Living the Life You Love

I started my Fifty Frolics projects to make the most of turning fifty.  As I'm experiencing it, this means doing more of what I enjoy...and enjoying my life more.

It seems that, prior to this year, I didn't make a point of doing so.  It's not clear why.  I can't explain why I denied myself simple pleasures.  Or why I did less of the activities I enjoy.

The good news is that I'm using this milestone birthday to make some simple adjustments -- and, unexpectedly, I'm finding my life is getting better and better.

Now YOU don't have to wait for a milestone birthday -- if you simply decide to want to enjoy your life more, you can.

How to live the life you love?

1.  First, set the intention to enjoy your life more. Choose to live the life you love.  Make it a daily practice to remind yourself of your desire to enjoy your life more.

2.  Take a moment to appreciate those elements of your life that are working well right now.  Try it:  List five or ten things in your life for which you're grateful.  (Even better if you make this a daily habit).  These are the cornerstones for living the life you love.

3.  Now, think back over your lifetime.  What are things or activities that have made you happy?  What have you really enjoyed?  What's been fulfilling? What do you wish you could do more of?

4.  Is there anything that hasn't yet been a part of your life that you think you might like to try?  Perhaps a new activity or skill?  Is there an experience for which you're yearning?

5.  What would like to experience less of?  What would you like to reduce or eliminate from your life?  These are the things you will be replacing with more appealing options.

6.  Look at your lists.  What jumps out at you as being the most important, the most fun or the most interesting things you'd really, truly love to have in your life?

7.  Devise ways to make it happen. If you're yearning to spend more time in nature, for example, figure out a way to do so at least once a week.  If you're hankering to learn to play guitar, sign up for a class or ask someone for lessons.

8.  Keep track of how you're doing -- once a month or so, ask yourself "On a scale from 1 - 10, how much am I enjoying my life?"  If the number stays the same or goes down, ask yourself what adjustments you can make this month.  If the number goes up, pat yourself on the back -- you're doing exactly what you intended:  you're enjoying your life more.

I'd love to hear from you about this -- message me or leave a comment below.

Half-Time

This is the twenty-sixth week of my fiftieth year.  It doesn't seem like it -- it feels like I just turned fifty a about a month ago but no, poof! shazam!  I'm half-way through my milestone.

What's working well?

I'm trying enjoying my fifty projects -- especially my Fifty Frolics.  I'm making a point of going out more -- fun day trips (like the visit to the Museum of Latin American Art or lunch with a girlfriend at a kickass Vietnamese Vegan Cafe) plus wonderful evenings (like a number of girls' nights, game nights plus my recent night seeing the musical Billy Elliot). Best of all, I've enjoyed many wonderful visits with friends -- dinners, parties and even some sleepovers.

Connecting -- or reconnecting -- with friends has been particularly gratifying. I'm making a point of visiting more with people who are nearby -- as well as phoning or Skyping those farther away.   Certainly, I'm truly appreciating the significant people in my life.

I've read some great books, as part of my desire to read (at least) Fifty Books this year.  My other creative inputs are equally enjoyable -- I'm more than half way to my goal of watching (at least) Fifty Films as well as listening (really listening) to (at least) Fifty CDs.

So far, it's been a delicious year, to boot.  I'm cooking up a storm, in my desire to try (at least) Fifty New Recipes.  I'm delving into favourite cookbooks, scouring the internet for cool new recipes and experimenting with new ingredients like Tofurky.

I'm also taking better care of my body -- hauling my middle-aged carcass into (at least) Fifty Fitness Classes, including bikram yoga and zumba.

And I'm making a point of treating myself well...to the tune of (at least) Fifty Treats this year.

I might be a bit behind in my quota, but I've certainly been enjoying the Creative Projects on which I've been working.  I've made some beautiful jewelry, for example. I've been blogging here and at www.DaVinciDilemma.com.   I've drafted several books and published one so far (GOAL SETTING & PLANNING FOR MULTI-TALENTED PEOPLE:  How to figure out what you really want -- and how to actually get it).


I'm getting to the water much more, thanks to my desire for (at least) 50 Water Visits.  I might be behind in my quota for this year...but I've indulged in this favourite, soothing pasttime much more than I have in previous years.

