Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Authentic Self - End of Month Summary

Boo you whore authentic self.  This month was hard.  It started out as fun month, which I scrapped and replaced with authentic self/pursue your passion.  I guess it is kind of unreasonable to think I would make epic changes in the remaining two weeks.  I really struggled with motivation this month, my head was not in it.  It's okay to have a couple bad weeks or an off month, but what I really want is an ON month, kick ass epic month(s).  I often think about this infomercial for P90X (which was amazeballs and caused me to purchase it).  People apply themselves, work out, like really work out 6 days a week for 90 days, 3 months, and completely transform their bodies.  After 3 months they look like different people, that's epic life changing shit.  So I'm always thinking, what would happen if I really went all out with my monthly goals, what would happen?  I have bursts of inspiration and then a bad day where I'm tired and lazy and don't care.  If for a month, or 3, I really got in the zone and really applied myself, no flaking out, no cheating on my happiness resolutions.  Even as I type this I know that perfection is impossible, and knowing myself bad days are inevitable.  

Turning off the TV has been a great discovery.  It's hard, TV is a seductive little tramp, and it'll be even harder when we're back at full capacity once Melissa returns from her vacation, but I think it's important and am going to turn it off whenever I can and will encourage the roomies to as well.

I made some slight improvements in my budget.  I reduced my random spending by about $50 and cut buying meals down by $70.  I also contributed more to savings than usual this month.  I think this is significant on a tight budget because I didn't have a lot of extra money to begin with so there wasn't any ridiculous spending I needed to cut out. 

I printed out a bunch of pictures I like and taped them to the side of the fridge so I can look at it when sitting at the kitchen table.  Ta daa make-shift office with inspiration board.  

So, I spent most of this month trying to figure out my roadblocks, reading about procrastination, forcing myself to sit in silence in the apartment to get stuff done.  My hope is that next month we can start pushing past them and have more success with my goals.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

I'm Sorry TV, Mommy Can't Look At You Right Now

In my last post I discussed The Procrastination Equation by Piers Steel and this weekend I put some of what I read into effect.  Friday night I started to put some of my procrastination goals into effect.  I had the apartment to myself, I came home from work sat on the couch and turned on the TV.  After flipping through the channels for about 10 minutes I turned it off.  There was nothing on.  I could have found something to stare blankly at but I didn’t.  I decided to eliminate distractions so I put my ipod in the speaker (something I can never do when my roommates are home because the TV is always on) and cleaned the entire apartment.  Once the apartment was cleaned I did a couple of unfinished tasks, reprogrammed the universal remote in my bedroom, repaired a broken picture frame and organized on top of the fridge.  I wrote a couple personal emails, searched for some inspirational images and played some Donkey Kong.  Pretty productive Friday evening if you ask me.
 -
Saturday I spent most of the day outside the apartment, but the first thing I did when I got back was NOT turn on the TV.  I got my laptop out and did an hour of tutorials.  On Sunday I inputted my receipts into my budget, read, did a half an hour of tutorials and planned out the finer points of next month of Happiness Project.  I debated going to the gym but I found myself rebelling against it.  Turns out that Value plays a bigger part in my feelings toward my tutorials and fitness than I first thought.  I dislike doing them.  My tutorials are great and all, but the pace is very slow which makes it hard to stay engaged and I just hate the gym. 
I went back and re-read the chapter on overcoming issues of Value.  Some points I made include:
-
- If the task bores you, try to make it more difficult for yourself to create flow/total engagement
- connect your tasks with long term goals
- accept that you don’t have infinite mental energy
(take breaks and set a realistic amount of time spent on any one thing)
- try to be productive in the morning when you have the most mental energy
- reward progress

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So to make my tutorials more challenging/engaging I’m making a rule for myself that I must continuously take notes and starting with the next set will follow along.  I’m going to create inspiration boards to help remind me of long-term goals.  I’ve never wanted an office before, but when I started to think of where to put my inspiration boards I realized I didn’t have a space for it.  Mornings are my nemesis!  I do know that it’s a nice feeling to have accomplished a lot on a Saturday morning before noon and be able to chill without guilt.  Reward progress.  I find this really hard, as it’s not external like a prize for winning a contest.  I thought perhaps I could only watch TV or a movie once I was done my tutorials, or I can only read my blogs once I do my workout.  The bottom line is that I have to make myself enjoy these tasks one way or another or I will deplete my will power.
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I must admit I am amazed by the power of turning off the TV.  I sat in the living room letting the uncomfortable feeling on the empty screen sink in.  It wasn’t long before I got uncomfortable enough to start thinking of things I could be doing.  Seriously, just try it for one night, come home from work and don’t turn the TV on.  It was amazing.  I’m going to have to have a family meeting with the rest of my household and see if I can get everyone on board for cutting down their TV time.

