I read 50 pages of The Red Tent.
Created 2 bracelets and 3 pajama necklaces.
Cooked a three-course dinner.
Tidied my work desk.
Admired my Christmas tree.
Decorated the breakfast table.
Took a nap.
Made stovetop cocoa with cinnamon.
Watched a movie on Netflix.
When it comes to sharing, there is nothing I enjoy more than to share material objects or my knowledge and expertise with others. It feels exhilarating to me.
I’ve been teaching the girls next door to cook from scratch. Together, we have the greatest fun. I think of us as cooking up fun on a weekly basis.
Thinking up unique ways to share is a fun pastime of mine. Acting on impulse is the best feeling of all. It surprises both the receiver and I. Mostly, I am surprised at how good it feels to see the other person’s reaction.
Today I had the distinct pleasure of listening to a series of short story podcasts from The New Yorker. It was absolutely delightful to hear some of my favourite authors reading other favourite authors! Ah what fun this was! I downloaded them to my ipod from the itunes store. There is a brief discussion at the end of each story.
Today I chased happiness for the fun of it. First I stayed in bed until I had finished reading a book I started last night. My mate kept me fueled with delicious café lattes.
When I did rise out of bed, it was noon and I was hungry for homemade French bread. This was followed by the inspiration to bake French bread and cook chicken gumbo with spicy Andouille sausage. I promptly got dressed in my work out clothes and proceeded to knead the bread dough in the mixer, while checking for the ingredients for the gumbo. Oops no okra, but no worries, hubby offered to run to the store that is 25 minutes each way. While he is gone, I worked out for an hour, which was very energizing. Next I showered, played Christmas music on the Apple TV - cool radio stations there - while I chopped and chopped all the ingredients for the gumbo.
While the gumbo was simmering, I watched Blindside, which was the most inspiring movie I’ve seen this week. The food was absolutely delicious and reminded me of Mr. B’s bistro in N.O. I’ve got to return there for a foodie reunion with myself.
After the fun I had today, I’ve decided to make chasing happiness my official goal because the rewards are priceless. I love the feelings of joy, inspiration, eagerness and glee that courses through my veins when I focus on doing what makes me happy.
I understand completely that I am the creator of it and I especially like the fact that if I am not pleased with any aspect of it I can change that too!
When things are going well I acknowledge it is all my doing and when they are not it is also all my doing. Either way I take full responsibility for all of it.
What I have noticed is that when I take responsibility for all of it, I don’t spend anytime in blame, anger and resentment of others. And as a result, I can quickly create the life that I do want. Everyone gets off track at one point or another but the trick is to get back on as quickly as possible.
Thank you for asking!
I love this question! It encourages me to zero in on all the things that are going well for me. I spent a wonderful weekend! We had a most leisurely, blessed Thanksgiving Weekend. It was extremely casual and relaxing. We planned nothing that required effort or appointments. We watched my most favourite TV series- Season 1 of Glee, How to Train Your Dragon and Flipped. We played dominoes and Can’t Stop as well as with our regular electronic toys and gizmos. I also got a 4th generation Ipod, replacing the 3rd generation I’ve had for a year now.
I am abundantly blessed and expect things to continue to go extremely well for me.
I look forward to more great relationships, to my upcoming week in Orlando especially the much-anticipated Harry Potter theme park.
I am on a different plane since I’ve been listening to my Guided Meditation cd. The experience is unique to every individual and so I won’t go into the details of what doors have opened up for me.
I bought a couple of mp3 songs which I’ve played a gazillion times and counting.
They put me right into the Vortex!
So, what’s good in your life?
The things that made today special are:
I woke up in the vortex, which is always what I most want.
I received a hefty check from some jewelry someone bought.
I loved receiving the check because it included a tip and a note about the quality of my work. It also indicated that when you do what you love from inspired action, money would flow easily and effortlessly.
I was delighted to hear my father speak of how much he enjoys having his son spend some quality time with him. I was thrilled for both of them.
I was able to buy the first season of Glee for a fraction of the cost. Glee has become my
‘At home Broadway Musical Fix’.
I had some contrast that clarified what I really want and that is always a good thing as nothing ever goes wrong.
I received yet another book from PBS!
Apple TV now has Air Play as of today!
I am so thrilled with the new meditation cd from my favourite teachers that I can hardly contain myself never mind my words.
I received the cd on the 15th of November and began by reading the book and listening to the meditations immediately.
