Message of the Day: Just get them done. You'll feel so much better.
...Or don't. It won't change my reality. Cheers!
Showing posts with label Turning Frowns Upside Down. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Turning Frowns Upside Down. Show all posts
Monday, April 13, 2015
Taxes: Done!
I skipped my Sunday Confessional yesterday to finish up my taxes after work. It was an exhausting week, and I'm sure next week will be even more tiring, but my taxes are done! That makes the year a little better. The government will be sending me a check in 4-6 weeks. Yay for tax season [being over]!
Message of the Day: Just get them done. You'll feel so much better.
...Or don't. It won't change my reality. Cheers!
Message of the Day: Just get them done. You'll feel so much better.
...Or don't. It won't change my reality. Cheers!
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Moving Cost
I'm moving out of my apartment in approximately 22 days...
The cost? It's pretty much another month's rent. I'm trying to SAVE money by moving, not spend a ton of extra money. Still, I was willing to pay the cost of moving to save some cash long term. That is, until my friends heard about this plan.
I kid you not, within 48 hours of figuring out that I had to shell out some steep moving costs, three friends offered to help me out. I responded with "I feel bad, because I can't really lift anything heavy," and my friend (we'll call her Elsy) said "That's what friends are for!" So cliche, I know, but she is totally right! If Elsy needed help or support, I would totally be there, so why feel bad asking her to help me out? After that boost of confidence, I felt okay asking my strong young male friends for their help as well, and to my pleasant surprise, they jumped at the notion of helping me move. I am so grateful to have such wonderful friends!
This is such a relief because I was dreading the whole moving process. I moved about 5 times last year for a variety of reasons, only once or twice with heavy furniture, but I did most of them by myself. It was exhausting. Moving won't be so bad this time around, though. I have a great group of friends who stepped up and offered to move my large furniture for me for the cost of some good food and cheerful company! ...AND there are some other folks who are on board with a moving out party on short notice, so I actually get to celebrate this time!
Message of the Day: Need help? Ask a friend!
...Or don't. It won't change my reality. Cheers!
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Ahhh, Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is a romantic holiday. People give gifts of chocolate and flowers. People kiss in public. Love is in the air! Some people have mixed feelings about Valentine's Day, though.
Me? The Queen of Positivity? You want to know MY feelings about the "Spread Love" holiday?
Let's just say I'm not a fan of commercializing Love.
Not what you were expecting? Allow me to share my story with you, and you shall understand. In retrospect, I find the humor in these moments, and I am feeling vulnerable enough to share them with you.
I have a history of breaking up with people on Valentine's Day.
As it turns out, I broke up with a man who was going to propose to me on Valentine's Day once. I found out six months later that he had custom designed a ring (from the sounds of it, the most beautiful, wonderful, thoughtful, magical ring I could have ever imagined, tailored specifically to my personality and desires). They say that you "just know" if it's right or not. We both got to that revelation at the same time, I guess, but took opposite paths. Whoops!
The next year, I broke up with my then boyfriend just after the Superbowl. We both felt abnormally crummy about the emotionless breakup (he was basically my best friend and the breakup itself just seemed so... blah), so we tried to take it back. That obviously didn't work. We parted as friends, deciding that it really was best after all, both single just in time for Valentine's Day.
Two years later, I was dating a fellow who had just moved from 400 miles away to about 80 miles away (it was a great long-distance relationship), and I drove up to see him two weekends in a row. We really weren't getting along during our friends' Superbowl party, and worse so when we were alone, to the point where it became apparent that we weren't the right fit for one another. So, unable to shake my belief that romantic relationships should both begin and end in person, I made a special trip (Valentine's Day weekend) solely to break up with him.
Oh, this story isn't over yet, though. It gets better!
The breakup itself lasted only about 3-5 minutes, 3-5 minutes after I walked in the door! He was trying to rush me to dinner; I was trying to make sure that we broke up before we went anywhere and dragged things out. We decided to go out for dinner anyway because we were both starving and it just made sense. Who doesn't go out to dinner after a breakup? We had a great time at the bar watching hockey over beer & wings, laughing at our friends' reactions to our breakup (we were just cool like that).
When we made the decision to grab dinner, we both knew that it would probably be too late and snowy for me to drive home, but that was okay. Then, I got snowed in. For two days. Yup, two days of shoveling ours and the neighbor's cars out, playing computer games, and sharing meals with my oh-so-very-recently EX-boyfriend! We ended up braving the storm around dinner time to visit our friends down the street so that we could avoid some very awkward evening hours home alone in a rather small apartment. Our friends didn't even realized that we had broken up a day prior until well into the evening, talk about awkward moments!
