Caught Up

So I fell a little behind in my scripture reading because of the holiday, but today I'm finally caught back up.

I have only read the Book of Mormon this quickly twice.

Usually I do the regular, read one chapter a day, thing.

But it amazes me how great the actual "story" of the Book of Mormon is too.

Of course it's about so much more than that, but the story is great as well.

I am still finding little things that pop out to me each day when I read.

And some days it's just the act of reading that makes it all worth it, because of how I feel after I'm done.

I love this book!

Happy in the Here & Now

As I was driving to work today I realized that part of having a contented heart, is being happy in the here & now.

This is not always an easy thing for me.

I'm always looking forward to the next thing: holidays, breaks from school or work, my husband's graduation, moving to a bigger apartment/house.

But mostly, a baby.

We've wanted a baby for about 11/2 years. After a miscarriage about a year ago, it's been an even harder thing to be patient for.

But we've come to the realization that at this point in our lives, this may not be in the plans for us.

I need to find peace with that. I'm trying to.

I think I need to focus instead on the other things that are making me happy.

Like how my husband has been able to stay at home every night this week, instead of spending the night at the school.

Or how Christmas time makes me feel so happy inside, and I love sitting in our little living room looking at all the decorations.

And wrapping presents last night for my husband was so fun because I got him something he'll never think of, but that I know he'll love.

And writing.

In anticipation of my goals next month I borrowed a book from the library to help get me ready. It's all about writing.

I'm so nervous, but excited at the same time.

I'm not going to be a "one day" writer anymore. I'm going to be a novelist!

Push Up Update

Today I did my final test for push ups.

I missed a few days so I think I got a little out of it.

But I ended up doing 50 push ups in a row!!!

I know that's not quite 100, but it's 25 times better than where I started. (2 push ups)

And I've decided to focus on the positive. Because it could be worse, I could only be able to do 2 still.

I'm pretty proud of myself. I'm going to keep working on it and see if I can't get to that 100 mark.

December - Keep a Contented Heart & Pay Attention

This month I'm going to Keep a Contented Heart & Pay Attention.

My Resolutions:

• Laugh Out Loud
• I used to be the person who's laugh you could hear from the other end of the room. Sometimes I still am. But it used to happen more frequently. I think some of the trials I've gone through have made me more reserved when it comes to actually laughing out loud. I want to go back to having less things inhibiting that trait.

• Use Good Manners
• No burping out loud - even at home.
• (Sadly, I burp louder than my husband. I need to stop this.)
• Don't try to "top" people.
• Be less sarcastic.
• This might be the hardest one. I come from a very sarcastic family, and my husband and I are sarcastic together. But I've found that sometimes it becomes hurtful so I want to work on trying to be less sarcastic.

• Examine "True Rules"
• What rules govern my life but may not necessarily be true?

• Stimulate the Mind in New Ways
• What can I do to help myself pay attention to the here & now?
• I think the Gratitude Journal goal helped make me more aware of things, but what else can I do to make sure I'm not missing the joy in the journey?

Month 2 Review

Let's Review:

Pray: OK.

We do pretty good at night prayers, but the morning is hard.

Read Scriptures: Pretty good.

Doing that challenge to read 10 pages every day actually worked pretty well. I really enjoy reading the scriptures and I love reading bigger chunks because I understand what's going on better. I know it's not really about the storyline, but I feel like that helps me stay in tune with everything.

I did struggle and got a little behind due to the holiday. I'm still catching up, but I will get there.

Gratitude Notebook: Bad, but Better.

I actually didn't end up keeping an actual notebook. I did make a few posts on here about things I was grateful for. But because I made it a goal to notice things, I actually did notice more. And I think that's more important than the actual writing it down every time.

Overall: Pretty good.

Not perfect, but I don't think that happiness = perfect. I'm just going to keep trying.

Previous goals review

Bed by 10, up at 6:30: Still struggling.

Going to bed at 10 is getting better, though not perfect. The morning is still awful. Even at 7. Sad, I know.

Exercise: Still doing pretty good.

Because of the holiday we fell a little behind, but we're still going. Last check, I could do 40 push ups in a row.

Eat Breakfast: A little better.

At the beginning of the month I was doing better than more recently. I'm still working on it though.

Organize & De-clutter: Bad.

I don't think that I'm going to keep track of this one anymore. I have done pretty well at just keeping my table and computer desk clear of piles, so I think that's good enough for me.

Rookie*

Of all the things on this earth that I am grateful for, my husband tops the list.

I find a reason every day that I am so happy to have him in my life.

Like this morning, he scraped off my car after it snowed all weekend.

It made him late to class, and he still did it.

