Category Archives: Purposeful

So much inspiration, so little time

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I’m not a big fan of recreating the proverbial wheel. Especially if someone else has been terrifically brilliant. So I go looking for inspiration, and I am very rarely disappointed. The problem is that–like with so many other things–there really can be too much of a good thing. 

Sometimes I wonder how I managed before Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest … but then I remember my Pollyanna sees opportunity in, well, nearly everything.
http://www.thegreeneve.com/2011/06/dose-of-inspiration.html

When I kept the commitment to myself to start this project, I really did worry if I would have enough things to write about. At least, enough things of significance to write about. Or, more accurately, enough topics other people would think significant enough to read. Lately, I’ve noticed I make mental notes–gee, that photo or that interaction would be a great blog topic. And I have a space staked out in Evernote to corral them all. The Idea Bucket doth indeed runneth over. 

But back to my point about too much of a good thing: I’ve been spinning wheels lately, not quite sure where to start. Thinking about the right angle to approach a topic from. Deciding how to put down my thoughts in a coherent manner. Finding an appropriate photo or image. Catching myself editing a post I haven’t even written yet. And then realizing another day has passed and there are more ideas flooding aforementioned Idea Bucket. 

Time to give myself permission to stop over-thinking things and just do. 

Ta-da. 

To-done. 

More to come …

Spring cleaning infection

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It happens annually. About this time. The overwhelming urge to purge, arrange, organize, clean. 
via Pinterest
This year, the spring cleaning virus has infected my diet as well. It’s time to get serious about my health, my weight, my attitude and relationship with food. Out with the bad’uns. Time to make more room for the good stuff. 
For further inspiration, I reviewed my 2012 Counting list (see under “healthy habits” and “accomplishment–permission to abandon old stuff”). Yup. Time for a little more focused, and tangible discipline. 

Who’s with me?

To count, or not to count. *That* is the question …

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Last year about this time, I sat contemplating whether or not I was going to set New Years Resolutions. What I ended up with was my 20-11 List: twenty things I wanted more of, and eleven things I wanted less of. A smart list, if I say it myself, and reviewing it throughout the year, one that helped me keep the important things important. 


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I suppose I’ve always smelled faintly of chlorine. I learned to swim when I was four, and joined the swim team at seven. I swam competitively for 10 years, retiring from racing after high school. And I’ve managed to stay in the pool since. 


The difference between my workouts then and now is counting. When you’re prepping for the next meet, yardage is important. When you’re following the black line on the bottom of the pool to just stay in shape, yardage isn’t as important as whether or not you’re hitting your training heart rate. Some days I count laps, some days I don’t. I find I’m more motivated, and feel better about my workout, on the days I count. There’s a greater sense of accomplishment when I *know* I’ve put in a mile, instead of guesstimating I have done. Apparently, Coach, that training is a hard habit to break!


It dawned on me a couple days before Christmas that my morning workout is a good analogy for the rest of my life. I’m more motivated, and pay better attention when I’m counting. And I definitely don’t pay as much attention to the stuff I don’t count. 
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So here’s my 2012 List: Things to count. And not to count.

 

Count
Expressing gratitude
–       Acknowledging,
in the moment, when someone does something I appreciate
–       Saying
“please” and “thank you”
Precious face-time with my family and friends
–       Family
dinners
–       Inside
jokes
–       Crazy
capers from which legend is borne
–       Puppy
kisses
–       See
also “celebrations,” “laughter, “gratitude”
Snail mail
–       Sent
… being tangible with family and friends across the miles
–       Received
… that isn’t a solicitation or a bill!
Healthy habits
–       Calories
burned
–       Miles
swum
–       Walks
with friends
–       Walks
with the 4-leggeds
–       See
also “laughter”
–       Mental
health breaks: see also “moto,” “face-time”
Accomplishment
–       Finished
projects
–       Good
books
–       Permission
to abandon old stuff
Celebrations
–       High
fives
–       Happy
dances
–       See
also “face-time”
Laughter
–       Giggles
–       Chortles
–       Guffaws
–       Snorts!
Moto rides!!!
–       Camping
trips
–       Wandering
to nowhere particular
–       See
also “healthy habits”
Photo ops
–       Sunrises,
sunsets
–       Ocean,
mountains, rivers, valleys
–       Dogs,
cats, kids, cows
–       Face-time
with friends
–       Celebrations,
accomplishment
–       Moments
that memories are made of (and legend, too)

 