Once the state-wide driving ban was lifted the next morning, I braved the unplowed highway. Yes, you read that correctly. Unplowed highway. Apparently the driving ban banned cleanup crews as well because there was fresh powder, akin to what you might encounter on a ski slope, on the only road to take from my ex's apartment to my job. It was either drive to work or go back to my ex's. I don't think we could have handled another day of the, albeit peaceful, awkward vibe, and I have an odd sense of obligation about going to work. Against my better judgment, I drove 80 miles alongside, plows, front-loaders (which were hired to clear the sheer volume of snow off the road), and a few idiots who thought that passing me in an unplowed, uneven lane with a one ton vehicle going 40+ mph was a good idea. Luckily there weren't many of those, since they would have had considerably more maneuverability with snowmobiles. As if my weekend wasn't obscure enough, I gathered too much speed on a long stretch downhill, lost any and all breaking ability, fishtailed and spun out traveling less than 25 mph into the snowbank atop the passing lane! Luckily, I carry a shovel in my trunk. You may laugh, but it has come in handy on more than one occasion! I was able to get myself out of that predicament in under 5 minutes, once the 3 or 4 passing cars realized that I had everything under control and just needed space for a K-turn. Complete panic had turned to a calm sense of accomplishment and determination!
After all that said, I feel the need to express that I don't believe that the past is an indicator of the future. It is a series of lessons to learn from, but I can't help but feel slightly at-odds with this romantic holiday. Thus, on the last of these crazy Valentine's Days, a tradition of getting together for a singles' date night with my best friend began.
We usually go out for dinner on a friend-date (if the weather holds up)! I think those are the best kind. No romantic pressure. For a new romantic relationship, Valentine's Day often puts too much pressure. For an established one, maybe it creates a good excuse to do something wonderful for someone else or maybe it causes added stress. I'm not a fan of stress. Or pressure, unless it is the exciting anticipation kind. This Valentine's Day, my best friend happens to be in another country, and my next-best friends are either men who I wouldn't like to get the wrong idea by asking to hang out on Valentine's Day and/or romantic types with dates. So, I have plans with my Aunt.
I've actually had these plans on my calendar for the past 2 months. Valentine's Day is sad day for her, so she needs a date more than any of my friends or potential lovers do. I never did get asked, but I made it known to any potential suitors that I was already busy! Having prior plans works out perfectly because I'm simply not a fan of going on a date just to have a "Valentine," anyway. The precedent is all wrong. So, my Valentine's Day plans are to spend the day with my Aunt. No pressure required!
If you knew her, you would laugh at the irony behind this statement. I was required to call her on Thursday with a proposed itinerary! In this case, that's a good thing; if you're going out, planning ahead is absolutely necessary on this crazy day of Love!
Tears. Laughter. Good food. Great friends. Family. Funny stories.
That's my idea of the perfect Valentine's Day.
Message of the Day: Laugh. Laugh at my crazy Valentines and your own. You won't always have a date. It doesn't have to be the most romantic day of your life. Just show some Love to those you care about, and enjoy the day!
...Or don't. It won't change my reality. Cheers!
Me? The Queen of Positivity? You want to know MY feelings about the "Spread Love" holiday?
Let's just say I'm not a fan of commercializing Love.
Not what you were expecting? Allow me to share my story with you, and you shall understand. In retrospect, I find the humor in these moments, and I am feeling vulnerable enough to share them with you.
I have a history of breaking up with people on Valentine's Day.
As it turns out, I broke up with a man who was going to propose to me on Valentine's Day once. I found out six months later that he had custom designed a ring (from the sounds of it, the most beautiful, wonderful, thoughtful, magical ring I could have ever imagined, tailored specifically to my personality and desires). They say that you "just know" if it's right or not. We both got to that revelation at the same time, I guess, but took opposite paths. Whoops!
The next year, I broke up with my then boyfriend just after the Superbowl. We both felt abnormally crummy about the emotionless breakup (he was basically my best friend and the breakup itself just seemed so... blah), so we tried to take it back. That obviously didn't work. We parted as friends, deciding that it really was best after all, both single just in time for Valentine's Day.
Two years later, I was dating a fellow who had just moved from 400 miles away to about 80 miles away (it was a great long-distance relationship), and I drove up to see him two weekends in a row. We really weren't getting along during our friends' Superbowl party, and worse so when we were alone, to the point where it became apparent that we weren't the right fit for one another. So, unable to shake my belief that romantic relationships should both begin and end in person, I made a special trip (Valentine's Day weekend) solely to break up with him.