Friday, March 25, 2011

The Procrastination Equation - Piers Steel

I’ve never really considered myself to be a procrastinator.  Often, when I decide to do something I do it.  I rock at my nagging tasks list.  I cross those tasks off like nobody’s business.  I don’t like a lot of stuff hanging over my head.  I do my dishes that night after supper, I clean the apartment once a week, I steam clean the carpets every 6 months, I do my taxes right away, I pay my bills on time, all things considered I’m on top of most things.
In doing the happiness project I have noticed that I tend to procrastinate a lot when it comes to certain things: My Tutorials, My Fitness and My Friends also known as Pursue Your Passion, Boost Energy and Friends and Family.  These are huge contributors to my happiness, yet I’m always putting them on the back burner.  So I decided to figure out the issue and bought a book on procrastination.  I’m sure I’ll get around to reading it one of these days… just kidding!
He breaks procrastination down into 3 main categories:
Expectancy: When what we expect to happen doesn’t, we lose confidence.
Once you start believing your goals aren’t achievable, you stop effectively pursuing them.

Value: We tend to put off whatever we dislike.  Pretty straightforward.

Time: Time is smaller more immediate pleasures chosen over those that are larger but more delayed.  Television is given as a big example of a short term pleasure that takes away from long term goals, so is Facebook.  I would say time is probably my biggest challenge.
While reading, I made a list of points I felt to be valid:
- keep energy up (it’s easy to put off tasks when you feel too exhausted to do them)
- reward progress
- learn to love your work (re-frame your negative views)
- visualize your passion career (and contrast it to where you are now)
- acknowledge that you procrastinate and how (and why, expectancy, value, time)
- precommittment (be specific about when you will do something, ex: immediately after breakfast)
- create challenging goals, they are more inspirational than attainable ones
- make 10 minutes goals, focus on small steps
So the first step is to acknowledge that I am a procrastinator.  I procrastinate.  Next, I have to figure out the ways in which I procrastinate which I have decided to be watching TV and daydreaming.  I would put internet third but I rarely use the internet at home so it’s rare.  I also do what is known as productive procrastination where I will clean and organize instead of doing another task and I tell myself that’s okay because I am getting things done, just not the right things.  TV is my number one.  The irony in that is that I don’t even like half the TV I watch.  I am now going to severely cut back on how much TV I watch.  I’m going to PVR the couple shows I do like and make a commitment to plan my TV time.
I also thought the 10 minutes goals were good.  I’ve always rebelled against the baby steps idea, but I think it’s time to embrace it.  Instead of focusing on working out, make your goal to get your gym clothes on and then see how you feel, if you feel good take your next step.  A big part of it is making clear and specific steps.  Instead of get my finances in order, your goal is to gather all your receipts, sort them into categories and input your totals into your budget.
My next goal is to really brainstorm how to apply this to my procrastination.  My favorite part of the book was when he said that all of this means nothing if you don’t follow through on it.  Um, hello, isn’t that what procrastination is?

Thursday, March 24, 2011

You Sunk My Battleship

I’m getting fed up with myself and my slowly fading commitment to my project.  I really half-assed this month; I half-assed pursue your passion.  Pursue your passion!  Unacceptable!  Ridiculous!  It’s time to get my head back in the game. 
Game:  You ain’t got the stuff.

Kirby: Shut your dirty whore mouth Game.

Game: Get off the couch and tell me that.

Kirby: Why I oughtta….

Game: You ought to do a lot of things you lazy schlub.  Remember when your plan was to do epic life changing shit?

Kirby: I’m trying!

Game: You’re thinking about trying you lazy hermit.  This is crap, EPIC crap.

