I mentioned in this post that I would be sharing my monthly goals and the change up Rissa and I are making. And after spending over an hour video chatting with her Sunday night, Rissa and I have officially decided how this big shindig is going to go down. And I must say I am in love with it!
Last year I set out 14 goals for the whole year. 14 things I wanted to accomplish. And I got to most of them. But not all. Which is totally good and fine with me. Life happens and I am still happy with what I did accomplish. Also starting last year Rissa and I started our monthly video chats to hold each other accountable for goals.
This year instead of setting a number of goals to work on throughout the year we have decided to do....A Happiness Project. We could not be more excited to be embarking on this journey this year. Gretchen Rubin wrote the book The Happiness Project back in 2011. Both Rissa and I have read the book and loved the inspiration we got from Gretchen.
We have put out own little spin on out Happiness Project. We chose our own life topics to tackle each month. We desire to work on different parts of our lives in order to grow and become better people. By focusing on one area a month we believe we will be better able to focus and achieve the goals we set.
So how does it work? Each month we have a life topic to tackle. With each life topic comes sub goals to work on throughout the month in order to achieve tackling the life topic. So what life topics did we choose?
January--Happiness Project
February--Body
March--Faith
April--Money
May--Relaxation
June--Play
July--Mind
August--Home
September--Career
October--Pro-activity
November--Relationships
December--Mindfulness
Each month I will explain a little more what each topic represents to me and reveal the sub goals I have for that life topic.
Since our video chat happened later in January than we expected, we didn't want to rush anything. So we chose to focus on planning for the rest of the months. My sub goals for this month include:
1. Decide on sub goals for all months
2. Get everything together to help better achieve goals
3. Re-read the book The Happiness Project
One thing I want to keep in mind with this project is that this is a working and moving plan. This meaning things are subject to change if life changes. And that is ok. Also once I finish the month of one life topic doesn't mean I stop working on that life topic. I want things I do to carry over throughout the year.
Well now that I have written the longest post ever, I will wrap it up by saying that I cannot be more excited to have all of these goals to make me more happier!
To be honest I really do not know even where to being with this post. I have avoided writing it because I do not want to admit to myself that last weekend really is over and I am know longer with my best friend. Tears may have been shed before, during, and after our goodbye. I guess that means I had a really awesome weekend?!
Before heading out for my trip, I had a pretty awful week. I also have been battling that burnt out feeling with school for quite some time. I NEEDED this break more than I have ever needed one before. And I really just needed to see my best friend.
There is something to be said about being around friends who just get you. You don't have to explain yourself and they already know what your thinking before your even thinking it. And you like the same things like ice cream and tex-mex and pizza. Which are all the most important things to have in common.
I got into Boston on Thursday morning and had another friend pick me up. We drove back to Nashua to meet up with Lauren and Danielle for lunch. It was like a little Milligan reunion in NH and I loved it! The rest of the afternoon and next day Lauren had to work from home and kept her company.
On Saturday we both slept in, planned to run and then didn't, and then went exploring and picture taking for the blogs. I told Lauren I wanted to see the coastal side of NH, so we headed over to Portsmouth, NH. I fell in love with the old cities here. I love the character and charm and how there were so many fun places to take pictures!
After Portsmouth we headed to York, ME for an outfit change and the Nubble Lighthouse. I had never seen anything quite like Nubble and I was in awe. I could not keep myself from saying over and over how gorgeous it was and how much I loved it. I love how diverse our country is and even though I thought the ocean was the ocean, I now know differently.
Saturday night we chilled at home and worked on our blogs. It is so nice having someone to talk blog about. We may have done that Sunday afternoon and night too...
Sunday was spent at church. You can read all about my experience there here. It was a joy to finally see the place that drew Lauren and Jacob here. And I got to meet many of their friends that I have been hearing about for a while now too!