It is by far the best meditations I have ever experienced.
Ever!
What makes it so special? Every single time I listen to one of the fifteen-minute segments I can feel my body literally releasing resistance as things pop, space is made and body feels boneless. Weird right? But oh it feels so very good!!!
The other thing is how smoothly the rest of my life is flowing without me having to lift a finger.
I have been practicing this stuff for thirteen years, so I am not saying that the meditations are what’s causing this avalanche of good feelings and good manifestations.
What I am saying is that the meditations have accelerated the rate at which I am manifesting a quality life.
The bad news is that I want to tell everyone I know, even if they are not interested!
Screwy right?
But that’s how enthused I am about this tool.
"It is my dominant intent to look for things that feel good today. No matter where I'm going, no matter what I'm doing, no matter who I'm doing it with, it is my dominant intent to look for what I'm wanting to see, to look for things that feel good." –Abraham-Hicks.
This is one of my favourite quotes from Abraham. I have about a thousand, but this is in the top five. Impressive right?
I intend to look for and listen to uplifting music today.
I intend to spend some time outdoors.
I intend to teach the girls to cook Italian food.
I intend to continue reading my current book.
I intend to receive uplifting news today.
I intend to have only uplifting conversations.
I intend to continue with my daily meditations.
I intend to resume my workout and yoga practice.
I intend to compile a list of books for PBS.
I intend to tend to my wellbeing.
The other day I was uploading some photographs of my father’s 77th birthday reunion to a digital picture frame and I was struck by the naked joyousness of the faces of his friends. In every photograph, people were smiling, laughing, motioning, eating, drinking and talking. Their joyfulness eked out and flowed into me until I was quite mad with a desire to host another one of those reunions.
I immediately called my sister and communicated my wild idea to her.
I even sent her the photos, so she could see and perhaps experience the joy herself. I was really quite intoxicated with joy as the poet Hafiz might say.
The next day, I argued the plan and concluded it was not feasible.
I asked myself a lot of questions and came up with the simple answer:
I wanted my father to see his friends and spend time with them again.
However, I did not wish to have to endure the process of getting to that point. I did not want to have to rely on my friends and total strangers for assistance.
I called my sister and told her the plans were cancelled. As expected, she was disappointed. I understood her disappointment because I felt the same way, but I was not going down that path again. There had to be another way.
Last Friday, my father rang to say he was on the big island for a few weeks.
I encouraged him to call his friends and make appointments to visit them for the duration of his stay there. He was quite taken with the idea of leisurely seeing each one in their home. After we hung up the phone, I felt uplifted and happy. I am so pleased I discovered a better solution that is completely win/win.
I got what I wanted which was for my father to see and be with his friends for a day. Even if he does not visit all of them, the thought of him spending time with just one, makes me very happy indeed.
I enjoyed a super blissful weekend in the company of very good friends.
On one occasion we were discussing the power of appreciation in the workplace and how it transforms the energy there. One chap mentioned how they were singled out for some long overdue appreciation for work they had done some months ago and he said it was amazing to see how everyone's posture straightened as they were being mentioned. They were cheerful for days.
A young lady of 14 said that she loved when others gifted her with books. I thought she was talking about the books themselves but no, what she meant was others took the time to learn about her interests. Imagine that! She was appreciative of their taking an interest in her interests!
The entire conversation was very satisfying because we were all talking about, feeling, reliving and expressing appreciation for more than an hour.
Afterwards, I looked at the lives we each live and realized the main reason we are all so abundant is because of the heightened levels of appreciation we consciously embrace on a daily basis.
This prompted me to goggle the word appreciation and almost all the stuff I came across is derived from the teachings of Abraham-Hicks in one form or another, although this is never mentioned. If Abraham spooks you, just stick with the people who copied them. It is not about the messenger.
I am where I am today because of the power of appreciation which I made into a religion because of the Abraham material.
74. Do one thing at a time and be present with it. I produce quality work when I utilize this method and a profound sense of wellbeing. I suspect being present is the key, as it engages all my senses.
75. Call friends who do not have email. I call one of them and snail mail the other. I really enjoy hand writing a letter. The process is quite relaxing and enjoyable to me. I look forward to handwriting letters and cards.
76. Mail a care package to a student. This is a little project I’ve come to enjoy. I don’t eat as much candy and snacks as I use to and this project lets me enjoy the process as far as shopping, packing and shipping goes. The rest of my pleasure comes from imagining how delighted the recipients would feel.
