Take a break ... delegate.

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Today is Day 21 of the Everyday Happy Project – Take regular breaks.

We carry out tasks far better if we take regular breaks. Frequent breaks aren’t skiving, they’re energizing and essential for your well being.

There I was, minding my own business, trying to take a break from adulthood ... when all of a sudden I heard a familiar ping.  An e-mail ping.  That ping emanated from none other than the head honcho at work who was emailing me to ask me to take on a very adult task. 

I hesitated before replying.  But, you will be proud to know that I did not say, NO, sorry I'm taking a break from adulthood.  Instead, I said yes.  A hearty, bold, resounding YES, followed by an upbeat ... I would love to help you with that.  Shortly thereafter, panic set in. 

Yeah yeah, I’m well acquainted with life’s MO – plucking people out of desired obscurity at any moment – hoping for willing participants, but also perfectly willing to take those who choose to kick and scream, enjoying the skirmish with its more tenacious resistors. I guess there comes a point in life, when you realize that resistance is futile, and you agree to be a grown up and plan your long time co-worker’s retirement luncheon.

After the panic wore off, I settled into an "oh crap" state of mind.

Born into a non fru fru family, and currently being the antithesis of Emily Post, I have never been much of a party planner. I’m not your “go to person” for showers, receptions or even birthday parties. Not saying that I have never hosted a small soiree now and then, but I sorely lack the skills needed to host a luncheon for 55 people.

My first instinct was to rally the troops, so I called on our eldest and most socially experienced staff member. I explained the task at hand, and told her she was now the unofficial CEO of our two person team, and that all she had to do was tell me what to do, and I would make it happen. She rattled off a list of things that needed to be done, and I immediately called the Public Relations firm which our firm has on retainer, and gave a very perky PR owner all the details “she” would need to make this retirement shindig happen. I used to question the need for a Public Relations firm. I now get it. I totally get it. I’m even thinking of hiring a PR person of my very own. I could really use someone like that in my personal life.

Who knew that being in charge was going to be so easy, while simultaneously outfoxing adulthood?   Talk about laid back multi-tasking.

Ahhhh .... aren't breaks great?


P.S.  Skiving is a non American term (the Everyday Happy book is by an British author) which means slacking off.


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Fear not! ... okay, fear, but do it anyways.

I've mostly been on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico since Friday night, first in the panhandle of Florida to celebrate a friend's birthday, and then along the coast to Mississippi to attend my uncle's funeral on Monday.  I'm grateful to be safely back inland, even though I already miss the shore and the company of my friends and family. 

I've missed a few days of the Everyday Happy project, since I last posted, so let me quickly recap:

Day 15 -- Watch How You Walk.

Tread, don't trudge.  How you walk around can hugely uplift your mood and having a spring in your step can really improve your frame of mind.

Good gosh, being at the beach put a natural spring in my step, so I was all over that suggestion, right up until I took a twisted fall down a set of stairs in my friend's beach house.  Here's what happens when your socked foot slips off carpeted stairs:  Your instinct screams at every muscle you didn't even know you had to save you, while you are busy making your own noise.  Make noise, is about all you have time to do, as your arms automatically try to take over where your feet left off.  After I checked to be sure I was still alive, I collected myself, shrugged it off, and tried to keep on keeping on with a spring in my step, but some of my body parts were indignate that I wasn't taking their discomfort seriously.  So, I lessened the spring and took an Advil.  I may have hobbled for the rest of the day, but I was happy to at least be hobbling, hobbling across white sands under blue skies no less.  I was back to good by the next day.

Day 16 -- Plan new projects.

I have a lingering unfinished home project, which bothers some of the people in my life more than it bothers me, so I didn't think it best to start planning a new project, lest those well meaning people start a mutiny.  (After waking up at 3:00 a.m. this morning and watching "Heavy" on A & E, I thought I should get a plan, and fast, before I find myself weighing 300 to 600 pounds.  After remembering that I am in no real or near danger of that weighty fate,  I decided to put my preemptive plan in temporary mental storage so that I could go back to sleep.) 

Day 17 -- Deal with fears logically.

Don't worry about things that probably won't ever happen to you. Pay attention to the thing you are particularly fearful of and take constructive steps to avoid any real dangers. Then concentrate on enjoying the day, confident that you'll deal capably with whatever happens, when it happens.

Although, I think weighing 600 pounds is scary beyond belief, I don't have what I think are irrational fears, and I try to face those fears which I find rational.  To be truthful, I don't relish flying or long distance driving, and I wasn't looking forward to all the driving I had to do this past weekend.  But, I refuse to be paralyzed by the very real potential dangers of flying and driving.  I'm motivated to take the risk, because I personally like a change of scenery from time to time, and recognize that even the most seemingly innocuous task such as climbing a ladder or descending a flight of stairs could make for a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."  Just ask Alexander ....

http://www.kennedy-center.org/multimedia/storytimeonline/alexander.html

Do you have any nagging fears?