Kirby: I will not tolerate any smack from you Game.  I’ll show you.

Game: I’ve been around a long time kid, you ain’t got the stuff.  Get your head out of here.

Kirby: I am going to take your mother out for a nice seafood dinner and never call her again Game!  I am going to put soap in your coffee and spit on your burger!  You son of a motherless goat!  Why don’t you go back to your home on whore island?

Game: All talk and no action isn’t going to get you back in.

Kirby: I want my pink shirt back.

Game: Stop being a whiny brat.  That’s it I’m leaving.

Kirby: I own you Game.  That’s right, I created you; I built this.  This is my project and it’s not over until I say it is.  You’re right I need to work on following through with my ideas.  I’m pretty clever; I have a lot of good ideas.

Game: Good ideas are a dime a dozen.

Kirby: Okay Game don’t start quoting my professors from college.

Game: Your mom goes to college.

Kirby: Shut it Game.  I’m putting my foot down; I’m going to start killing it at Happiness Project.  Winning!  That’s what I’m going to do.

Game: A little less talk and a lot more action kid.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Que Sera Sera

I’m on a quest to recapture some piece of my youth this month.  I feel like I became a different person over the past three years, that I disconnected from my old self and became someone different.  Someone not so consumed with disappointment in their failed choices.
What makes you who you are?  Your family, your friends, your relationships, your interests, your education, your career, but all of these things can change.  Maybe your family isn’t going to change, but they could be separated from you by long distances… or die, you may grow apart from your friends, relationships fall apart, what you’re interested in, your education, your career, can all change. 
Your experiences define you, right?  You are the sum of everything that has happened to you.  You are defined by how you choose to deal with everything that has happened to you.  So you are a collection of people, and experiences.  What happens when memories start to fade, and people grow apart?  What happens when the ties that define you start to thin? 
Well then you make new ties; a new collection of people and make new memories.  People aren’t stagnant, they evolve and change.  So what happens when there’s a sudden shift?  No natural progression but an abrupt severing of ties.  I guess some people embrace this change and the opportunity to re-invent themselves.  I don’t know why I feel this strange disconnect, or why I can’t seem to describe it properly.  I guess I want some spark of recognition.  I used to be able to remember myself clearly in different phases of my life.  I could clearly recall specific thoughts that I had as a young child, my attitudes toward things as a teenager.  Even though they were two very different stages of my life, I could remember and relate to them.  I guess, up until recently I felt like I had a strong sense of self.  A big part of the happiness project is cultivating a strong sense of self through my resolutions which are all aimed at making me my best version of myself, cultivating qualities that I find admirable.  The hard part is to make sure I’m staying true to who I am and not trying to fit myself into some idealized mold.
Frequently I find myself asking, “What do I want”, “What do I like to do?”  Often the answer is, “I don’t know” which makes me uncomfortable.  At my interview for my new job I got asked the where do you see yourself in 5 years question and the thought that ran through my find was “Well obviously not to still be a glorified receptionist”, which I didn’t say of course, but the true answer to that question is that I honestly don’t know.  I should know, shouldn’t I? 
I often think about that line from the Sunscreen Song: "Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young."  I don't think my furture lies in my past.  I'm not looking for answers in the past, I'm just looking to reconnect with myself by doing, or re-doing things that used to resonate with me. 

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Me Me Me

A blog is a very self absorbed thing.  Me me me.  The happiness project is very me me me as well.  Sometimes I wonder if I would do better at certain resolutions if I lived alone.  I have P90X dvds that I like to do, and in theory if I followed the schedule for 3 months I should get ripped.  The dvds would need to be done in my living room, which is a problem when you have two roommates.  Maybe now and then I could do one, but not 6 times a week without banishing the entire household.  Flash and I spend almost all of our non-work time together, so his presence is obviously a big influence on how I spend my time.  Even though my behavior may seem selfish and lazy at times when I retreat to my room or seem shut down, I think I'm having a hard time being 'selfish' or focusing on myself the way I want to.  I don't know if there's a word for that, but focusing on other people prevents me from focusing on myself and instead I bum around the house feeling frustrated.  I can't say for certain that I would do better on these things if I lived alone, but it would certainly eliminate a lot of the excuses for not being as productive as I think I should be.

