While I started this website 2 years ago, to document my happiness project (see below), I have largely carried on my project without documenting what I've learned. My goal was to share, with those who took the time to read it, in hopes that they may find more joy in their life and perhaps even start a happiness project of their own. I am figuratively getting back on the horse. I want to be consciously thankful for what I have and what I continue to learn and I want to share my experiences with others. Feel free to visit from time to time to see what I've been up to.
- Shawna (Jan.5.2015)
- Shawna (Jan.5.2015)
2013 - my happiness project
Not sure how many of you have read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin but I was really inspired by this book. For those of you who haven’t read it, here’s a brief summary. Gretchen, a writer, decides to focus on a different topic each month for a year. She comes up with the topics based on research about what brings the most happiness (or unhappiness) to people. Each month she sets a project or goal for herself to accomplish around the topic on hand. The book documents her efforts although she throws in some research findings as well.
I likely read it 2 years ago and it still resonates with me so I’ve decided to make this year (2013) my own project. While I don’t plan on being as structured in my efforts as Gretchen was, the idea of consciously focusing on certain aspects of my life appeals to me. Much like Gretchen, my life is not unhappy or unfulfilling, but I know I don’t appreciate what I have as much as I should so I’d like to do something about that.
My mantra for this year will be “more or less”. As in: sleep more, love more, stress less, complain less etc. Here are my topics:
Create more
Eat more (ok, eat better)
Be “in the moment” more
Love more (or, appreciate more)
Socialize more
Read more
Stress less
Plan less
Yell less (a.k.a. be more patient)
Spend less
I hope to keep my focus on all of them throughout the year, not just one at a time. This blog will help me track which ones I actually spend time on as each entry will have one of the above topics as its starting point.
Why now? I’ve been given a rare opportunity this year to stay home with my 2 kids (Bella 5, Noah 1) and get paid for it... some call it being laid off with a severance package, I call it a gift to enjoy as I would normally be slogging away in some high-rise office tower giving my best days to someone (or something?) else. Instead, I’m going to look inward and live what I learn outward while I get this chance.
I don’t expect to change your life with my project but if I inspire you to try it for yourself, yippee! We are all capable of being a better us. So let the journey begin!
P.S. My professional life to this point has centered around math. I will apologize once, up front, for all the grammatical errors I will make. You are welcome to correct me, but I promise I will forget much of it and make the same mistakes again. :)
I likely read it 2 years ago and it still resonates with me so I’ve decided to make this year (2013) my own project. While I don’t plan on being as structured in my efforts as Gretchen was, the idea of consciously focusing on certain aspects of my life appeals to me. Much like Gretchen, my life is not unhappy or unfulfilling, but I know I don’t appreciate what I have as much as I should so I’d like to do something about that.
My mantra for this year will be “more or less”. As in: sleep more, love more, stress less, complain less etc. Here are my topics:
Create more
Eat more (ok, eat better)
Be “in the moment” more
Love more (or, appreciate more)
Socialize more
Read more
Stress less
Plan less
Yell less (a.k.a. be more patient)
Spend less
I hope to keep my focus on all of them throughout the year, not just one at a time. This blog will help me track which ones I actually spend time on as each entry will have one of the above topics as its starting point.
Why now? I’ve been given a rare opportunity this year to stay home with my 2 kids (Bella 5, Noah 1) and get paid for it... some call it being laid off with a severance package, I call it a gift to enjoy as I would normally be slogging away in some high-rise office tower giving my best days to someone (or something?) else. Instead, I’m going to look inward and live what I learn outward while I get this chance.
I don’t expect to change your life with my project but if I inspire you to try it for yourself, yippee! We are all capable of being a better us. So let the journey begin!
P.S. My professional life to this point has centered around math. I will apologize once, up front, for all the grammatical errors I will make. You are welcome to correct me, but I promise I will forget much of it and make the same mistakes again. :)