I am now home and missing Lauren more than ever! I had the best trip at just the right time for me. I cannot thank her and Jacob enough for welcoming me into their home and being so sweet and kind. It is always a home away from home to me and I am already planning a time to go back. How does next weekend sound guys?
I find it important to reflect back on things that I am grateful and thankful for. Sometimes it's the little things, sometimes it's the big things. Most days I find myself in disbelief over the life God has given me. I am such a blessed person and I do not think I recognize that enough.
I am grateful for the family God has blessed me with. He knew what he was doing when he sent me to my parents and my siblings. I know I have talked a lot recently about how much I love them, but seriously guys you have no idea how thankful I am for them. I wouldn't be getting through life without them.
I am grateful for the friends I have...new and old. I have had some awesome friends the last few years. I am grateful for the ones who have stood beside me no matter what. I have also been blessed to have made some awesome new friends. Between Lili and all the other girls in grad school, they are key in keeping me sane through grad school.
I am grateful for my nanny family. I got so blessed last fall when Wendy asked me to nanny for her. I could not have picked a better family to be around. I love those kids and I love spending time with them. And Wendy and Gabe could not be nicer or better to me. I don't even look at it as a job anymore, it's more of a time to relax and have fun.
I am grateful for running. I may ride the struggle bus with it a lot, but at the end of the day I love it and look forward to that time to myself. I love reaching goals and pushing myself to achieve them. And I love when I find a buddy to run with!
I am grateful for perfect Florida days. There is absolutely nothing more relaxing to me than to float in the pool on a hot day. I took time off this past weekend and did just that.
I am grateful for ice cream for the days that have not been so great. It's a great little pick me up at the end of a rough day. And it is my weakness. And sometimes I just need it.
Finding the things in life to make me grateful makes my days so much better and more enjoyable. I am a firm believer that you can find something good and positive, even in the worst of days. So friends, find something today or yesterday that you are grateful for and focus on that, not on all the negative!
Life has been crazy hectic for me the last couple of weeks. Between classes, subbing, the gym, and now a new babysitting job, I have gone non stop. I rarely have down time and have a lot of guilt over leaving Brutus home in the bathroom most of the day (that is where he is safest).
Thursday-Saturday alone I worked 24 hours. I was at the gym most of that time and babysat for a couple of hours Friday night after work. I didn't have to babysit, but $25 to sit and watch tv while the two babes slept. How could I pass that up?
The only downside to all this work? I may be mentally happy, but not physically. I pushed too hard this week and my shoulder started killing me again. I couldn't move Thursday night without being in pain. Trust me when I say I have learned my lesson.
All of this being said, I have not been happier in a long time. When I do get a peaceful moment, like at church yesterday morning, my immediate feeling is happiness. I am happy with where I am in life. I am happy with the people I have surrounding me. I am happy.
I came home and did some homework (not exactly happy about that one) and then did some cooking. Lately with all this craziness I have not had much of an appetite or desire to cook. But I finally did and boy was it fun and good.
You will never find me happier than with some Sugarland Pandora Radio playing, singing at the top of my lungs, and cooking something yummy. It was a perfect afternoon to say the least.
What makes you happiest? Where do you go to find that peaceful moment?
Last night I could not come up with anything to write about. We all have those days when we lack the inspiration needed. So I put it out on Twitter and sweet Melody gave me the idea for this post. Check out her blog and send her some love!
What is happiness to me?
Happiness is... coming home and curling up in a big oversized chair with a blanket and writing my heart out.
Happiness is... getting cuddles from a cute little baby at work.
Happiness is... a new book to read.
Happiness is... a quiet hot day by the pool reading that new book.
Happiness is... talking to my friends and knowing that no matter what they will always be there for me...even if I do live 12 hours away.
Happiness is... knowing I am right where I need to be in life even if some days I have my doubts.
Happiness is... knowing that no matter what my God will be right by my side and never give me more than I can handle.
Happiness is... having people who love me and encourage me no matter what.
What is happiness to you? What makes your day 10 times better?
