Happiness Project: Personal Commandments

The enduring output of my 2020 Happiness Project is a draft list of personal commandments. These are concepts that emerged and resonated for me throughout the year. They are listed in chronological order (i.e., ideas that arose in January are first), and this list is still a work in progress.

Year-end Review: 20 Things I Want to Do in 2020

At the end of 2019, I made a list of 20 things I wanted to do in 2020. Halfway through the year, I evaluated my progress. Below is my year-end review of my accomplishments.

Victorian Things: project complete!

1. "20 for 20" (20 minutes of exercise for 20 days each month)

Completed: This goal was in jeopardy when I only had 18 days in February with at least 20 minutes of exercise, but then I realized I could calculate my monthly average over the year and still make my goal. I had the most days in April (26) and the fewest in September (15).

2. Finish needlepoint project

Completed: It took more than 20 years, but I finally finished the cross stitch project I bought in England in 1998. It was so satisfying to finish this and hang it up in our foyer. Seeing it makes me smile.

Strive to Thrive: November 2020

Welcome to Strive to Thrive: November 2020.

This was an exciting month! I launched Kimpossibility Health Experiments, finished Phase I of Healthy Deviant U, and focused on thriving.

Read on to learn more... 

Strive to Thrive: October 2020

 

Welcome to Strive to Thrive: October 2020.

This has been a big month for me. I'm close to finding my purpose! I want to help other people be healthy, and I have some ideas for doing that! 

Read on to learn more... 

Strive to Thrive: September 2020

Welcome to Strive to Thrive: September 2020.

So much happened this month that I hardly know where to begin. 

• I participated in: 
• Healthy Deviant U
• Project Pants
• Life School for the Whole Self
• Thrive Circle
• I engaged in a variety of creative activities 

Let's review my month... 

Strive to Thrive: August 2020

Welcome to Strive to Thrive: August 2020.

This month I:

• initiated Project Pants,
• prioritized "Money" as my monthly Happiness Project theme,
• experienced an unexpected jolt at work, and
• engaged in a variety of creative activities 

Let's review my month... 

Project Pants: Week 3

Week 3 of Project Pants was successful.

I met my goals:

• Attended my Real Appeal meeting
• Tracked everything I ate every day in MyFitnessPal

Observations

I'm continuing to focus on nutrition, including eating a wide variety of vegetables and fruits each day. This past week I averaged 8 different kinds of produce each day!

This cantaloupe was grown by Rick in our garden!

Project Pants: Week 2

Week 2 of Project Pants was successful.

I met my goals:

• Attended my Real Appeal meeting
• Tracked everything I ate every day in MyFitnessPal

Observations

I've seen downward movement in my BMI and body fat percentage metrics.

I'm focusing on nutrition. I've increased my daily intake of produce by:

• Putting kale and fruit into my morning protein smoothie
• Having a big salad with protein and lots of veggies for lunch
• Eating at least two types of veggies with dinner

About a month ago, I started putting coconut milk into my smoothie and morning coffee. Coconut milk has a lot of calories and saturated fat, so it's something I've avoided most of my life. I've noticed that with the coconut milk, the pain in my toe that I've been dealing with for the past few years has decreased and the degree of movement has increased!

I'd like to start exercising more, but so far I'm just focusing on nutrition and thinking of any exercise as a bonus. This week I walked 4 times and did yoga once.

Weekly Goals

• Attend weekly Real Appeal meeting
• Track all my food every day in MyFitnessPal

Project Pants: Week 1

A year ago I was lighter...

my body fat percentage was smaller...

my body mass index was lower...

I fit comfortably into my beloved black suit pants. 

A year ago I blogged about Week 33 of the Real Appeal weight loss program, where we were focused on maintaining our weight loss. I maintained my weight loss for a while...and then I didn't. 

What happened?

Strive to Thrive: July 2020

Welcome to Strive to Thrive: July 2020.

This month I:

• prioritized "Family" as my monthly Happiness Project theme,
• started establishing boundaries at work, 
• created intentionality through the structure of a morning practice, and
• engaged in a variety of joyful activities 

Let's review my month... 

Strive to Thrive: June 2020

Welcome to Strive to Thrive: June 2020.

This month I:

• prioritized "Play" as my monthly Happiness Project theme,
• fell just short of my health & fitness goals, and
• engaged fully in a plethora of personal growth activities

Let's review my month... 