I'm learning more about myself -- and others. 

I'm looking at life differently...in a good way.

What hasn't been working well?

* This year seems to have brought more than the usual number of challenges...but I'm doing my best to handle them.

* There's no denying it:  I look like hell.

* Also, there is one 50 Project that I haven't tackled at all.  I have yet to get to any 'Fun Class', let alone the (at least) fifty I hoped to attend.  The irony here is that, in any given year over the past decade, I've taken fun classes pretty much every week -- art or acting or even canine related courses.  It's surprising that this, of all projects, is that one yet to get off the ground.  There *was* a fire-eating class that caught my eye...but it ran when I was out of the country.  I'm planning to register for a metal fabrication class...but it doesn't start until September.  I will make a point of getting to SOME fun classes this year...and will make it a priority to get to (at least) 51 next year.

What adjustments do I need to make, going forward?

Overall, I'm very satisfied with my efforts to 'make the most of turning fifty'.

My plan is to keep on, keeping on...to keep track of my various fifty projects and do my best to meet my quotas, to the best of my ability...while remembering that the whole point is to really enjoy this year.



*****

What about you?  How's your 50th year going?  Message me or leave a comment.

Compost Happens

Sometimes, bad things happen.  Injuries.  Losses.  Injustices.  Setbacks. We can't avoid them.  We can't prevent them.  What matters is what we do with them.

Of course there will be an initial reaction.  Anger.  Grief.  Frustration. Sadness.

The most important thing is to not become paralyzed, wallowing in these negative feelings.  To move on, after an appropriate time.

There may be some cognitive analysis about what's happened.  Some lessons learned.  Some decisions about the future. Again, the trick is not to wallow.  Not to stay trapped by repetitive thoughts.

The best way to move on is to take action.  To move forward.  To take steps to improve the situation.

Like my gardener friend Julia advises, "Compost happens."

We both lost our mothers this year.  And we've both been stunned and blindsided at some of the actions taken by our family members -- at a time when we would have preferred their support.  We've both been disheartened and dismayed when relatives have hurt us.  But all we can do is walk away with our lumps and move on -- with gratitude for the love and support that, thankfully, we get from others.  Some people may have behaved nastily to us...but many more people have been kind during this sad, difficult process.


What about you?  Are you holding on to some 'compost' unnecessarily?  What can you do to let go and move on?

Not Too Old to Learn

One of my Guilty Pleasures is websurfing.  Part of the attraction is that its brain stimulation -- what’s going on in the world?  

Another part of it the appeal derives from the helpful tidbits you pick up along the way.  Just in the past month, I’ve picked up tips and techniques that I’m enjoying using. 

Here are some examples:

* I've been driving all wrong:  here's the right way to drive, given the current technology.

*  if you put scallions root down in a glass, partly filled with water, they will root and thrive.  You can either then plant them in little pots or just keep them in the glass (keeping the water level sufficient) to have fresh scallions at the ready in your kitchen window.

* ditto for herbs like parsley, basil and cilantro.  These take longer to root and are a very handy way to have fresh herbs on hand.   Pluck a few leaves to enliven any dish.  I haven’t tried mint yet, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work, either.

* the natural way to sleep isn't necessarily for 6-8 hours straight. Turns out that in in human history,  it's more natural to sleep for a few hours, then get up and do other things for a while, then return to sleep for a second session.   Here's the full scoop.

* here’s the instructions for a new way to poach an egg.  There’s none of the vinegar taste from traditional poaching.  There are not of the ‘hairy’ bits that break off the eggs while they cook.  Rather than ending up with vinegary egg drop soup, you get tight little balls of poached egg.  As well, you can add whatever the seasoning you desire to the package, making for a much tastier finished product. 

* I’ve adapted the preceding technique to create faux coddled eggs -- basically it’s like making the poached egg recipe except that you whisk the egg and add a bit of cream or cheese plus seasonings -- then you pour this into the plastic package.

The point is, to keep learning at any age...how easy it is to do so, given our technology...and what fun it can be to discover new things.  

What about you?  What have you learned lately? Message me or leave a comment in the section below.