But where's the balance?  Can I focus on myself and still be a good friend?  A good girlfriend?  Is this an issue of motivation and procrastination or is this one of those me vs we relationships issues?  I need a happy place, a space to work on things.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER!

A friend is someone we turn to
when our spirits need a lift.
A friend is someone we treasure
as our friendship is a gift.
A friend is someone who fills our lives
with beauty, joy and grace.
And makes the whole world we live in
a better and happier place.

Friendship month has been awesome. I've accomplished many of my tasks. I met a new friend, his name is Tom. We went to dinner last night and I realized that we have SO much in common. He's a great guy. I also sent all my facebook "thank yous" to people that wished me a happy birthday. I got SUCH an amazing response! Now my task will be to continue on some of these conversations and write people back!
I also sent the snail mail thank yous to people that came to my birthday party. Again the response so was nice. A lot of people said it made their day, or that it was so thoughtful. EVERY person told me they loved me. YAY!
I planned dinner with my cousin D, so we're doing that tomorrow. I've been chatting more with my uncle. I reached out to one of my cousins that I missed in the "family" month update email. And I sent Sarah (one of the 804 girls) an update email. I feel great!!! I need to reach out to my male friends a little more too now. So that will be my focus heading into the second half of March. I will also be off to Cancun, Mexico at the end of the month so I'm sure i'll make some new friends there ;)
I reached out to Mike as well, so we can get together for dinner during my one day stay over in Toronto en route to Mexico. SO all in all, I think i'm being a good friend.

It's important to note that my good friend Stephanie and I went through a really rough patch in our friendship over the holidays. We questioned our loyalty and depth. We had a lot of talks about it and how to get back to being the best of friends, like we used to. Stephanie has been doing SO well at working on the things I suggested that I needed from her. I've really seen her be so supportive and patient and really working on things. I let her know how much I appreciate her and all her efforts, and I'm happy to report that our love and friendship is stronger than ever. :)

I have Kirby a hard time about quitting her "Fun" month. Kirby is very important to me and she's such an amazing person all I want is for her to be happy. Kirby is SO fun and I feel like Flash and I are the only ones that REALLY see that side of her because she's got slight hermit crab syndrome. But if being alone and staying in makes Kirby happy, who am I to say otherwise. So I'm laying off her and letting her just explore on her own, that's the whole point of our project.

In the spirit of Friendship, I am now signing off to spend some quality time with my friends down on the JERSEY SHORE. Happy Jersday y'all. FIST PUMP!

Yours in friendship, Mel

Start Me Up

I have this nagging feeling that I’m going to have to re-incorporate boost energy into my happiness project, partly because Mel gives me grief over it, partly because I feel exhausted.  Why I’m so exhausted I’m not sure… I guess my new job probably has something to do with it.  Even though I’m now working hours similar to what the majority of people work it’s an increase for me.  I used to start work at 9:00 am; I now start at 7:50 am.  This means my day starts earlier and lasts longer, but I’ve been doing this for a month and I think I’ve adjusted to my new routine pretty well.  It’s not mornings that I’m struggling with as much, I actually feel quite awake when I get up, it’s the evenings.  I feel extremely burnt out when I get home.  There are probably things I could be doing, like exercising or taking vitamins.  I’ve also realized that a lot of it is in my mindset.  If I know I have things that I need to do when I get home I feel more awake.  It’s so easy to put off things that I tell myself I want to do.  It’s a constant challenge for me to keep motivated enough to follow through on things day after day.  Being accountable to yourself is hard; staying motivated is hard.  I need to learn to do things for me, and not worry about what anyone else is doing, just decide that this is how I’m spending my evening and do it, not to wait to see what the rest of the apartment is doing.  It would be nice if Melissa and I were doing the same things at the same time, but we aren’t.  I’m a planner, and though I find making plans takes a lot of energy, I know I’m not spontaneous enough to want to do spur of the moment things, I need to psych myself up, anticipate the events in order for them to work.  If I say I’ll maybe do some tutorials when I get home I won’t because when I get home I’ll be tired and will crawl into bed and read a book or watch a movie and won’t do my tutorials because I’ll tell myself to do it another day.  If I tell myself I’m doing an hour of tutorials no matter what I’ll be more likely to do it, but it’s still a challenge when you’re only accountable to yourself.
As I look at Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project Blog I see that the post is on a author who wrote a book on procrastination and how to overcome it.  A sign perhaps?