Mid-Year Review: 20 Things I Want to Do in 2020

Photo I took last night in our yard, using
skills I learned in my photography class

1. "20 for 20" (20 minutes of exercise for 20 days each month)

On track: I'm averaging 20.6 days per month of at least 20 minutes of exercise.

2. Finish needlepoint project

No progress: I have a cross stitch project I bought in England in 1998. I've done everything except some outlining and detail work. I haven't worked on it yet this year, but I pulled it out of the closet and I've committed to doing something this week while I'm on staycation.

I Am Part of the Problem...

...and I want to be part of the solution. 

I recognize that striving to be non-racist is not enough. I need to strive to be anti-racist.

I recognize that I benefit from white privilege, and I need to leverage that privilege to support those that are disadvantaged by it.

I recognize that I have unintentionally caused microaggressions, and that my good intentions aren't relevant. Only the experience and feelings of the other person are relevant.

I recognize that I need to bear witness to the experience of those who are discriminated against and advocate for that experience to be changed.

• George Floyd, I see you
• Breonna Taylor, I see you
• Ahmaud Arbery, I see you
• My friend who was pointedly ignored at the deli counter, I see you
• My friend whose colleagues said (through a bizarre workplace award) that your black life didn't matter, I see you
• My friend who approached his childhood crush at a dance and saw her snatched away by her father while he warned your mother to keep you away from his daughter, I see you
• My friend who grew up knowing and trusting police officers and was threatened by one with being arm barred against your car at a football game just for being friendly, I see you
• My friend who discovered a white man asserting his privilege over your home's front stoop on a near daily basis, I see you 
• I recognize this list is just a drop in the bucket. Many of these friends have been sharing stories of systemic racism for years. I'm deeply sorry that I haven't been an active witness to your pain and advocate for change.

I recognize that I need to become more educated.

• yesterday I read So You Want to Talk About Race (this link goes to an independent book store, Scrawl Books, not to Amazon, which is often my thoughtless default)
• today I will watch Dr. Robin Di Angelo discuss White Fragility
• I commit to consistently and actively learning more about being part of the solution

I recognize that local elections are especially critical. It's not enough for me to educate myself and vote. I can help others learn about the issues and get to the polls (or absentee ballots). I can voice my opinions to my elected officials. 

I recognize that I can donate money to organizations that are fighting racism.

I recognize that I need to become comfortable with being uncomfortable.

I am part of the problem. I pledge to be part of the solution.

Strive to Thrive: May 2020

Welcome to Strive to Thrive: May 2020.

This month my happiness project focused on work, I listened to all seven Harry Potter audiobooks, and I finished my =PR= Spring Bucket List challenge. It was intense!

Let's review my month... 

Strive to Thrive

I've decided I'm no longer trying to move "from Survive to Thrive." I'm there. I'm thriving! 

That doesn't mean that every day is perfect. It just means that I now know:

• what "thriving" looks like for me

• how to intentionally create an environment that supports that vision

• how to get back on track when I slip into "survival mode"

I'm rebranding my accountability posts as "Strive to Thrive." What will that look like? 

from Survive to Thrive: Weeks 26 & 27

Welcome to from Survive to Thrive: Weeks 26 &  27.

I got caught up in a puzzle last Sunday and ended up not blogging about Week 26, so this week I'm playing catch up (and still doing lots of puzzles).

Let's review my week...

from Survive to Thrive: Week 25

Welcome to from Survive to Thrive: Week 25.

I felt balanced and tranquil this week. I wrapped up April's Happiness Project activities, colored, hunted for puzzles online, and got back into the running groove.

Let's review my week...

from Survive to Thrive: Week 24

Welcome to from Survive to Thrive: Week 24.

Overall, I had a good week. I did some decluttering, focused on fitness, and found joy in unexpected places.

Let's review my week...

from Survive to Thrive: Week 23

Welcome to from Survive to Thrive: Week 23.

My staycation was joyful and rejuvenating, filled with yoga & walks, coloring, LEGO, and connection with family & friends.

Let's review my week...

from Survive to Thrive: Week 22

Welcome to from Survive to Thrive: Week 22.

If I'm being honest, this week often felt more like surviving than thriving. The uncertainty and loss of control in our COVID-19 world is getting to me. I had a major meltdown on Friday, but I'm building resilience and bouncing back.

Let's review my week...