And each day, he makes sure that he makes me smile at least once.

Whether by acting silly or doing something he knows I'll appreciate.

Something as simple as bringing in the mail.

Most of all, he loves me. And he treats me like he loves me. EVERY DAY.

*My husband's nickname in high school was Rookie.

Friends & Tight Spaces

Tonight we had a few friends over.

When I say few, I mean 12, plus 4 kids.

Including us, that was 18 people in our apartment.

We don't have a very big apartment.

But we had so much fun and we all were able to squeeze in.

It made me grateful for the great friends we've made in our ward here.

And it makes me hopeful that we'll stay in touch long after we move out.

Sisters

I haven't done very well at actually keeping a Gratitude Journal.

But I'll keep working on it.

But last night I realized one thing that I am always grateful for: Sisters.

I have two sisters.

One is 14, and while we don't always get along, I think it's because I remember the sweet baby she was and the toddler that would sit on my lap and give me hugs when my day was lousy. (There's a 12 year age difference.) And I just want her to stay that person and not get pulled into the attitude that as a teenager she has to know everything and top everyone.

The other is 22, just 4 years younger than me. We had our differences when we were younger, but as we got older we became really close. We even got married around the same time and we've taken trips together, as friends & sisters.

Last night I spent a good hour talking to my sister. We laughed and talked and laughed some more.

It reminded me that I need to spend more time talking to my sisters, just for no reason at all.

Because only sisters can understand how it feels to marry into a family that does things differently than your own.

Because only sisters can understand how crazy your own family really is.

And because only sisters can make you laugh so hard that you can't breathe, over a story about a cheese ball.

Push ups & Chocolate Shakes

Last night I had a test again for my level in push ups.

I did 40 without stopping.

That made me feel pretty good.

I then proceeded to drink a chocolate shake. :)

That made me feel good too. :)

At least I did the push ups. I could've skipped them, right?

I've also been doing pretty good at reading my scriptures, though I've fallen a little behind.

I'll catch up today though.

And I still need to work on going to bed on time.

I'll get there.

November - Contemplate the Heavens

This month I'm going to Contemplate the Heavens.

To me this means work on my spirituality.

My Resolutions:

• Pray
• Morning & Night
• With & without my husband
• Read Scriptures
• With & without my husband
• Study & make notes
• I've come across a challenge hosted on this blog that I am going to join in. That seems to help me. Please feel free to join as well!
• Gratitude Notebook
• Once or twice a week
• Notice the Hand of God in all things
• Can be grateful for things you have and things you don't have

I know I'm a week late starting this, but I am still going to go forward. 

One thing I tend to do is give up on something if I mess up at the beginning. 

I need to correct this thinking.

If at first you mess up, just keep trying!

Month 1 Review

Let's Review:

Bed by 10, up at 6:30: Did not do so well.

I really do not like to get up in the morning and making it up at 6:30 just didn't seem possible. Perhaps if I just tried to get up at 7:00 that would be better?

Also, I do think going to bed by 10, at least on the weekdays would help with my energy so much. That one I'll keep working at.

Exercise: Rocked it!

I consistently did the Hundred Push Up challenge all month. The program takes 6 weeks, so I'm still going, but I'm already feeling so much better about myself. I'm proud to say that I can now do 35 push-ups in one set.

Eat Breakfast: Not so good.

I just do not feel like eating when I've only been up for an hour or so. I know I need to still work on this one though and I'm trying.

Organize & De-clutter: Poor.

I did buy a bin for some decorations that had no place, so that was helpful, but other than that, I've not done too good at finding a place for things and making less piles. I'll continue to work on that one.

Act Energetic: No idea.

I've decided that this one is just too hard for me to judge personally. I guess I could pawn it off on my husband to monitor but I don't think he'd notice. And I don't know what to compare to. I'm not really an un-energetic person, so I don't know if coming home and doing laundry and making dinner counts as energetic or  is just regular behavior. I've decided that I'm going to still try and be aware of being energetic, but I'm going to stop keeping track of this one.

Overall: Not so good.

Thankfully I've set it up so I continue each goal every month, and just add a few new ones to work on. So hopefully I can work on getting to bed by 10, getting up by 7 now, eating breakfast, organizing, and continuing to exercise through this coming month.

Vacations

So vacations get in the way of resolutions.

Because last week was Fall Break for my husband, we went to St. George for a few days.

I did not go to bed at 10 or get up at 6:30 once.

I wasn't doing so great on those goals anyway, but who wants to go to bed when everyone is around to play with?

Not me.

One thing I did do: my push ups both nights I was supposed to.

And I did 21 push ups in ONE set! I was so proud.

And then on Monday night, when the program moved me up a level, I had to do 12-17 in each set.

