Day 28 Item:  Fly to somewhere for vacation even if in your imagination.
Hey, From Florida!
I actually, literally got on a plane this morning at 7 a.m.!  'Arrived in Florida at 3 ish (5ish Florida time)
It's 80 degrees Farenheit here.  Clear and sunny. 
Nothing like a vacation to somewhere warm to shake up a winter!  I recommend it.
I acknowledge that I am blessed and I fully appreciate the priviledge I am enjoying today.  If you can't get away to somewhere warm, take a few minutes and let your imagination take you.  Imagine the sights, the sounds, the smell, the feel of the place you would love to get away to.  What activities would you enjoy?  What would you eat?  Who would you be with.  Don't underestimate the power of you imagination.  By invoking the 'feeling' you give your mind a body and great vacation from your everyday.

Anyone else out there on vacation now?

Day 29:  You are on your own!  Do something creative.  I would love to hear about it!

Day 27 Item:  Call or visit that person you know you should call or visit.

 I had no idea when I wrote out this list at the end of January how important and ‘prophetic’ this item would be.
There is a lady I’ve known for years in a professional capacity. We ‘hit it off’ from the moment we met. We chatted easily and shared tidbits about our personal lives easily.  We constantly said, “We should get together for lunch!”
 
Two weeks ago she died.  Last year she suffered massive internal damage due to a rampant virile infection. 
The surgeons did all they could, stitched her back together and did not hold out much hope that my friend would live.  I saw her a few times after that and again I ‘knew’I should make a point of getting together with her. She recovered
and lived quite spectacularly until she suffered a heart attack earlier this month.

She was a busy person, I’m a busy person.  Damn, I wish I had made lunch happen with her.

 The best way to deal with regret, that I know of, is to treat it as a life lesson – in this case, a very
serious life lesson, and change for the better.  Today, I called on a lady that regularly tells me to “come over for lunch anytime.” I always reply, ‘Yes, yes I will.’ Today I went over to lunch with her.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  
 
Are you putting off doing something you ‘know’ you should do? I urge you to listen to your knowing.

Day 28:  Fly away somewhere.

Day 26 Item:    Read a Wikipedia bio of someone you are curious about.

Today I accessed “Wikipedia” to read a couple of biographies.  The first one I read was about Caroline Myss.  She is a ‘mystic’ and author.  She is either brilliant or a kook.  You can decide.  I’ve listened to her classes and read her books.  I find things she says interesting and worth consideration.

The second person I looked up was Seth Meyers.  He’s a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live.  He’s accomplished a lot in a short time.  He’s a genius, in my opinion, because he gets paid to be cleverly critical, observant and funny.

I love biographies because although it is impossible to know anyone by just reading about them, even if it is in their own words, I find peoples’ lives are the most fascinating stories to read.  Also, learning about the journey that a person takes to get where they are or become who they become usually provides perspective I can use in my own life.

Also, I discovered that you can submit a biography/article of your own to “Wikipedia” by signing up for an account.  So, far there is no Wikipedia bio of any Jennifer Washington.  ‘wonder if I should apply to write that…?


Day 27:   Phone or visit that person you know you should phone or visit.

Day 25 Item:    Draw, doodle or colour for 10 minutes

I almost didn’t do day 25’s item today.  ‘felt I was too busy, 'had more important things to do, it was a waste of time to do something meaningless like colouring.  Which is exactly the point of the item.  I take myself too seriously most of the time.  I convince myself that my to do list is so important and necessary and that time must be spent on ‘valuable’ things.  But ‘value’ is subjective people.  We decide what is valuable and what we value, we spend money and time on.

I value making a point of stepping back and looking at my choices, my beliefs and questioning if they are true and how they are working for me.  The idea that my precious time should be spent a certain way is my ultimate choice, based on what I tell myself is true.  I value the commitments I make.  If I say I’m going to do something, then I commit the time to completing it.  Everything else is up for grabs.  I get to choose. 

This evening I chose to dig out my tube of Doodle Art!  I got it when I was in Grade 10.  2 out of 4 of the pages are completed.  The felt markers have long since dried up or been lost.  I bought myself a new set of felt markers a while ago when the Doodle Art tube re-surfaced.  I put on some itunes and coloured in some butterflies.  And, once again, I realized that most things in my life that I stress about are not that big of a deal.  It is truly small stuff.   Now I will get back to my very busy and important life - What film do you think will win Best Picture Oscar?


Day 26  Read a Wikipedia bio of someone you are curious about.

Day 24 Item:    Organize one drawer or closet.

I’m all for making tedious chores fun, so today’s item was an excuse for me to buy a drawer organizer kit from Ikea.  Okay, maybe this is not everyone’s idea of ‘fun’ but it is for me.  The kit is a package of various sized containers made out of, most likely cardboard, covered with nylon, in my favorite colour, purple.  I organized one drawer of scarves using 4 of the containers.  I had forgotten about some of them the way they were buried in there!  All 6 containers from the kit didn’t fit into one drawer, so I used one container to house some of my ‘delicates’ in another drawer and the last I used to hold some costume jewelry in another drawer.  I ended up tripling my goal of one drawer and did three.  I listened to inspirational talk radio on my mp3 player while I did today’s project. 

