I received a call on my day off from work yesterday, asking if I would come work for a couple of hours. I wasn’t thrilled at first but then I realized that those hours worked would take me a tiny bit closer to my goal. I worked that short shift with a smile on my face. I’ve made quite a…
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How I Spent My Vacation
Last week I took the first paid vacation at a public job in almost two decades. “What do you plan to do?” Curious friends wanted to know. “Absolutely nothing,” I grinned. I lied to everyone prior to taking those days off. I had something special planned to mark the start of my 49th year of life. While one day had…
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Operation: Katie
Yesterday morning I was awakened at 8am by the phone. Katie had finished the train part of her journey and wanted to call while she awaited her first bus. She shared with me how she’d decided not to spend the money on a taxi in Chicago; she had gotten turned around and had to ask for help to reach the…
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The Life of a Social Outcast
This past year has taught me that it is not socially acceptable to save money. It is not socially acceptable to want to educate yourself. And it is definitely not socially acceptable to spend your time pursuing your dreams. With the exception of my auntie and a couple of friends I’ve been forced to go underground, to hide what I’m…
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The Process of Recharging
Day by day, in every way, I’m getting better and better. Émile Coué de la Châtaigneraie I sleep in when I can. I rest instead of endlessly working. Bit by bit, I can tell a difference. Instead of scolding the dogs for their excitement in the mornings when they wake me to go potty, I gather my coat and take…
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The Secret to Achieving the American Dream
The American Dream of improving your life, of having the ability to own your own home and change your circumstances is alive and well. It is hidden in plain sight, crouching among the waves of advertising and manufactured needs we have been indoctrinated with; one simple sentence that so many choose to ignore: Spend less than you earn. You cannot…
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The Power of Ritual
Every single morning the very first thing I do is look at my clock. I turn on the radio, pad to the kitchen, and start the coffee as I head to the bathroom for my daily constitutional. I tend to take my journal with me; writing while on the porcelain throne first thing in the morning allows me to flesh…
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Test Your Limits
Four hours of sleep is not enough. I’ve been experimenting with my sleep schedule lately. Since successful people tend to wake up earlier, I want to alter my personal habits in order to become more like them. Today I set the intention to wake up at 4 am since I have to be at work by 9 am. I feel…
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Breathe
I had a small panic attack this morning. It happened as I sat down to plan my day. My mind wandered to all of the things I want to accomplish this year when it suddenly became difficult to breathe. Every inch of my body tensed up as I tried to force air into my lungs. I stopped, set my pencil…
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The Habit Chain
It takes time to form a habit. Positive habits are definitely worth the effort to build. They can slowly transform our life from the mediocre into an absolutely astounding existence. When remaking your life it is best to start small. Analyze the things you want to change about yourself and select just one to focus on. This is how Benjamin…
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The Art of Talking To Yourself
People who talk to themselves are usually lumped with the insane. It feels awkward to stumble across someone having a conversation with themselves. But did you know that self-talk, when done properly, can actually carry a positive benefit? In his book The Magic of Believing, Claude Bristol discussed this occurrence. He witnessed an inebriated man stare into a mirror and…
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Carpe Annum
This is it. The dawn of an entirely new year. I couldn’t wait to greet it. I woke up, made my coffee, and journaled as I watched the sun rise. I changed so much in 2018. I started out the year without a single serious idea of what I wanted to do with my life. Aside from my work schedule,…
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Preparing for the New Year
Twenty-eighteen has been an incredibly eventful year. I’ve come to terms with the fact that the previous stage of my life is ending and determined a new direction for my life. I may not know yet how I’ll get to there from here. That’s okay. All I have to do is continue to move forward with my end goal in…
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Playing Pretend
Ever since my successful experiment I’ve been playing a game with myself. At random times as I go through my day I ask myself “what would Future Me do?” The results have been fascinating. Future Me has slightly different tastes than I do. I have found myself selecting different outfits for work and digging through my small stash of costume…
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What Would Future Me Do?
Yesterday as I began getting ready for work I noticed that several dishes had piled up in the sink. It wasn’t horrible but it was enough to make me sigh. I’d have something else to do once I returned home late that night. Something caused me to pause: What would future me do in that situation? I asked myself. Future…
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An Experiment in Luxury
It is amazing how quickly things can work out when you create an intention. Shortly after challenging myself to reverse the Diderot Effect in my personal life a friend came over to visit. Her granddaughter was moving in with her; did I happen to have any old children’s movies that I would consider selling on the cheap? I pulled out…
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The Art of Focusing on Who You Want to Be
The simple act of saying “stop” has benefited me immensely. For the first time in months, I felt an internal peace that speaks volumes in the silence. The frantic chatter in my mind has ceased now that I have given myself permission to just wait. As I mulled over the changes in myself over the years the shock slowly eased. I…