I almost died.

But I did it.

And another 20 on the last set.

In total: 73 push ups!

Not quite 100, but it could be worse.

Anyone have some good tips on how to keep resolutions while on vacation? Or do you agree that it's okay to let them go while you're not at home?

Teamwork

Today, as I did my 23 push ups (yup, 23), I realized something.

Sometimes it helps to have someone with you as you try to achieve your resolutions.

Thankfully, I have my husband. He's doing the push up challenge with me, and even though he's obviously stronger than I am, he struggles sometimes too. We're just not upper body strength people. But he's doing it. For me. Because I asked him to.

Which makes me love him even more. :)

Who do you have that can help you with resolutions?

Little by Little

Well, still not doing so well on the going to bed and getting up on time thing.

But! This morning, even though I woke up feeling a little sick, whenever I wanted to complain or say "I don't feel good" or "I'm tired", I just told myself "Act energetic!" And then, I did.

It was a good step to make. I may not have been the most energetic, but I felt good about not complaining.

In other news, I'm hardly sore at all after my push ups last night. :) That's improvement.

Domino Effect

Well, I'm not doing so perfectly as I'd hoped. But I guess that's part of the path right?

Being happy doesn’t mean life is perfect. It means you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.

The weekend kind of threw me off. I enjoy staying up late with my husband when we don't have school or work the next day, which in turn makes me want to sleep in, and then stay up late again. It's not a good thing. 

Plus my husband is having a very busy week at school which means he stays very late, and I made the mistake of staying up to wait for him. 1:30 AM to be exact. Not a good idea.

But I still did my push ups. 18 total. I feel pretty good about myself actually.

Soreness

So I guess I shouldn't have expected anything less. This is what happens when you don't do any type of physical activity and then start exercising.

I did 13 push ups yesterday. And I am SO SORE.

Sore enough that I can't undo/do up my bra. That's pathetic.

But my husband's willing to help. More so to take it off than put it on, but still. :)

And yet, I was so tired last night that it wasn't a problem to go to bed at 10. And because I got to bed early, I didn't have a hard time getting up early again.

Well maybe a little trouble. Simply because I was sore.

But today's going to be a good day. It's this weekend. I'm ready to be energized spiritually as well as physically.

Day One

Today I jumped out of bed at 6:30.

This will probably be the only time I actually jump out of bed.

But I was excited to start my project. And I like checking things off my list.

Up at 6:30. Check! In fact, acting energetic (by jumping out of bed). Check!

I dragged my husband out of bed to come do push ups with me.

We did an initial test last night.

I'll just admit it right now. I did 3. And the last one may have been not totally complete. I have no upper body strength.

Is everyone done laughing? K, moving on.

We did our push ups and I felt pretty good about myself. I did 13 total.

And my arms were sore after. Sad.

But then I did feel energized. I got ready and ate breakfast (check!) and headed out to work.

I already felt so accomplished by getting things checked off my list before I even left the house. I think this is going to be a great project.

October - Boost Energy

This month I decided to focus on boosting my energy.

My Resolutions:

• Go to bed earlier & Get up earlier
• Bed by 10
• Up at 6:30
• Exercise
• Participate in the One Hundred Push Up Challenge
• Eat Breakfast
• More than a cereal bar on my way to work
• Organize & De-clutter
• Throw out "would wear", "have worn", & "could wear" clothing
• Make a place or Throw it out!
• "One-minute rule": Do it now
• "Evening tidy-up": 10 minutes before bed
• Act Energetic!

A few notes:

I am a night owl. I really don't like to go to bed. I'd rather stay up late any day.
But this means I dread getting up in the morning.
But I know I'll feel better if I get up and get my day going.

I am a wuss. I do not exercise. I have been blessed to be naturally skinny, but I am very out of shape.
I want to change this.

I tend to make piles. Piles of stuff.
I tend to keep things because I think I "might need it one day."
This annoys my husband.
I want to change this.

I know if I just act energetic I'll feel energetic.

One of my rules: Fake it 'til you make it!

The Beginning

After reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, I found myself thinking about my own level of happiness. I'm not an unhappy person. In fact, I have a great husband, great family, great friends. I laugh often.

But I knew I could be doing better.

And that's what this blog is for. To better myself.

So here I am, starting my own Happiness Project. I've started this blog as a place to write down thoughts and quotes and to make myself accountable.

I've relied heavily on Ms. Rubin's book, and I've taken some of what she did, and thrown in some of my own things I want to work on personally. I've not gotten as detailed as she did. I really don't like research that much. But I think as I go along I'll learn a lot about myself and what I can do to be continually improving.

After all

"Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life."