Oh, this story isn't over yet, though. It gets better!
The breakup itself lasted only about 3-5 minutes, 3-5 minutes after I walked in the door! He was trying to rush me to dinner; I was trying to make sure that we broke up before we went anywhere and dragged things out. We decided to go out for dinner anyway because we were both starving and it just made sense. Who doesn't go out to dinner after a breakup? We had a great time at the bar watching hockey over beer & wings, laughing at our friends' reactions to our breakup (we were just cool like that).
When we made the decision to grab dinner, we both knew that it would probably be too late and snowy for me to drive home, but that was okay. Then, I got snowed in. For two days. Yup, two days of shoveling ours and the neighbor's cars out, playing computer games, and sharing meals with my oh-so-very-recently EX-boyfriend! We ended up braving the storm around dinner time to visit our friends down the street so that we could avoid some very awkward evening hours home alone in a rather small apartment. Our friends didn't even realized that we had broken up a day prior until well into the evening, talk about awkward moments!
Once the state-wide driving ban was lifted the next morning, I braved the unplowed highway. Yes, you read that correctly. Unplowed highway. Apparently the driving ban banned cleanup crews as well because there was fresh powder, akin to what you might encounter on a ski slope, on the only road to take from my ex's apartment to my job. It was either drive to work or go back to my ex's. I don't think we could have handled another day of the, albeit peaceful, awkward vibe, and I have an odd sense of obligation about going to work. Against my better judgment, I drove 80 miles alongside, plows, front-loaders (which were hired to clear the sheer volume of snow off the road), and a few idiots who thought that passing me in an unplowed, uneven lane with a one ton vehicle going 40+ mph was a good idea. Luckily there weren't many of those, since they would have had considerably more maneuverability with snowmobiles. As if my weekend wasn't obscure enough, I gathered too much speed on a long stretch downhill, lost any and all breaking ability, fishtailed and spun out traveling less than 25 mph into the snowbank atop the passing lane! Luckily, I carry a shovel in my trunk. You may laugh, but it has come in handy on more than one occasion! I was able to get myself out of that predicament in under 5 minutes, once the 3 or 4 passing cars realized that I had everything under control and just needed space for a K-turn. Complete panic had turned to a calm sense of accomplishment and determination!
We usually go out for dinner on a friend-date (if the weather holds up)! I think those are the best kind. No romantic pressure. For a new romantic relationship, Valentine's Day often puts too much pressure. For an established one, maybe it creates a good excuse to do something wonderful for someone else or maybe it causes added stress. I'm not a fan of stress. Or pressure, unless it is the exciting anticipation kind. This Valentine's Day, my best friend happens to be in another country, and my next-best friends are either men who I wouldn't like to get the wrong idea by asking to hang out on Valentine's Day and/or romantic types with dates. So, I have plans with my Aunt.
I've actually had these plans on my calendar for the past 2 months. Valentine's Day is sad day for her, so she needs a date more than any of my friends or potential lovers do. I never did get asked, but I made it known to any potential suitors that I was already busy! Having prior plans works out perfectly because I'm simply not a fan of going on a date just to have a "Valentine," anyway. The precedent is all wrong. So, my Valentine's Day plans are to spend the day with my Aunt. No pressure required!
If you knew her, you would laugh at the irony behind this statement. I was required to call her on Thursday with a proposed itinerary! In this case, that's a good thing; if you're going out, planning ahead is absolutely necessary on this crazy day of Love!
Tears. Laughter. Good food. Great friends. Family. Funny stories.
That's my idea of the perfect Valentine's Day.
Message of the Day: Laugh. Laugh at my crazy Valentines and your own. You won't always have a date. It doesn't have to be the most romantic day of your life. Just show some Love to those you care about, and enjoy the day!
...Or don't. It won't change my reality. Cheers!
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Nail Polish
From what I've gathered, everyone has their "thing" that they do, buy, or eat when they desperately need a pick-me-up. Yesterday, all my evening plans for the week got cancelled & I got some troubling news. Needless to say, I was having one of those days during which a cheery smile only gets me about halfway there.
While explaining to my dad how some people shop for a new shirt, buy a pint of ice cream, hit the gym hard, etc. when they just need to be in a better mood, I had an epiphany. When my mom is having a bad day, she has chocolate. Seconds prior to putting it into words, I realized what mine "pick-me-up thing" is. Nail Polish!
