Sunday, July 22, 2012
Intentional?
Hmmmmmm...I seem to have skipped a few days ... Or months!
I am surprised that I remembered where I started this.
So, we will try this again, a little more intentionally, perhaps!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Words, Words, Words!
Words, words, words!
I spent most of yesterday and today working on the Foundation's newsletter. I procrastinated so much and was so stressed about it, but once I got started, I have to admit I liked it. I'm learning to use Adobe InDesign better with Amanda's help. I probably would still be procrastinating if I didn't have her as a back up to getting started. Amanda really has an interesting writing style. I hope that she will be able to use her writing skills and knowledge of InDesign (or some other publishing software) to get a job at Truman State.
Words, words, words!
For the past two years, I have challenged Jeanene and Loretta to pick a word for the year to focus on. In the past, I chose "fresh" and "wow!" It's not an original idea, but one that I read somewhere on blog land. When I tried to explain this idea to Blaine, she and I had to laugh because she wanted to know what you had to do, the deadline for choosing a word, how you evaluated your success with the word, etc. Typical teacher! Surprisingly, I'm OK that none of these things are required. Less stress that way, of course. You don't even have to tell anyone your word. But I'll tell you mine: Intentional. I think I sometimes glide through life letting whatever happens happen, instead of plotting my own destiny. Of course, it is unfair to Phil to have to make all of our travel plans, our investment plans, our day-to-day plans. Not that he complains. I think I really need to be more proactive -- intentional -- with my personal life and well-being. I need to make a bucket list and get cracking! Jeanene is thinking of using "receive" -- as in gratefully and without guilt receiving the universal gifts like sunshine, compliments, laughter, etc. She wanted to make sure I understood that she still wants to be give! Really ... this is a non-judgmental thing ... it doesn't matter what I think of her word ... it's HER word. Nevertheless, she is thinking of using "balancing receiving and giving. Which isn't really a word, of course, but a phrase. But, hey, that is OK too. Loretta says that she dreads the future and gets depressed so she wants to pick a positive word. It makes me sad to think she views life this way. I may have to suggest some positive words to her. Whatever everyone picks, I'd like to make something concrete for each of us with our previous words/phrases and this year's picks. Pillow? Sign? Poster? Maybe we could look for each other's words and pick up little gifts throughout the year.
Words, words, words!
I've already skipped a day on this blog -- I wanted to learn how to add a picture to a blog entry yesterday which turned in to today, but ... the newsletter (and getting the house cleaned before the cleaning ladies came today!) got in the way and it didn't happen. However, that's no reason to quit just because I missed a day. Like our word-of-the-year, there is no one judging me, even me (I hope) and there is no wrong and right.
Tomorrow: Pictures, pictures, pictures?????
I spent most of yesterday and today working on the Foundation's newsletter. I procrastinated so much and was so stressed about it, but once I got started, I have to admit I liked it. I'm learning to use Adobe InDesign better with Amanda's help. I probably would still be procrastinating if I didn't have her as a back up to getting started. Amanda really has an interesting writing style. I hope that she will be able to use her writing skills and knowledge of InDesign (or some other publishing software) to get a job at Truman State.
Words, words, words!
For the past two years, I have challenged Jeanene and Loretta to pick a word for the year to focus on. In the past, I chose "fresh" and "wow!" It's not an original idea, but one that I read somewhere on blog land. When I tried to explain this idea to Blaine, she and I had to laugh because she wanted to know what you had to do, the deadline for choosing a word, how you evaluated your success with the word, etc. Typical teacher! Surprisingly, I'm OK that none of these things are required. Less stress that way, of course. You don't even have to tell anyone your word. But I'll tell you mine: Intentional. I think I sometimes glide through life letting whatever happens happen, instead of plotting my own destiny. Of course, it is unfair to Phil to have to make all of our travel plans, our investment plans, our day-to-day plans. Not that he complains. I think I really need to be more proactive -- intentional -- with my personal life and well-being. I need to make a bucket list and get cracking! Jeanene is thinking of using "receive" -- as in gratefully and without guilt receiving the universal gifts like sunshine, compliments, laughter, etc. She wanted to make sure I understood that she still wants to be give! Really ... this is a non-judgmental thing ... it doesn't matter what I think of her word ... it's HER word. Nevertheless, she is thinking of using "balancing receiving and giving. Which isn't really a word, of course, but a phrase. But, hey, that is OK too. Loretta says that she dreads the future and gets depressed so she wants to pick a positive word. It makes me sad to think she views life this way. I may have to suggest some positive words to her. Whatever everyone picks, I'd like to make something concrete for each of us with our previous words/phrases and this year's picks. Pillow? Sign? Poster? Maybe we could look for each other's words and pick up little gifts throughout the year.