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Is your path right?

Is your path right?  That's what day 10 of my Everday Happy book wants me to ask myself.  If day 10 knew me even one iota, it would already know, that I'm confused.  Very confused about that four word question.  As much as I have pondered that very question over the last few years, I only end up feeling worse for thinking about it.

The Happy book goes on to say:

At least once a month check with yourself as to how you're feeling about your life.  If it's pretty well set on the course you want, be glad and appreciate it.  Or perhaps you'll find you need to make a few adjustments.  Just noticing and bringing awareness to an issue that needs attention will set you thinking how to go about making changes, and your subconscious will help you to get back on track, too.  Notice how you're doing.  This puts you in touch with your needs and that connection feels really good.

Okay, so I will think about this thorn in my side another 10 minutes on top of the hundred thousand minutes I have likely already pondered this topic.

I'm mostly living the good life, and I appreciate all that I have, including God's love and help with even the most mundane of problems (like helping me pop the lens back in my eyeglasses or find my glasses about 6 times per week), my family, my friends, the freedom and stability which America has so far provided, my job, my boss (even if he does often drive me to tears), my current mental and physical health and NATURE ... every lovely ray of sunshine, every puffy cloud, every rainbow, every full moon and every gentle ocean breeze ... is appreciated.   I love nature, even if nature is responsible for me waking up with no electrical service this morning.

If I were visiting Africa, Haiti or any other impoverished country, I would be embarrassed to complain about what I feel is missing from my life, because I have so much to be thankful for, but no matter where one is in this world, I think we mostly want the same basic things, and I'm missing what I think is one of the most important.

So, is my path right?  Sometimes, I think yes.  Sometimes, I think no.  The guy in the last video I posted mentioned the three As --Attitude, Awareness and Authenticity.  I'm trying to keep a good attitude about remaining unmarried.  I am trying to stay focused on everything around me which is good, and I am trying to be authentic in my journey.   But sometimes, there comes a time in your life, when I think you just have to stop at the crossroads and take a rest.  That's where I think I am, taking a rest at the four corners, surveying the scenery in all directions.

It is what it is, and I'm going to be happy about it. 

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Day 5 -- take two

If you are interested in what I'm talking about in this post.  Go read the previous post and come back. 

Day 5 -- which was yesterday -- suggested that I could raise my happy factor by contacting someone whom I had not talked with in a while.  It also suggested that when I did so, that I should be upbeat and put the positive in every syllable.  I just couldn't go there yesterday due to my inability to remain positive.  So, I am shockingly a day behind (eye roll) on that Happy suggestion.  Life is messy.  Bear with me. 

Today, I sent my friend Rick a text and asked if he would like to go to lunch.  Rick and I are friends with a capital F ... the friend F not any other kind of F.  Best buds who rarely see each other, mostly because I totally got over the club and bar scene where he was still kicking it in his quest to find a girlfriend.  After he found a girlfriend (who is 16 years his junior -- just thought I would throw that eyebrow raiser in the mix), he started spending all of his time driving back and forth to where she lives in the next county.  I too have been busy since last seeing Rick, busy unintentionally hibernating.

I'm happy to report that I indeed feel happier after catching up with Rick!  

Rick is a great guy!  He's courteous, gentlemanly, caring and thoughtful (think Boy Scout).  Apparently even really nice people have messy lives.  I learned during lunch that Rick has been through a lot since I last saw him.  The economy is taking a toll on his family owned business, he is coming to terms with the fact that his girlfriend may be too young for his own liking, he underwent an appendectomy some months back, he was recently incorrectly diagnosed with diverticulitis (sp?), and only after more poking and prodding, was later correctly diagnosed with a stomach ulcer.  He has also been experiencing back pain for which he is seeking the best course of treatment for what turns out to be compressed discs (?) -- possible surgery or pain management.  Ummm, did I mention that Rick is only 38 years old.  He was already a slender guy (with no extra weight to lose), but I could tell that he had lost weight since I had last seen him.  He told me he had lost about 15 pounds due to the intense antibiotics his doctor had him on for the supposed diverticulitis.   

Once I learned that Rick was suffering from an ulcer and not diverticulitis and that his doctor now has him on Prilosec, I was kind of excited.  The kind of excited a child is when they are the only one in the classroom who knows the correct answer!  I refrained from raising my hand and exclaiming .... "ooooo ooooo oooo, I have the answer!  Pick me, pick me!"