Of course, my dad's response was "Oh I see! So when I see you painting your nails weird colors & designs, I should tread lightly!" I enjoy painting my nails, whether I'm happy or not about everything else. If there is nail polish on the table at my parents' house, though, I've either promised my mother a girls' night, or I'm putting a big band-aid on my day. It's when I stop at the pharmacy on the way to my mom's for chocolate and bright $2 nail polish that I'm not playing around! Of course, I end up getting double the chocolate I usually get because my mom & I most definitely split it! Who doesn't enjoy chocolate, honestly? I'm pretty sure chocolate is nature's happy pill.
What's your "pick-me-up thing?"
Message of the day: Identify & use something to pick you up after a not-so-pleasant day.
...Or don't. It won't change my reality. Cheers!
While explaining to my dad how some people shop for a new shirt, buy a pint of ice cream, hit the gym hard, etc. when they just need to be in a better mood, I had an epiphany. When my mom is having a bad day, she has chocolate. Seconds prior to putting it into words, I realized what mine "pick-me-up thing" is. Nail Polish!
Of course, my dad's response was "Oh I see! So when I see you painting your nails weird colors & designs, I should tread lightly!" I enjoy painting my nails, whether I'm happy or not about everything else. If there is nail polish on the table at my parents' house, though, I've either promised my mother a girls' night, or I'm putting a big band-aid on my day. It's when I stop at the pharmacy on the way to my mom's for chocolate and bright $2 nail polish that I'm not playing around! Of course, I end up getting double the chocolate I usually get because my mom & I most definitely split it! Who doesn't enjoy chocolate, honestly? I'm pretty sure chocolate is nature's happy pill.
What's your "pick-me-up thing?"
Message of the day: Identify & use something to pick you up after a not-so-pleasant day.
...Or don't. It won't change my reality. Cheers!
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Blank Canvas
On my list of top ten things in this world:
A blank canvas.
Both literally and figuratively, a blank canvas is one of the most wonderful things in the world! There is so much potential! Today is a blank canvas. So is tomorrow. How will you fill it?
Allow me to preface this by saying that the impending snow storm had most people flocking to the grocery store. Sure, I went to pick up a couple groceries for a stew and some tea (half of which the store was out of, anyway), but I made a more important stop, first! Last night, I walked into an art supply store intending to pick up one or two canvases. Who doesn't make sure they have what they need for their favorite hobby before a storm? They were on sale if you bought in bulk, and I took that as a sign from the universe encouraging me to follow through on my intent to "paint more." I walked out with about a dozen (for less than $25)! I reckon I'll be doing quite a bit of painting over the next few months, and I couldn't be happier!
Painting on a tangible blank canvas feels amazing, but there is also something to be said for a figurative one. The figurative meaning of a "blank canvas" can, like many things in life, be positive or negative. Day to day, you can wake up and say "I have no clue what to do/how to act today," or you might say "I can't wait to see what today brings me!" Creating a bright feeling every day can change your life for the better, believe me.
A more long-term definition of a "blank canvas" is slightly different, though. One who can say that they have a "fresh start" or a "clean slate" has most likely closed a previous chapter of their lives. This often creates a reason to fear the blank canvas, because it means leaving something behind. A few of the scariest examples of new chapters include marriage, a brand new business venture, a change in career, a move to a new city or a new country, and a small person growing inside you whom you're expected to care for until the end of time! In the past year, I have either done or seen all of the above examples happen to myself and/or the people around me and do you know what I have found out? The potentially "scariest" new beginnings often turn into the most exciting, rewarding experiences!
It is sometimes difficult to be optimistic when you don't see the whole picture at first, but once you embrace the creative spirit that comes along with staring at the blank canvas in front of you, magical things can happen. If you don't believe me, ask my Kundalini yoga instructor (I'll call him "M").
M had a 9 to 5 job. He had been working hard there for a long while, so it was stable and comfortable. M couldn't understand why, but he began to feel unhappy and stressed. His job was a little stressful, but mostly he felt as though he needed a time-traveling device to accomplish everything he wanted to accomplish in his day. This feeling persisted day after day, week after week, and began to affect his mood. M was on the path to becoming a serious yogi, but he felt as though he didn't have enough time to practice because of his 9-5 schedule. He felt stuck, and wished for change. As soon as he put that wish out into the Universe, he got fired! If M was telling this story, he would say "...and it was the best thing that ever happened to me!" Imagine getting fired from a job that you generally enjoy, are good at, and have had for years. Naturally, M was very upset and made he it known. Shortly afterwards, M decided to use his newfound free time to become a yoga instructor. He also set goals to change his lifestyle, rearrange his house to promote healing, and meditate twice a day. I met M years later; by that time he had accomplished all of those things and more! M is one of the healthiest men I know, spiritually and physically. If you ever ask him about it, he will tell you it is all because he got fired from his office job!