Words, words, words!
I've already skipped a day on this blog -- I wanted to learn how to add a picture to a blog entry yesterday which turned in to today, but ... the newsletter (and getting the house cleaned before the cleaning ladies came today!) got in the way and it didn't happen. However, that's no reason to quit just because I missed a day. Like our word-of-the-year, there is no one judging me, even me (I hope) and there is no wrong and right.
Tomorrow: Pictures, pictures, pictures?????
Sunday, January 1, 2012
New Beginnings!
Happy 2012 and here's to "New Beginnings!"
I've started many years by wishing -- and sometimes even trying -- to keep a diary. Never worked. Never. But with my fondness for computers, I thought a private blog might be fun to try. I'm not going to tell anyone that I have one, hoping to eliminate any undo, self-imposed pressured. (If you've accidentally found this ... wow!) So my first "new beginnings" is a blog.
In anticipation of another "new beginning" -- Phil's retirement -- and our freedom to travel more, I packed our bags this morning. Well, sort of. One of the (needlessly) stressful things about taking a trip -- even a short weekend one -- is packing. It always feels like a scavenger hunt, trying to find the basic toiletry things we need to pack. And then we spend the first 20 minutes of the trip wondering if either of us remembered to bring the toothpaste, or lotion, or ... I always forget something. Always. Then it suddenly occurred to me that it is possible to own two of things and just keep the second set packed and at the ready. So we made a list, checked it twice just like Santa Claus, and packed it all up. Of course, we had many duplicates of things in our bathroom linen closet so there really wasn't much extra to buy. Woot, woot! I really think this idea is going to make leaving on a trip quicker and less painful.
Weekly family update. Amanda has spent her Christmas break reading the Harry Potter books; she's reading the 5th book today. Katie is in St. Louis accompanying Molly Pearce and her mom Teresa as they shop for Molly's wedding dress. Darin had his first experience in the real work world of not having at least a two week holiday break, but is somewhere in Kansas City this weekend celebrating the new year with friends. Phil has enjoyed spending several days this break working on the Thunderbird's transmission with Kit Lindsey and selling things on eBay.
Looking forward to celebrating new beginnings throughout the year!
I've started many years by wishing -- and sometimes even trying -- to keep a diary. Never worked. Never. But with my fondness for computers, I thought a private blog might be fun to try. I'm not going to tell anyone that I have one, hoping to eliminate any undo, self-imposed pressured. (If you've accidentally found this ... wow!) So my first "new beginnings" is a blog.
In anticipation of another "new beginning" -- Phil's retirement -- and our freedom to travel more, I packed our bags this morning. Well, sort of. One of the (needlessly) stressful things about taking a trip -- even a short weekend one -- is packing. It always feels like a scavenger hunt, trying to find the basic toiletry things we need to pack. And then we spend the first 20 minutes of the trip wondering if either of us remembered to bring the toothpaste, or lotion, or ... I always forget something. Always. Then it suddenly occurred to me that it is possible to own two of things and just keep the second set packed and at the ready. So we made a list, checked it twice just like Santa Claus, and packed it all up. Of course, we had many duplicates of things in our bathroom linen closet so there really wasn't much extra to buy. Woot, woot! I really think this idea is going to make leaving on a trip quicker and less painful.
Weekly family update. Amanda has spent her Christmas break reading the Harry Potter books; she's reading the 5th book today. Katie is in St. Louis accompanying Molly Pearce and her mom Teresa as they shop for Molly's wedding dress. Darin had his first experience in the real work world of not having at least a two week holiday break, but is somewhere in Kansas City this weekend celebrating the new year with friends. Phil has enjoyed spending several days this break working on the Thunderbird's transmission with Kit Lindsey and selling things on eBay.
Looking forward to celebrating new beginnings throughout the year!
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