Because I made the project small, I found it was much more manageable as well as enjoyable.  I had set out to do only one drawer so, moving onto 2 more felt like I went above and beyond on the accomplishment scale today.  And it feels great.  No pics!  I don’t think anyone wants to see my drawers.  You’re welcome.


Day 25:    Draw, doodle or colour for 10 minutes

Day 23 Item:    Buy $1 scratch and win ticket

I bought the last available $1 scratch ticket at my nearby drug store.  The ‘game’ ticket was called “Lucky Charm.” Winning entailed finding 3 matching dollar amounts. I scratched off the covering and revealed dollar amounts that appeared only once or twice.  Then I scratched the ‘bonus’ area and it said I won $1.  Yes! I got my money back.

I then redeemed the ticket, got my winning dollar, added one more dollar and purchased a lottery ticket.  That was some added spark to a very usual day.  I’ll let you know if I win.

Did anyone else win anything today?

Day 24:    Organize one drawer or closet.

Day 22 Item:  Download lyrics to that song you always sing, but aren’t sure of the words and sing it out loud

I chose “Moves Like Jagger” (Maroon 5) as my song lyrics to learn.  How many times a day is this song played?  The only song played more often than this one, these days, is “I’m Sexy and I Know It.” (LMFAO) I attempt singing along to “Moves” every time as if I know the words.  I don’t. 

Reading the lyrics instead of singing them puts the meaning in a starker light.  No surprise the song is about sex.  I was trying to find the poetic gist of it, but there really isn’t any.  It’s all “you want me, you got me, I’ll do it to you, you do it to me, but, when I show you mine, you can’t tell.”  At least that’s what I got out of it.

Speaking lyrics is my daughter’s favourite comedy routine.  It’s hilarious hearing them spoken like they are a real conversation.  Try it!

I’m going to go download ‘Sexy & I Know It’ and say it to someone. (not.)

Day 23:  Buy $1 scratch and win ticket

Day 21 Item:  Throw out old underwear &/or socks

My first thought when I pulled out my sock drawer was “Why do I have so many socks?”  I dumped them all out, found 4 socks that had no mates, several pair that weren’t even mine(?) and surprisingly, not many with holes in them – I’m pretty good at throwing them out when holes happen – I so do not darn socks!  I threw out several pair that had seen better days and or had lost their ability to stay up.  I decided to colour code them and lined them all back in the drawer like soldiers.  When I’d finished that, I discovered another drawer ½ full of socks that I’d completely forgotten about!  Obviously, I did not miss them so out they went.

As I was finishing my to-do list this a.m. I was pondering my ‘why do I have so many socks?’ question.  If my drawer of socks were a metaphor for my life what would it mean? I asked myself.  Socks cover my feet, which is my foundation for moving about.  And I have covering for any probable/possible occasion. So, my foundation is ‘covered.’  Which is true in my life.  I have more than the basic necessities of life, in fact, like my socks, I have a luxury of necessities to choose from for any likely situation.  In the way I hoard socks that I don’t use or no longer need, maybe in life I hoard more than I need? This leads me to ask myself; In what ways can I pare down what I think I ‘need’ to exist?  I also suspect that it represents a common basic fear of having enough covering for the future.  I stock pile socks as security literally and figuratively.  Can I really be prepared for the future by trying to ‘cover’ every possibility?  I do not believe I can.  I do know that I have resources available when I need them, but even more importantly, I have my internal resources that have always guided me and will continue to guide me in every situation.  I will certainly give more thought to purchasing socks in the future.


Item 22:  Download lyrics to that song you always sing, but aren’t sure of the words and sing it out loud

Day 20 Item:  Learn a joke and tell it today at least once. http://www.coolfunnyjokes.com/

I learned 4 jokes today from the website link above.  I told them and this one got the biggest laugh:

Wittle Wabbit
A little girl walks into a pet shop and asks in the sweetest little lisp: "Excuthe me, mithter, do you keep wittle wabbits?"
And the shopkeeper gets down on his knees, so that he's on her level, and asks: "Do you want a wittle white wabby or a soft and fuwwy bwack wabby or maybe one like that cute wittle bwown wabby over there?"
The little girl puts her hands on her knees, leans forward and says in a quiet voice: "I don't fink my pyfon really giveths a thit." 

Having a good joke and telling it is instantly gratifying.  ‘makes one feel good about themselves even if it’s just for a moment.  I also admire anyone who can tell a joke and tell it well. 

Hope you enjoyed a laugh today!


Day 21:  Throw out old underwear &/or socks

Day 19 Item:  Go to Youtube and watch funny pet videos for at least 10 minutes

This is my favorite one:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhyeyoC-TxU&feature=fvwrel
All of the BBC ones are fun.
Any one out there got some better ones?

Day 20:  Learn a joke and tell it today at least once. http://www.coolfunnyjokes.com/