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Like Sands Through the Hourglass

So this weird identity crisis I’ve been going through for the past while has made me think a lot about my childhood; why I am the way I am, what things shaped my personality, my interests, my strengths and my weaknesses.  I used to be able to recall so clearly countless memories from my young childhood but now I’m finding even some of my teenage memories to be less clear.
I’ve been trying to capture some sense of myself at that time.  I recently hunted down an old PS1 video game that I adored (just in time because technology was about to eclipse me) and spent an embarrassing amount of time playing it.  I’ve started reading more, and am about to start reading a huge book that I probably read four times from ages 13-18.  If I had to pick a book that encapsulates my young teenage self it would be this one.
If I had a child something I would encourage them to do would be to document their life in some way.  Whether that be through consistently photographing events in their life and keeping them filed and organized in a clear way, or through journaling, or a combination.  An idea I had would be to write letters to my future self.  Every time something happened (party, a romantic/flirtatious encounter, heartbreak, success, failure) to sit down and write a letter to yourself in the future telling them about what occurred.  Basically a journal but written in letter form.  I think it would be priceless if I had kept a detailed journal of things that happened in my life from the time I was a small child, say fourth grade and continued it for the rest of my life.  How amazing would it be to go back and read a huge book of your life’s experiences?  There would be so many details that I’ve completely forgotten so many funny stories.  Stories or funny jokes from parties, the complete arc of a relationship from beginning flirtations to its demise or evolution into a marriage.
I have this weird thing with journals where I can never get in the habit of writing things in one place.  I’ve got at least 3 or 4 journals/notebooks kicking around all of them have about the first ¼ filled.  I find it hard to organize them as my preference seems to be to write lists on random pieces of crap paper all the time.  If anyone is a master journaler or has some clever way or recording thoughts and experiences let me know.  In a future month I want to start journaling again and I need a better system for it. 
I used to write a diary for a bit when I was younger, but then I would go back and read stuff several months later and decide it was stupid and rip it out.  It could be for an excuse as dumb as my handwriting wasn’t very nice.  At the moment I’m blogging and it’s a record, but it’s a record of happiness project stuff but it’s still an edited version of the happiness project.  Some people like scrapbooking, and even though I like the idea, formal scrapbooking to me is a lot of work and very expensive.  I have a friend who goes on scrapbooking retreats, entire days dedicated to scrapbooking in a giant room with 20 other scrapbookers.  It’s just too much for me, but I like aspects of it like adding in mementos and creating a beautiful record.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

March - Authentic Self

A friend of mine suggested I stick with fun month, prove I can champion it. 
There are three main things working against fun month:

- the freezing cold makes me not want to leave my house
- money month has made it clear that I can’t afford anything much in terms of entertainment and so I feel resentful of having to spend money on something that I don’t really feel like doing
- I absolutely 100% do not feel like it.  I get where my friend is coming from, but I know myself, I know that I will half ass this month and won’t have fun with it.  