77. Make new friends. This year I made three new friends. I have broadened my foodie appreciation and so have they in the process.
78. Ask for help. Now that I have a good understanding of how the Universe is there for my assistance, I have been asking for help a lot more than before and I do get it!
79. Say no more often. I make every decision based upon how I feel and this means that I have been saying a whole lot of ‘nos’ to a whole lot of things I previously did for the sake of obligation.
80. Take photos of street signs with my friends name and mail it to them. There was a period of time when I would notice street signs with the names of my friends. I never got around to this project and I’ve somehow stopped seeing the signs. Isn’t that interesting?
81. See all the “gems” in New England as listed in the AAA guidebook. I am sure I have seen at least 95% of them. We’ve been everywhere in New England by now.
82. Add to my Creation Box. So this game is truly magical. Whatever I add to this box, usually manifest for me. Sometimes it is something better, but always, I get what I ask for.
83. Join the Grafton Library. Their selection of books is not as impressive as I would have liked, so I am sticking with Amazon, Paperback Swap and the Digital Library for now.
84. Take train into Boston and spend a tourist day there. We don’t have regular trains from where we live. However I have gone into Boston and spent many fun filled days there. It is a very beautiful city.
85. Fill out all questionnaires at Authentichappiness.org After I filled out this. I never returned to the site! I’m still wondering what the point of my exercise was.
86. Learn sign language. I forgot I had this in here; as a result I didn’t do it.
87. Jump on a trampoline. As soon as I find one…
88. Help someone realize one of their ‘to do’ list things. I invited a friend to come and visit – she always wanted to see NE in the fall.
89. Remember to ask ‘what’s good about this’ during a contrasting experience. This is a powerful exercise because it liberates my thoughts and feelings.
90. Eat only foods I enjoy. This has been a huge success!
91. Explore unfamiliar subject areas in the library or bookstore.
I enjoyed doing this on Wiki Random and from RSS feeds I subscribe to.
92. Visit Mesa Verde NP. Rain check.
93. To print this list and check off things because it feels good! I thought commenting on each one would help me to clarify my level of interest for each one.
94. Add to my beach sand collection. This is a fun project! I collect beach sand and display them in little bottles around my bathtub. Pink sand from Bermuda is particularly beautiful.
95. Notice the gift each day brings. Each day brings me at least a hundred things to appreciate and I do love and enjoy the process.
96 – 100. Cross-stitch projects I have not yet completed.
There you have it. My fun year of doing more of what I love and enjoy and giving up the things which no longer interest me. I’d say I am more focused on feeling good than ever before.
55. Spend an entire summer’s day in my hammock in the garden. I attempted this many times only to end up doing a chore in the garden.
56. Become a companion with my IB. I am very familiar with this concept now.
57. Take weekends off from cooking. Done! Especially when we go on day trips in the summer and fall.
58. Sleep more. I realized this is based on the desires of my body, so I go with what my body does. Sometimes it sleeps past 11 am and sometimes it awakens at the crack of dawn.
59. Go to bed being appreciative. This process guarantees blissful, restful sleep and refreshing renewal.
60. Tapestry Bloom pillow. Stunning to say the least. I admire it each night before going to sleep.
61. More day trips to NYC, when street festivals are on. Perhaps next year…
62.Orlando in the spring. The year isn’t over and I do have plans to see the HP theme park.
63. Visit top 5 chocolate makers in New England (as listed by Yankee magazine). Rain check.
64. See the Pinchot Sycamore; largest tree in New England. Rain check
65. Breakfast at the Modern Diner listed as the best diner in New England. We never awake and alert enough at breakfast time…
66. Attend a summer concert in Tanglewood. Rain check.
67. Take naps. I do have the luxury of taking these, but I always feel I have more important things to do, such as reading a book instead of shutting my eyes.
68. Surprise someone. I did this several times this year and I do it for the pleasure I receive more than anything else.
69. Walk barefoot in the garden for a day. Oh! What fun this is!
70. Mandala coloring book. I printed some form a free mandala website and filled them in while listening to lovely music, or just sitting quietly. It is a very relaxing focused form of meditation.
71. Learn a new beading technique. Taught myself quite a few of these.
72. Read Wiki randomly on a daily basis. This lead to a lot of other interesting websites so much so that weeks would go by without Wiki reading.