Months, maybe years after he lost his job, M went back to his old office, shook his boss' hand (the same man who fired him), and said "Thank you! I don't think I would have had the guts to quit by myself. I am in such a great place right now and I am doing what I love. I was unhappy. You noticed, and set me free."
M likes telling this story to his yogis because it is about embracing the unknown, wonderful things that are ahead of us in this life. No matter how young or how old you are, every one of your days is a blank canvas. I have come to know that unknown to be synonymous with: full of endless potential!
Message of the day: Every day is a blank canvas; fill it with some color!
...Or don't. But know that it will get filled with or without your conscious intent. You might as well hold the brush! Cheers!
A blank canvas.
Both literally and figuratively, a blank canvas is one of the most wonderful things in the world! There is so much potential! Today is a blank canvas. So is tomorrow. How will you fill it?
Allow me to preface this by saying that the impending snow storm had most people flocking to the grocery store. Sure, I went to pick up a couple groceries for a stew and some tea (half of which the store was out of, anyway), but I made a more important stop, first! Last night, I walked into an art supply store intending to pick up one or two canvases. Who doesn't make sure they have what they need for their favorite hobby before a storm? They were on sale if you bought in bulk, and I took that as a sign from the universe encouraging me to follow through on my intent to "paint more." I walked out with about a dozen (for less than $25)! I reckon I'll be doing quite a bit of painting over the next few months, and I couldn't be happier!
Painting on a tangible blank canvas feels amazing, but there is also something to be said for a figurative one. The figurative meaning of a "blank canvas" can, like many things in life, be positive or negative. Day to day, you can wake up and say "I have no clue what to do/how to act today," or you might say "I can't wait to see what today brings me!" Creating a bright feeling every day can change your life for the better, believe me.
A more long-term definition of a "blank canvas" is slightly different, though. One who can say that they have a "fresh start" or a "clean slate" has most likely closed a previous chapter of their lives. This often creates a reason to fear the blank canvas, because it means leaving something behind. A few of the scariest examples of new chapters include marriage, a brand new business venture, a change in career, a move to a new city or a new country, and a small person growing inside you whom you're expected to care for until the end of time! In the past year, I have either done or seen all of the above examples happen to myself and/or the people around me and do you know what I have found out? The potentially "scariest" new beginnings often turn into the most exciting, rewarding experiences!
It is sometimes difficult to be optimistic when you don't see the whole picture at first, but once you embrace the creative spirit that comes along with staring at the blank canvas in front of you, magical things can happen. If you don't believe me, ask my Kundalini yoga instructor (I'll call him "M").
M had a 9 to 5 job. He had been working hard there for a long while, so it was stable and comfortable. M couldn't understand why, but he began to feel unhappy and stressed. His job was a little stressful, but mostly he felt as though he needed a time-traveling device to accomplish everything he wanted to accomplish in his day. This feeling persisted day after day, week after week, and began to affect his mood. M was on the path to becoming a serious yogi, but he felt as though he didn't have enough time to practice because of his 9-5 schedule. He felt stuck, and wished for change. As soon as he put that wish out into the Universe, he got fired! If M was telling this story, he would say "...and it was the best thing that ever happened to me!" Imagine getting fired from a job that you generally enjoy, are good at, and have had for years. Naturally, M was very upset and made he it known. Shortly afterwards, M decided to use his newfound free time to become a yoga instructor. He also set goals to change his lifestyle, rearrange his house to promote healing, and meditate twice a day. I met M years later; by that time he had accomplished all of those things and more! M is one of the healthiest men I know, spiritually and physically. If you ever ask him about it, he will tell you it is all because he got fired from his office job!
Months, maybe years after he lost his job, M went back to his old office, shook his boss' hand (the same man who fired him), and said "Thank you! I don't think I would have had the guts to quit by myself. I am in such a great place right now and I am doing what I love. I was unhappy. You noticed, and set me free."
M likes telling this story to his yogis because it is about embracing the unknown, wonderful things that are ahead of us in this life. No matter how young or how old you are, every one of your days is a blank canvas. I have come to know that unknown to be synonymous with: full of endless potential!
Message of the day: Every day is a blank canvas; fill it with some color!
...Or don't. But know that it will get filled with or without your conscious intent. You might as well hold the brush! Cheers!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)