I think it’s best to be true to myself, to be Kirby, that it’s okay to change my mind about things because it’s my project and to do what I think is best for me right now.  So, I have decided to do the remaining three weeks of this month on Pursue Your Passion/Authentic Self.  I’m still in a work/money mindset so I think authentic self month relates to this best because I want to pursue a passion that will one day relate to what I do for a living and I believe I can do these things at little to no cost. 
So my goals are going to relate to my work month goals in that I’d like to get back to doing my tutorials and actually use my skills to make things.  I need to get past this hump of learning but not doing.  The doing is the fun part.  I used to do my tutorials at work, but now that isn’t an option.  I know that I can't do them at home; there are too many distractions at home, too many options of other things I can be doing so I’ve thought up a couple options.  I could go to work early, take my laptop and do my tutorials before I start work.  Let’s say an hour a day, for 3 days a week.  Flash leaves much earlier than me so I could get him to drop me off on his way to work.  The added incentive is that I get a ride to work instead of my usual train and walk combo.  The downside is getting up earlier and the possibility that my day may end up feeling extremely long.  My other thought was that I take my laptop and go and sit in a Starbucks and do a couple hours of tutorials.  Maybe I do one weeknight, and then Sunday morning or something to that effect.  I doubt mornings would work, judging from my tumultuous past with the AM, but I do know that I need to find a place outside of the apartment to do them.  Either before or after work at work is something I’m seriously considering because I like to use two screens to do my tutorials; one to watch on and one to do the work on.  Otherwise I’m always pausing and flipping between screens.  After work might be a do able option for right now when it’s cold, but in the summer I’m going to want to get home right after work and walk the dog.
As part of my authentic self I want to do things that I used to enjoy when I was young.  I used to draw, which I never do anymore, I used to read, which I have been getting back into, really just getting in touch with my artistic side more.  I think a lot of people who have jobs they are passionate about can trace their career path back to their childhood.  I was thinking my lunch hour would be a good time to do some of these things, it's outside my apartment, a set amount of time so I can't submit to other distractions.  I could do say, 45 minutes of tutorials during my lunch hour on the 'personal' computer upstairs, or I could spend my break sketching or reading (which I do currently).  My goal for is to start producing things and maybe posting them on the blog or mailing them to friends or both. 

Sunday, March 6, 2011

The Grinch Who Stole Fun Month

Number of 'fun' things I did this weekend = 0.  The truth is I really don't want to do fun month right now.  I feel like being low key, not spending money, not going out into the frozen wasteland anymore than I absolutely have to.  I want to do fun month when the weather's nicer, I want fun month to be doing stuff outside, patios, cute outfits that don't involve parkas and mitts and scarves and warming the car up.  It's still hibernation time and this grumpy bear isn't ready to come out and play.

So, I propose a radical first for happiness project: a change of the monthly topic.  Why make myself feel like a lame boring loser for wanting to lay low?  I don't need to feel guilty about not being 'fun' enough so I am taking a rain check on fun month.  That's right Cindy Lou, who stole fun month?  I did. 

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Friends Forever!

MARCH- FRIENDSHIP

I chose to put my "Friendship Focus" month right after Love month in the hopes that I would have fallen in love and have to work this month on the OH SO tricky task of managing your friends when you're in a new relationship. Haha kidding.
To be more honest, I put Friendship month after because I think I'm a pretty kick ass friend and after struggling through Love month, wanted something kind of easy.

My goals for friendship month are the following:
1. Keep in better contact with my best long distance friends (Lizzy T, Ashes, Fergie, Hunter)
2. Try to do things with my male friends (Teddy, Gord, Byron, Broc)
3. Send a personal thank you not to everyone who took the time to wish me a Happy Birthday on February 27th.
4. Send personal thank you cards (via snail mail) to everyone who came to my birthday party and/or got me a birthday present.
5. Call my Nani
6. Send the 804 girls an update email (Tasha, Wilbur, Lori, Britaney)
7. Do something special for my BEST friends (Karlee, Stephanie, Kirby, Angela) to let them know how much I appreciate them.
8. Help Kirby with her "FUN" month because, let's be honest, I'm the most fun ever.
9. Reach out and make one new friend.

I am already off to an incredible start on Friendship month. On my FIRST day I took care of sending personal thank you notes to everyone who wished me a happy birthday on facebook. 83 messages! You know what though, it was COMPLETELY worth it. I got so many messages back and got conversations going with a lot of people I probably wouldn't have spoken to otherwise. Also, while I was writing set messages on facebook, I had two old guy friends (Mike Alexander and Jon Webber) IM me during, and had good update conversations with them! BOOM.
I also crossed off a task that I missed in "Family" month which was to get together with my cousin Deanne for dinner. We are doing that next weekend :)

I have also agreed to go to my male friend Byron's open house for his new business he opened. A VIP Salon for men. It's a great idea and I think Calgary has the market for it. I want to support him and his amazing entrepreneurial spirit, something I really love and envy in Byron. I normally hate going to events during the week, especially ones outside the downtown core, but this is important to him and I want to be supportive.
I have also made plans to make a new friend. I have a client I work with through my job. She is my age but at a very different place, a husband and two kids. She probably doesn't get to do the types of things I do very often so she asked me if I wanted to get together for some wine and she would give me a facial, as she has recently embarked on a new Mary Kay venture. Again normally, this is not something I would be in to, I really dislike make-up and face parties (Mary Kay, Arbonne, Avon, etc.) BUT Kristy is a doll and I really like her and I didn't go to her Christmas Party this year even though she invited me. She was so happy when I agreed and even said she didn't get to do things that wasn't related to her kids very often so she was really excited. That makes me happy, I like making other people happy :)

