraps? The point of the ad is that the little girl was “Born to do this”. I was the kid that would go to my friend’s house, and clean their rooms so I could rearrange for better furniture placement. And instead of drawing pictures of unicorns, I would draw house plans. No joke. I was born to be an interior designer. I live for design.

Goal #1: Apply for the Interior Design program at BCIT.


Health: I’m one of the lucky ones that can eat whatever and not put on weight. Or at least, I used to be. My mom’s been warning me for years, “Wait until you hit 30!” and damn it, she’s right. As I approach the impending date, the pounds go on a bit easier and it takes a bit more work to be rid of them. My husband reminds me that I should work out to be healthy, not to lose weight (what the hell does he know? Lol!). But really, I want to make exercise part of my life, not something I HAVE to do. I love running, but find if I don’t set monthly distance/time goals etc, I’ll take a day off and it turns into 6 months.

Goal #2: Run a 1/2 marathon.


Wellness: As I mentioned, I live for design. My PVR is full of design shows, the only magazines I buy are Canadian House & Home and Style at Home. I have an inspiration binder with all the pages I’ve ripped out from magazines of style ideas. But as I look around my house, I see the missing curtains I don’t have, the unpainted shelves (I finally bought) on either side of my fireplace, the missing area rug for my living room. You get the point. I want to look around and feel relaxed.

Goal #3: Make my house a home.


Money: I’ve purposely placed this petal in the centre of my lotus flower. It’s the one thing that has been holding me back from doing most of the things on my vision board. Money, or, lack thereof. It’s pretty self explanatory. Pay off the debt, then start saving.

Goal #4: Become financially responsible.


Travel: Two big trips I am dying to do. #1: Take my kids to Disneyland. I am a Disney freak! My husband and I even went to Disneyland on our honeymoon. I heard on the radio that statistics say only 10% of parents that promise their kids a trip to “The Happiest Place on Earth” actually take them!!! I REFUSE to be one of those parents. I have been talking to my kids about Disneyland since they were in the womb. Seriously. And I want to take them while it’s still magical. Coincidentally, I discovered Disneyland hosts 1/2 marathon weekends a few times per year and I’m determined to do the Tinkerbell Half Marathon January 18-20th, 2013. Talk about two birds with one stone. #2: Viva Las Vegas for my 30th! I’ve been to Vegas once. With my parents. I was 17. Soooo does not count.

Goal #5: Run through Disneyland, Party it up Vegas style!


Toys: I’ve done my research and wiped up my drool. I want some big kid toys. First and foremost… A MacBook Pro. Beautiful, sleek and all mine. Especially, because I’m going to need something to edit all the pictures and videos I’ll be taking with my new Sony Alpha SLT-a35 DSLR. And really, If I’m going back to school, this is a need, right? ;)

Goal #6: MacBook Pro and Sony DSLR.


Balance: The Happiness Project. If you haven’t read this book by Gretchen Rubin, stop what you are doing (as soon as you finishing reading) and go buy it. Best book I’ve ever read. It’s all about creating balance. To fully explain would be an entire post unto itself. Really, a lot of the things in my vision board will overlap, but one more way to keep myself accountable. I’ve already started implementing some of her ideas into my life, and they really do make me happy. Check it out at www.happiness-project.com/
Or get started on your own at www.happinessprojecttoolbox.com/

Goal #7: Complete my own Happiness Project.


Well, it seems so simple when it’s written down. Oprah would be proud.

It started with a vision... Literally

I’ve always loved the idea of a bucket list… any lists, really. To do lists are constantly being formed in my brain (and sometimes transferred to paper). With my 30th birthday in the not so distant future (thank god my 20s are almost over!), I realised I had been making a “bucket list” of things to do before the impending passing to complete adulthood.

Today I’m meeting with my “Dress Club” (more on that later) to put my list to paper, but in picture form. I can’t wait to complete my Vision Board of the biggest to-do list I’ve ever created! The one thing that usually fails me is my ability to follow through “projects” to the end. So in hopes of achieving my (and I will be the first to admit) demanding goals, I’ll be blogging my progress to keep myself accountable. So follow on!