Sundays can be the best day or the worst. When I block out that my weekend is coming to an end, it is the best. Today, I was able to do that.
Pleasurable Experiences:
1.) Dipping in and out of the cool waters of the swimming pool and the warm temperatures of the hot tub at my condo complex. Most of the time, summer days in Colorado are very hot. The pool waters always feel good, but the opportunity to put that together with some nice dips in the hot tub felt really good.
2.) Walking through Heritage square on my way to church. I always think of my nieces and nephews or having kids of my own and how much they would enjoy riding the rides. I also think of how much I would enjoy experiencing it with them. I also looked at the ski lifts. That looks like fun to ride sometime!
Enjoying a normal experience:
Eating a frozen pizza this evening. Red Baron makes a mean pizza. It was tasty. Hey...it was small, but honest.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
08/11/2012
Okay, so I missed a day. Rather than disingenuously making something up, I'll move forward with a reflection up yesterday.
Day 5:
Pleasurable Experiences
1.) Dressing up for my evening in Boulder. I found a cute little sundress in my closet that I haven't worn yet. It was perfect for the occasion. It had that "free spirited" look. Set the clock back a few years.
2.) Browsing in the Boulder Booksotre. I found more than a few books that I could have taken home. But for the most part, I prefer collecting at the library and then returning my finds.
Living in the Moment:
I remember walking down the mall. A fresh rain had fallen. Conversations were taking place all around me in cute little restaurants with open fronts, so that their patrons could sit on patios or just on the cusp of the activity outside. Community was taking place.
Day 5:
Pleasurable Experiences
1.) Dressing up for my evening in Boulder. I found a cute little sundress in my closet that I haven't worn yet. It was perfect for the occasion. It had that "free spirited" look. Set the clock back a few years.
2.) Browsing in the Boulder Booksotre. I found more than a few books that I could have taken home. But for the most part, I prefer collecting at the library and then returning my finds.
Living in the Moment:
I remember walking down the mall. A fresh rain had fallen. Conversations were taking place all around me in cute little restaurants with open fronts, so that their patrons could sit on patios or just on the cusp of the activity outside. Community was taking place.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Living in the Now 8/9/2012
Day 4:
Yesterday was a tough one. I am starting to feel sick again. I had some vertigo. Vertigo triggered panic attacks. I am glad I have this exercise to help me remember that there are happy moments in my life.
Pleasurable Experiences:
1.) I talked to a co-workers about India. We were relating stories to one another about our international friends and also discussing personal aspirations. It felt good to get out of my cube and connect with someone else.
2.) Reading The Law of Happiness and being reminded that working for money is not who we are created to be. We are also called to use our gifts and talents to contribute to the world. And this leads to happiness. I was reminded of the parable of the man who stored up his riches to make himself feel secure with his future. In the middle of the night, his life was ended. I guess he didn't need that safety net. I am trying to create a safety net, and it isn't leading to happiness. In fact, the more money I try to accumulate for safety, the more I feel like I am just working for the buck and not contributing to my happiness, nor those around me.
Appreciating a normal everyday moment:
Crawling into bed at night with my pups. Kahlan curling up in a little ball like a baby deer and staring at me with these big doey eyes. She is in season and seemed to be saying "Mommy, help..."
Yesterday was a tough one. I am starting to feel sick again. I had some vertigo. Vertigo triggered panic attacks. I am glad I have this exercise to help me remember that there are happy moments in my life.
Pleasurable Experiences:
1.) I talked to a co-workers about India. We were relating stories to one another about our international friends and also discussing personal aspirations. It felt good to get out of my cube and connect with someone else.
2.) Reading The Law of Happiness and being reminded that working for money is not who we are created to be. We are also called to use our gifts and talents to contribute to the world. And this leads to happiness. I was reminded of the parable of the man who stored up his riches to make himself feel secure with his future. In the middle of the night, his life was ended. I guess he didn't need that safety net. I am trying to create a safety net, and it isn't leading to happiness. In fact, the more money I try to accumulate for safety, the more I feel like I am just working for the buck and not contributing to my happiness, nor those around me.
Appreciating a normal everyday moment:
Crawling into bed at night with my pups. Kahlan curling up in a little ball like a baby deer and staring at me with these big doey eyes. She is in season and seemed to be saying "Mommy, help..."
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Living in the Now 08/08/2012
Day 3:
Pleasurable Experiences:
1.) One of the guys at work told me about a camping trip he was taking with friends and family. He told me how they were going to Estes Park. That he would take his kids to this mini-fun center to play minature golf and race down the burlap bag slide. He and his friends were going to camp somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park. That sounded like a lot of fun. On top of it, he included me and wanted to know if I wanted to go. It was nice to feel included in something.
2.) An accomplishment at work. I nailed the solution to a problem I have been chasing for days. That felt pretty darn good.
Appreciating a normal everyday moment:
I took a moment out of my day to go outside and sit under the trees. I love doing this because it allows my imagination to roam. Like what's going on at that building next door? Do the landscapers love their jobs? It seems like a good gig to me; working outside. Who is that getting in their car and what is their life like?
Pleasurable Experiences:
1.) One of the guys at work told me about a camping trip he was taking with friends and family. He told me how they were going to Estes Park. That he would take his kids to this mini-fun center to play minature golf and race down the burlap bag slide. He and his friends were going to camp somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park. That sounded like a lot of fun. On top of it, he included me and wanted to know if I wanted to go. It was nice to feel included in something.
2.) An accomplishment at work. I nailed the solution to a problem I have been chasing for days. That felt pretty darn good.
Appreciating a normal everyday moment:
I took a moment out of my day to go outside and sit under the trees. I love doing this because it allows my imagination to roam. Like what's going on at that building next door? Do the landscapers love their jobs? It seems like a good gig to me; working outside. Who is that getting in their car and what is their life like?
Living in the Now 08/07/2012
I want this exercise to become ingrained in my head. Ingrained, so that I don't have to blog about it, but rather live it. I want to appreciate each day, whether it went my way or didn't. It seems when things are going really well or the bottom has dropped out of my life, I am able to refocus and see what is important. Since I am in the "in between" I do not recognize it and can actually feel as though I am unhappy.
So here it goes. Day 2.
Pleasurable Experiences:
1.) Reading bits and pieces of my "therapy" book by Henry cloud while soaking in a hot bath. I feel like I will make progress toward my goal if I continue to put forth effort.
2.) Working in my office with the window open. I felt like I was included in the outside world. Two people were standing on the sidewalk outside talking.
Relishing a normal experience:
Walking out of work, I enjoyed the sun on my face. It was a relief to leave. It was also a relief to know that I had solved a huge problem that I had been struggling with for days. Solving a huge problem is not always a normal experience.
So here it goes. Day 2.
Pleasurable Experiences:
1.) Reading bits and pieces of my "therapy" book by Henry cloud while soaking in a hot bath. I feel like I will make progress toward my goal if I continue to put forth effort.
2.) Working in my office with the window open. I felt like I was included in the outside world. Two people were standing on the sidewalk outside talking.
Relishing a normal experience:
Walking out of work, I enjoyed the sun on my face. It was a relief to leave. It was also a relief to know that I had solved a huge problem that I had been struggling with for days. Solving a huge problem is not always a normal experience.
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