Hunter and I had an hour long phone call the other evening and it was so great to catch up with him. We realized it had been about a year since we had spoken (oh my god) and since he came to visit me last September. Terrible. Hunter was a big rock for me during University, I want him to be in my life forever. Do better with Hunter. 100%.
I also let another friend, Mike, in on my Happiness Blog. This is scary for me as not a lot of friends really know about it. And I realized after I had told him about the blog that I talk about the time when I first met him and what a big crush I had etc. IN the blog. I'm not sure if I had ever told him that before. Ah well. We've known each other a long time, no point getting shy now. Mike's amazing and after everything we've been through I'm very happy to have him in my life, we've come a long way.

All in all, I'm not worried about Friendship month. I think I give my friends a lot of time, respect and love. I guess I will be more focused on letting them know that, re-connecting with some lost friends and being happy myself so that people are happier around me!

YAAAAAY TO ALL MY F's and BFF's and PIC's and VIP's. Love y'all :)

March - Fun. I mean... FUN!

I think fun month will be good for me in the way that getting an annual physical or teeth cleaning is good for me.  Probably for the best but not something I’m very excited about.  I think the fact that fun month is arriving on the heels of money month has something to do with it.  I’m trying to get on track with my money and fun costs money.  Going out to eat, to a show, sporting event, trip, etc. all cost money and at the moment spending money is low on my list of things to do.  Fun month should probably have been done alongside friends & family month.  I think Melissa is going to be doing friendship this month so I guess it’ll work well for her. 
So, in the spirit of money month I’m going to try to incorporate as many free or low cost fun things as I can.  One thought was implementing a monthly game night.  We’ve had a couple games nights in the past, no, let me rephrase that, we’ve had a couple monopoly nights.  Monopoly is all fine and good but I don’t want to play it every time.  The only other games we own are Risk and some other Risk-type game.  Board games aren’t cheap so maybe we can borrow some.
Some other ideas I had include bowling and a comedy club.  I think comedy clubs are pretty cheap, especially if you go on a Thursday.  Bowling is also reasonably priced, especially if you get a decent sized group together.  I hate crowded places, especially with screaming kids so a week night is probably my best option for that.
I also thought that we could do a movie night sleepover style in which you bring an air mattress into the living room and create a giant lounge area/bed with the mattress and couches and make popcorn and watch a movie in your pajamas.   I think girl’s night would be a good addition as well.  Wine is cheap, so a chill girl’s night of sitting around at one or the other’s houses drinking wine and talking about life sounds fun to me.  I also thought about going skating.  I kind of doubt I will.  It’s freezing out and I’m so over winter that anything celebrating it is a non-option right now.  In fact, if I was making this list in summer it would be completely different.
So let’s say I try to incorporate one ‘fun’ event per week.  A games night, a movie night, a girls night, and bowling/comedy could be the weekly events for one month.  Oh wait there’s a work event this month on the 18th.  It’s at one of those places that have mini golf and games and stuff.  I’ve seen a few of the people that signed up and a couple of the older men that work here are going.  I can’t really imagine some of them wanting to participate in an event like this... but maybe it’s frowned upon to not attend work ‘fun’ events.   Apparently half the office has to go if we want to have enough people.  I think I can bring Flash so I will because I need someone to be my friend.    It’s also good to take your boyfriend to a work event to clear up having any more weird lunch invitations, because those are NOT fun.
Okay, so movie night, games night, work event and one other thing that I will decide later.  Some of my month’s goals have become less cumulative than they should be so I’d like to try and keep up this weekly fun goal.  I’ve become quite the homebody and am happy at the moment spending my time doing solitary things like reading books, blogs, playing my video game (yes I’m a loser).  I love the freedom of having nothing to do, no commitments, nothing you have to be attending.  I also know that as an introverted personality type I need to force myself to go out and do things.  Cheers.