I, being the non-genius, but the random Mensa magazine reading sort of person that I am, previously helped my ex-boyfriend, 2nd Lt. Mulgrew, find a real solution to his own ulcer.  2nd Lt. Mulgrew's father being an internal medicine doctor had also advised his son to take Prilosec to treat his ulcer.  However, my ex- boyfriend was still suffering.  After reading an article in a Mensa magazine, while I was at the gym on the treadmill, about two guys who had been awarded the Noble prize in 2005 for their research on ulcers, and their ultimate discovery http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2005/press.html,
I could not wait to suggest a possible CURE to my ex-boyfriend's ulcer, not just a bad patch job.  My ex-boyfriend went to an army doctor (not his father) and asked to be tested for the bacterial infection.  Turns out, my ex-boyfriend had the type of bacterial infection which the nobel peace prize guys discovered is the cause of some ulcers!  The army doctor prescribed the proper antibiotic and I am happy to report that my ex-boyfriend was cured of his ulcer!

Rick promised me that he would ask his doctor to test him for the bacteria.  YAY!!!! I was super excited to possibly help another person by relaying a small piece of read knowledge!

I wasn't happy to know that Rick had all these troubles, but it did make me feel more HAPPY to once again connect with him and to possibly help him further help himself!

Good things do come from staying connected with your friends! 

Do you know anyone who is suffering from an ulcer?  Pass that possible bacterial infection information along.  It could save someone from further suffering and possible death!


(See, I'm not just a hard hearted person who wants to clock people with heavy duty metal 3 hole punches, I am mostly a wanna be Florence Nightingale!)

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4 down 361 to go

I'm back in blogging business!  Yay! 

There's nothing like ending the year with a crashed hard drive and a bunch of free time on your hands.  A bunch of free time during which I initially spent saying to myself, "OMG ... what will I do for five days without the internet."  I'm proud to report, that there remains lots to do outside of the computer screen.  A whole host of things practically shouted for my attention ... "OVER HERE, OVER HERE.  DO ME! DO ME!"  So, I did.

This brings me to my New Year's intention.  I intended to start the New Year off by blogging my way through a book I bought during the Christmas season entitled "Everyday Happy ... 365 Ways to a better you."  As you may have surmised, I am now behind in my intended intention due to my computer problems.  So, even though today is not day 1, today's blog starts Day 1 which suggested that I "Do something really active."  Here is the first book entry:

Feeling a bit down?  Try doing something really active and proactive.  You might go for a run, pop round to see an old friend, wash the kitchen floor or start up a new project.  Even just making a decision to do something specific will help you feel happier.

Once you get going, using up energy will generate even more energy, and instantly your body will respond with endorphins (feel-good chemicals).  Not only do you feel good when you are being active, but afterwards you'll bask in the satisfaction of having been active.

I did!  I did something really active on day 1.  I raked and hauled away the pinestraw which covered the backyard.  Later, I went through every kitchen cabinet and filled nearly 3 boxes with items I rarely if ever use, and took them to a local charity.  I then purged all food items that were past date, and found room to store my appliances, which had formerly resided on the top of my cabinets, inside my now roomier kitchen cabinets.  I was so energized by those accomplishments, that I later sorted my two clothes closets and purged enough clothes to fill three laundry baskets which I then took to a friend and to charity.  I sorted, purged, organized and properly stored so much stuff, that I am now happily basking in my newly found s p a c e.

Day 2 suggested that I "Count small luxuries."

Instead of taking these small things for granted, take a moment to appreciate each one to the full.

After day 1, I was happy to take notice of my warm bed, my soft sheets and the piping hot water which is always ever at the ready.  I even had my new luxury to continue to notice, c l o s e t   s p a c e.  It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, the temperature was perfect ... not too cold, not too hot.  I watched a movie called "Despicable Me" which was a feel good small luxury for me.  I love those little yellow minions.  During the movie I enjoyed a bowl of veggie soup and later had a hot chocolate, both small luxuries to soothe my sinuses which were irritated by raking all that pinestraw on day one.  All in all, it was a good day 2.

Day 3's suggestion > "Assess your energy dips."

I scoffed at this entry only because my nap-o-meter is working just fine.

Day 4's suggeston >  "Go for a mini-break."

I wholeheartedly agree with the book!  I just want to know on what planet does day 4 yon break?  I can't take a day-trip or a vacation whenever I feel like it.  I had to work today.  No one has yet to leave me a huge inheritance, and I certainly didn't win the Mega Million lottery the other day, so about all I can do is ruminate on a day-trip or a vacation that I have already taken, or would like to take.  I will give that a go later this evening.  Right now, I have to go purchase new software for my new hard drive.  That will make Staples happy.

Here's hoping that I won't bore you with 361 more of these entries.  I need a spare blog so that I can be lame elsewhere. 




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