Not Count
The number of times it is “my turn” to talk
When a friend has the floor … be still, and listen
between the words (it’s what I hope they’d do for me)
When I don’t get my own way
In 5 years, will it really be important anyway?
Being right
Quarreling takes too much energy, and there never
are any real winners
Minor personal inconvenience
Especially if it’s while being of service to someone
Unanticipated change in plans
Often, the best adventures are unplanned. Definitely
don’t count if it’s family/friends changing it up.
How often I’m sent “up over” or “down under”
Being the young bendy one in the family means I’m
climbing the ladder or crawling under the house to do…something I’d probably
rather not. But, it’s precious time and relationship maintenance with my old
people I wouldn’t trade for anything. Count under “face-time” and “accomplishment.”
Rainy days
It’s Oregon after all. It rains here. But it means
fabulous green stuff and gorgeous blooming things.
* In no particular order
** Subject to change as I think of things to add

Circumstances. Shirk-um-stances.

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The iris on the north end of the house is a reblooming iris: normally it blooms once in early spring and once in later summer.

Today is the first of December. We’ve had several nights already with temperatures hovering around freezing. I’m pretty sure this flower missed the memo that it’s now … winter. Or, maybe it simply doesn’t care about the calendar. Either way, it’s defiantly blooming when conventional wisdom says it shouldn’t.

An iris blooms, that its’ job.

And this particular iris obviously takes it’s job seriously. So seriously, it forgot to care about when. Boundaries can be useful, but they can also limit capacity. Because it forgot to watch the weather forecast, it will bloom three times this year instead of only two. When I took this picture, it struck me how productive I could be if I were a little more iris-like. If I were to pay less attention to circumstances and just go do what I’m good at doing … I could have a longer Done list.

This morning’s observation also has me thinking about how (and why) I sometimes let circumstances dictate the quantity of my accomplishment. I haven’t come to any actionable conclusions … yet …but I’m definitely going to keep mulling this over!

Rear view to the future

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I participated in a MasterMind group in late 2009; the focus was productivity. At the time, I thought, “Wow. This is good stuff.” Our coach gave us practical strategies, and useful tips. She didn’t try to change our behavior(s), but instead had this way of asking [mostly] gentle questions that challenged our assumptions about why we function the way we do. I learned some things about myself that I already knew, but had forgotten. 

And I learned some things I didn’t know. Now, nearly two years out, I’ve seen my productivity—or more accurately, how I discipline myself—increase. On reflection, I think my biggest take-away was that I gave myself permission to operate in just one “life” and not try to maintain a work life and a private life. It’s all inter-connected.

One of the activities our awesome and fantastic coach (Tara Rodden Robinson) gave us was the VIA Survey at www.authentichappiness.com. The outcome of the survey is a list of your top 25 Character Strengths. Here’s my top 5:


1. Gratitude
You are aware of the good things that happen to you, and you never take them for granted. Your friends and family members know that you are a grateful person because you always take the time to express your thanks.2. Spirituality, sense of purpose, and faith
You have strong and coherent beliefs about the higher purpose and meaning of the universe. You know where you fit in the larger scheme. Your beliefs shape your actions and are a source of comfort to you.

3. Curiosity and interest in the world
You are curious about everything. You are always asking questions, and you find all subjects and topics fascinating. You like exploration and discovery.

4. Humor and playfulness
You like to laugh and tease. Bringing smiles to other people is important to you. You try to see the light side of all situations.

5. Appreciation of beauty and excellence
You notice and appreciate beauty, excellence, and/or skilled performance in all domains of life, from nature to art to mathematics to science to everyday experience.

I’ve taken it again—to see if anything has shifted in two years—and find my top 5 are consistent.

Sometimes it’s been in fits and starts, but I’ve found ways to incorporate more of each into every day. I’ve made an effort to tell more people more frequently when I appreciate something they do—and celebrate what they bring to my life (Gators to you, Conroy). I’ve grown in my faith; that affects the lens through which I view and interact with life in a positive way. I said “out loud” that I wanted to see more _____ (art, theatre, sunrises, random trips to nowhere), and my friends have obliged by helping me fill my social calendar. I’ve explored more and taken up new hobbies. I’ve laughed more. A lot more. I’ve stacked my “inner sanctum” with brilliant people who are smarter than me—makes me bring my “A” game.The relevance here is that I’ve been spending some quality time working through the strategic planning process at work. This week has been about updating progress on goals from last year as the foundation for setting next year’s goals. Since it’s all one life … it makes sense that I start doing that in the rest of my life, too. So, here’s part of my rear-view on last year(s) as I look forward to the opportunities of next year.


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VIA Survey of Character Strengths
http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/default.aspx 
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