73. Donate all the winter clothes I did not wear this year. I did this for the summer clothes and I suspect there will be plenty at the end of winter too.
44. Add to my collection of fine bone china plates for my dinning room walls. I actually cross-stitched a trio of teacups instead.
45. Take myself LESS seriously. This took a while to take effect, but when I got the hang of it, my life became easier than ever.
46. Continue making daily contributions to the wellbeing of self and others (Wellbeing Journal). This journal is an important part of my life. I have come to rely on it for my self- preservation.
47. Practice deep breathing. Ah this is so relaxing and invigorating!
48. Watch all the TED talks. TED is the most brilliant television. I watch it to maintain my brilliance!
49. Sow Morning Glory around the deck. Alas, I didn’t do this year, as I introduced the chocolate vine instead.
50. Complete all unfinished cross-stitch projects. I am so ambitious aren’t I? I completed four this year and left some for next year and other lifetimes.
51. Giving my undivided attention to what is before me. This is easy when practiced mindfully as it causes whatever I am focused upon to turn out splendidly.
52. Simplify. This is fun to do. Too fun, as I have practically given away stuff I actually use on a daily basis.
53. Eat Chinese food besides the fireplace. Done!
54. Float down the Merced River in Yosemite. Perhaps next year…
35. Treat myself to formal teatime more often. This actually a symbolic ritual I created for myself in order to deliberately live in the moment. I live and work at home so setting out tea for one in a fine boned china tea set is a wonderful interlude I have come to look forward to.
36. Play the What If game more often. This is the best process I know for overcoming resistance to new uncharted waters.
37. Make daily lists of appreciation. This is my secret to not working hard, struggling and sacrificing for the life that I enjoy.
38. Be more selective in my thoughts. I can manifest anything I think about in a short time, so I had to be up to speed with this one in order to live the life I now live. I can never afford to by a sloppy thinker, as the price is too high.
39. Focus on only good news. This ties in with the above goals; when I focus on good news, I create good news.
40. Picnic at Walden Pond in the summer. I love and adore Walden Pond!
I go there with my friends and for solitary walks. Either way, it’s a wonderful place to connect with spirit.
41. Spend a day on Block Island. Alas I didn’t do it this summer because see no. 42.
42. Weekend in Bar Harbor. I spent a week in Bar Harbor hiking and eating Maine lobsters fresh from the lobster pound. This is my pilgrimage every summer that I continue to live in New England.
43. Meditate on Flicker more often. This website has some of the most breathtakingly beautiful photographs I have ever seen in one place. Regrettably, I am not spending enough time enjoying them.
28. Practice food appreciation before eating. I gave myself this goal in order to deliberately focus and think about only the food that is before me. Fortunately, I am not in the habit of eating and watching TV or reading.
29. Give up more often. Wow! I’m good at this one! Now that I have mastered this, you won’t believe how easily problems and issues resolve themselves.
30. Complete the scrapbook I am currently working on. I did finish this project rather cheerfully as it is the last one I will ever do. Scrapbooking is not my hobby.
31. Broadway theatre. I attended quite a few this year and I am very pleased about that. I love the theatre and the delicious energy that swirls in live theatre.
32. Paint laundry room. I did it!
33. Freecycle electronics. The best source for giving way stuff to those who really want it.
34. Learn to knit. I bought this kit but have not yet been inspired to take action. I don’t think I ever will, so I will add it to the freecycle list.
ü Vibrational alignment.
ü More love and laughter.
ü Stimulating conversations.
ü Joyous interactions.
ü Uplifting news.
ü Love of all mankind.
ü Allowing others.
ü Making peace by ceasing the struggle.
ü Wellness.
ü Focusing on what I want.
ü Feeling as good as I can feel.
ü Brilliant ideas.
ü Inspiration.
ü Happiness
ü Abundance of everything that enhances my being.
ü Delightful surprises.
ü Enjoyment in all my activities.
ü Kindness to myself.
ü Appreciation.
22. Elton John concert. I had the distinct pleasure of attending one of these years ago and would like to repeat the blissful experience…
23. Meditate for 15 minutes a day, everyday. I have been lazy about this and promise to practice more.
24. Look for the joy in my daily routine. I have been really good about this, which is why I cannot put up with any kind of negative emotion.
