Messy in Fabulous Shoes

Messy in Fabulous Shoes
Showing posts with label "happiness project". Show all posts
Showing posts with label "happiness project". Show all posts

Saturday, March 3, 2012

My Commandments

The next step in my Happiness Project is to write my commandments. After much deliberation (and because I attended 16 years of Catholic school), I came up with ten:

1. Be Melissa.
2. I have to take care of me before I can take care of anyone else.
3. Everything happens for a reason.
4. Patience is a discipline.
5. It is OK to ask for help.
6. Let it go.
7. Change your hair, change your life.
8. Focus on now.
9. What if does not exist.
10. I deserve to be happy.

I'm not carving them in stone because they may evolve but I think this sums it up. I'm also not sure I truly believe them all but that takes faith, doesn't it? I'm a work in progress!


Friday, March 2, 2012

An Atmosphere of Growth

As my Happiness Project continues, I am on the last question before my next phase begins. Do you have sources of an atmosphere of growth? In what elements of your life do you find progress, learning, challenge, improvement and increased mastery?

I love this question! Finishing our Leadership Academy in 2010, I was inspired to continue my professional development and am currently enrolled in a governance certification series as well as the Certified Aging Services Professional certificate program. I'm always looking for ways to grow in my career.

Yesterday, I started exercising again (finally). It is an area I struggle with so I am taking one day at a time and celebrating the little victories along the way to keep myself on track.

I just enrolled in an online Italian course as well. Having studied the language in college, I've always wanted to get back to it so when a girlfriend told me she is getting married in Rome I thought, why not now?

In my relationship, I'm continuously trying to grow as a person. Trusting, listening, supporting, choosing happiness. And each day it becomes more of a way of life than a challenge.

Last Christmas I challenged my inner Grammie and created a scrapbook. I mean the real deal! Including aimlessly wandering the aisles of Michael's, feeling completely overwhelmed and getting glitter everywhere. But it was one of the best Christmas presents I've ever given and I will continue to fill the pages as the memories are made.

Wow, this post makes me really happy! I always was a good student and guess I continue to be as I mature. I wonder what I will learn next!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

What Makes You Feel Bad?

So today's Happiness Project question is What makes you feel bad? What are sources of anger, irritation, boredom, frustration, or anxiety in your life? I hope this is a tougher list to come up with than the what makes you feel good list!
  • Being stuck in any type of limbo
  • Not being a mom
  • People who are totally self-consumed or just don't "get it"
  • My mental block about exercising
  • Sometimes drinking too much
  • The people I love realizing I'm not as special as they think
  • Stella's chronic illness and not being able to help her
  • Home invasion
  • Family drama
  • Any type of bigotry (It is 2012 for goodness sake - let it go!)
  • Spending what I don't have because it gives me instant gratification
  • Letting the people I love down
  • Self-loathing (I am way too hard on myself and get stuck in my head a fair amount)
  • Not having financial or emotional security
  • Death
  • Lies
  • Nightmares
  • Having to own up to this list!
Now this, too, is an extensive list and makes my chest constrict just writing it. What makes you feel bad?

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

What Makes You Feel Good?

As I mentioned yesterday, I am embarking on my own Happiness Project. Step one is to define what activities you find fun, satisfying or energizing. In other words, what makes you feel good? Here's what activities make me feel good (in no particular order):
  • Being in love
  • Long walks around the neighborhood with the dogs
  • Going to the theater or concerts
  • Shopping (even beyond shoes)
  • Reading
  • Movies
  • Cooking (can you believe it???) - and more specifically, cooking for people who like to eat
  • Baking (same as above)
  • Riding on the back of a Harley
  • Facilitating and helping members problem solve
  • Taking naps
  • Golf (when I'm not stressed out)
  • Staycation and vacation
  • Spending time with my girlfriends and/or their kids
  • Anything with Fun People
  • Theater Club
  • Monthly calls with my Leadership team (Zengo)
  • Sharing a meal and/or going to church with my grandparents
  • Doing something different with my parents (other than the same old stuff...)
  • Blogging
  • Making a house a home
  • Eating a great meal and drinking a great glass of wine (or 2)
  • Making people laugh
Wow! That's a pretty extensive list. I had no idea there were so many things I liked to do.

What makes you feel good?