Life Stuff

Let's address some 'maintenance' issues first:

1) I'm starting a Weight Watcher's filter for my LJ. If you want to be on it, please let me know.

2) I've started a group at Weight Watcher's online - it's called "The MinMaxer's Way" - it's a group for all of us 'gamers' out there doing WW.

3) My new mantra has become, if you bite it, you write it.

Now, on to other things:

NaNoWriMo - I haven't written word one. However, I type approximately 80 wpm, that's 4800 wph. So, realistically, I'll need to devote approximately 20 hours to writing during the remainder of the month. (Don't hate me that I write at lightning speed). I've got the book almost completely composed within my head, so once I start typing, it's a done deal.

Thanksgiving - Not going home this year, but please do not extend any invitations. Those would be temptations, because I'm going to be doing a 6-day detox all-liquid diet over Thanksgiving. Even though I've started WW, I need a cleanse, and I need to shrink my stomach after a couple of years of abusive eating. At one point, I had lost 235 pounds, but I regained 70 between 2007/2008 (on a positive note, I did not gain any weight in 2009).

Gratitude - From my friend Julie, on facebook - Every day until Thanksgiving, think of one thing you are thankful for and post it to your LiveJournal. Title your post "Today I am thankful for... - add in your item to the body of your post." Repost and invite others to take the challenge, then post what YOU are thankful for today. (I will post my gratitude post separately).

Ciao for now.

Today I am grateful for...

the beautiful view from my bedroom window. Every night as I lay down to sleep, I am able to gaze upon a skyline uncluttered by civilization. Beautiful stars light my room gently with their twinkling. It truly is stunning and makes me feel connected to the Universe.

Ciao for now.

Planning for next year & a challenge...

I've got a few things things I'd like to put forth as a challenge for my friends in 2010.

First: It takes approximately 3 weeks to develop a habit. Each year, instead of 'New Year's Resolutions' I make a list of 10 positive habits I'd like to develop (or, alternatively, a bad habit to break). 10 x 3 = 30 weeks, which is just over six months of the year, so there is time to take a week or two off between developing each new habit. I'd like to challenge all of my friends to 'Pick 10 for 2010.'

Next: There are things 'to do' in your life that will improve the quality of your life, but that aren't necessarily habits. I've never done this one before, but it's my latest attempt and lifestyle management. I'm calling this one '50 things in 50 weeks.' I'm going to come up with a list of 50 things to do over the course of 2010 that will improve my life. Examples are: read a book (or books), run a 5k, watch a sunset over the ocean... stuff like that. Again, I'd like to challenge all of you to do '50 things in 50 weeks' for the coming year.

Last: I bought the book, "You Can Do It! The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown-Up Girls" by Lauren Catuzzi Gandcolas several years ago, but haven't made a concerted effort to complete the 60 activities that make up the book. I'd like to change that, and I'd like to do it with a group of women. I have such talented and fabulous women all over the country on my friends list, I'd love for us to blog about our experiences in working our way through this book. My personal goal is to complete the 60 badges in 60 months.

Incidentally, proceeds from "You Can Do It! go to the Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas Foundation, which was established by Lauren's family and friends to support charitable causes of interest to Lauren. You see, tragically, on September 11, 2001, Lauren was flying home from her grandmother's funeral on United Airlines Flight 93. This book is an extraordinary challenge to women everywhere, written by a woman whose passion for everything she did was evident.

Won't you join me in my endeavors?

Ciao for now.

Pick 10 for 2010

Here are my 10 new habits for 2010. They are listed in the order in which I plan to implement them.

1) Start my day by reading, A Year With Rumi: Daily Readings by Coleman Barks (Beginning January 3)

2) Blog daily. That does not necessarily mean I'll be posting to LJ daily. I have several blogs scattered about the net, and it's one of '50 things for 50 weeks' projects to begin to network them all together in 2010. (Beginning February 7)

3) Get 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily. (Beginning March 14)

4) Get 7.5 hours of sleep each night. No excuses. My health is more important than my social life. (Beginning April 18)

5) Take time to truly listen to someone else each day. Engage them in a conversation where I don't speak of myself at all. (Beginning May 23)

6) Meditate for 30 minutes each day. (Beginning June 27)

7) End my day with a reading from Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life by Wayne Dyer. (Beginning August 1)

8) Do, learn or eat something new every day. It's up to us to create our life's experiences. (Beginning September 5)

9) Read something new for 60 minutes each day. (Beginning October 10)

10) Start a list of everything that I am grateful for. Add one new item a day. (Beginning November 7)

50 Things in 50 Weeks

These are in no particular order:

1) Get my passport
2) Join Toastmasters
3) Go the the symphony
4) Take a photography class
5) Go to a play
6) Go to a comedy club
7) Go to a baseball game
8) Help a total stranger
9) Teach a child how to do something
10) Perform a random act of kindess
11) Photograph a sunrise
12) Photograph a sunset
13) Photograph the mountains
14) Photograph the ocean
15) Become a member of the Canyon Climbers club
16) Run (not walk) a 5k
17) Enter a cooking contest
18) Have a party
19) Fall in love
20) Host a formal dinner party
21) Learn to line dance
22) Make a new friend
23) Eat at a restaurant I've never been to before
24) Learn a new cooking technique
25) Improve my knife skills
26) Host a board game event for friends
27) Hold a garage sale
28) Try something new that I haven't even thought of yet!
29) Use my Volunteer Day benefit
30) Learn to love myself
31) Go to a spa
32) Completely unplug for 48 hours (no TV, no computers, no phone, etc.)
33) Give hugs to everyone that wants one
34) Be true to myself
35) Earn my CFPS certification
36) Go bowling
37) Go to a professional hockey game
38) Go to a professional basketball game
39) Dare to Dream (earn You Can Do It! badge)
40) Improve my nutrition (earn You Can Do It! badge)
41) Take a trip somewhere that requires a passport (earn You Can Do It! badge)
42) Give a speech (earn You Can Do It! badge)
43) Write a business plan (earn You Can Do It! badge)
44) Paint a picture (earn You Can Do It! badge)
45) Be an author (earn You Can Do It! badge)
46) Take a (Really Good) Picture (earn You Can Do It! badge)
47) Go World Wide (build a website) (earn You Can Do It! badge)
48) Bead it (earn You Can Do It! badge)
49) Get Well Read (book lover) (earn You Can Do It! badge)
50) Exercise Your Options (fitness) (earn You Can Do It! badge)

Ciao for now.