25. Work on Geni. This is a family tree project that is ongoing. I have to upload photos for each person next.
26. Prepare a new recipe at least four times a week. I do this with great inspiration and appreciation.
27. Develop a daily writing practice. I love to write with my gel pens, so this is ongoing.
19.Create more beautiful one of a kind jewelry. I have been wholeheartedly enjoying this one! I create when I am inspired and it’s always a thing of beauty. This year I’ve probably sat down about four or five times and within those times, I’ve had many hours of pure fun. I only go to my atelier when nothing could keep me from it – that’s how I know I am inspired and ready to do something amazing. It also takes just a few minutes to do something fabulous. If I have to convince myself to go there, it means I am not ready and whatever I create will be awful. Creating from a place of pure joy is the best feeling in the world.
20. Compile and publish a recipe book. This sounded good at the time I thought of it. Since then I’ve felt it to be quite a burdensome task. Instead I’m continuing with my foodblog as a record of my own creations as well as those of others I enjoy. I’m happy to tweak a recipe to suit me and to create new ones when I feel inspired.
21. Refurnish dining room. Since writing this I’ve added a dimmer switch, two new dinning chairs and some new cross stitch frames on the wall. I’m well pleased with this room for now…
This has been a lifelong goal of mine and I just thought I’d move it up to 201o and now 2011! Seriously, there is nothing more romantic or thrilling than staying in a Castle with a magnificent library! I could hardly wait.
I’ve been thinking of Bovey Castle or Dundas Castle in Scotland to name just two. Meanwhile researching them has been a real thrill and when I do go, I hope I am just as thrilled!!!
Goals 10- 17
10. Record a photo diary. I took the photos but did not formally organize them in a diary form as I’d hoped. Instead, I used them for my various blogs or just saved them on my computer. I do plan on trying out the photo diary one of these years!
11. Rendezvous with more friends. This year I met some friends I had not seen in more than twenty-five years and I made some new ones. I also reconnected with family members after a period of estrangement. It was all good!
12. Listen to a different XM station each day. This goal was so that I can introduce myself to a variety of world music. It didn’t work out because I could not be in the vicinity of the radio long enough. Also I enjoyed listening to audio books more of the time. I had other times where I would peruse the web for world music and found that it was more enjoyable to me then, as I was single mindedly focused on appreciating the music.
13. Ride in a hot air balloon. Ah I have yet to realize this particular pleasure!
14. See the Northern Lights. This too, as I have to be in Alaska in either March or September to fully appreciates the Aurora Borealis. I like that I still have this to look forward to for some reason.
15. Become more vibrationally attuned. This goal has to do with me paying more attention to the way I feel or tuning in to my own vibrations. I have been doing an exceptional job of this and I continue to do so, as nothing is more important that that I feel good!
16. Meet the President of the United States. After spending 14 hours watching the Inaugurations I was besotted with meeting the President and I still am. I look forward to this event.
17. Receive a postcard from every state as well as every country in the world. – Didn’t happen in one year, but it’s getting there!
This felt like a really good idea at the time I wrote it.
It sounded like the right thing to do as in it’s my duty to visit my parents.
However the right thing for me to do is what feels good to me and not what duty dictates.
This year, it felt better for me to think of them as enjoying a peaceful life and allowing in the health and wellbeing that is always flowing.
You bet!
I watch movies purely for the entertainment value, specifically to laugh and feel good. As with my reading habit, if the movie does not feel good within twenty minutes, I abort the process.
Life is too short, for me to waste it on being terrified out of my wits, or getting dragged into an emotional wasteland of tragedy and sadness which feels really bad to me.
My first book by Ursula Le Guin was The Left Hand of Darkness.
I was quite intrigued by her writings and since then have read a number of her books. I adore her imagination and it was in A Wizard of Earthsea that I first read about a school for wizards.
This year I acquired a few more titles, which I will be reading next year :)
In the above photo you can see two bookplates Ursula gifted me with.
Thanks Ursula!
So far I’ve read over 44 books this year.
I’ve started many more, but stopped at page 50 if the plot wasn’t interesting to me.
It’s not that the books were poorly written but mostly because the subject matter wasn’t appealing to me.
I read only for pleasure now.
I have at least fifty or sixty unread books in my personal library at the moment and this has caused me to set a new reading goal for next year.
I am to read only the books that are currently in my possession. Next year I will not be buying any new books. Of course gifted books are the exception to this rule…
I will be spending the next couple of weeks going over my list of 100 things I wanted to accomplish this year.
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