PLAID Pages, a journal: Resolutions

Showing posts with label Resolutions. Show all posts

Friday, May 11, 2018

Retirement 101 - You're Never Too Old

1983, United Technologies
Hartford, Connecticut

I have been
going through
my 'inspiration'
stash that I
collected
through the
years.

It's time
for me to
share them
with you.

This is one
of my favorites:

"It's What You Do--Not When You Do It".

'Retirement doesn't mean sleeping in your recliner in front of the TV. It's time to do what you wished you had done when you were young. The time is now! Get up and 'Do It'. You're never too old!

Just look at what these 'icons' did and when they did it!

Golda Meir -71- Prime Minister of Israel

George Bernard Shaw - 94- One of his plays was first published

Benjamin Franklin -81- Framer of the United States Constitution

'Follow Your Bliss' Joseph Campbell -in his 70's- The Power of Myth

Some people made their mark when they were young. Maybe, you can inspire your children and grand-children to get a head start and not wait until they retire to do what they really want to do.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

ESSENTIALISM

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

by Greg McKeown

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I preface this review with an apology to Mr. McKeown
and to the reader of this review.
"I am sorry that I didn't read this book word for word."
My husband read me parts of it. At least enough to entice me to go through it and pick out the parts that spoke to me. I find in reading the Self-Help genre I can find some part of each section that explains everything in a nutshell. This book was no different. Chapter 1 just about explains it all. What it didn't have was the magical words/phrases that find their way into my head and pop up every once in a while to remind me to lighten my load. My load is material, activities, and mental baggage. My goal is to identify what is essential and let go of what is non-essential.

Here are my notes:
Part I: Essence
A non-essentialist thinks almost everything is essential.
"I have to, It's all important, I can do both"
An essentialist thinks almost everything is non-essential.
"I choose, I can do anything, but not everything"

The essentialist knows that when he surrenders his right to choose he gives others not just the power, but also the explicit permission to choose for him. We can become a function of other people's choices or even our own past choices.

Part II: Explore
To discern what is truly essential we need space to think, time to look, and listen, permission to play, wisdom to sleep, and the discipline to apply highly selective criteria to the choices we make.
Exercise: 90% Rule-an option to think about the single most important criterion for a decision.
Give your choice a score for 0-100 on its importance.
Any score under 90: the answer is "NO".

Part III: Eliminate
#1 Eliminate the non-essentials "so you can make a higher level of contribution toward the things that are actually vital."
#2 "Remember anytime you fail to say "NO" to a non-essential you are really saying "YES" by default.
Note from me: No decision is a decision!

Part IV: Execute
#1 Break down each task into small steps.
Small steps = Small Wins = A Bigger Winner
#2 Design a routine that focuses on what is essential.
I call my routine, My Rhythm. Routine sounds too much like 'a rut':)
#3 Do what is most important now.
Note: Do the easiest first only if it is the most important. I spend a lot of time doing the unimportant things first because most of the time they are the easiest.

Exercise for you in your closet:

Part II: Explore
Instead of asking: "Is there a chance I will wear this someday in the future?"
Ask: "Do I love this?" "Do I look great in it?" "Do I wear it often?"
If the answer 'no', then eliminate it.

Part III: Eliminate
Now you have a pile of clothes to eliminate. "If you're not quite there, ask the killer question: " 'If I didn't already own this, how much would I spend to buy it?' That usually does the trick."

Part IV: Execute
"If you want your closet to stay tidy, you need a regular routine for organizing it."
Personal Note:
I have a rule: for every one item that comes in another item(s) must go out. I have a 'Donation" box in my garage where I put my discarded items. Habitat for Humanity is on my path. When I am heading that way, I take the box to them and start a new box.

I also have another rule: It's called the '3x's Rule" If I see something I want, I must look at it at least three different times. The first time "I want that". The second time and its still there "I really do want that". The third time and its still there and "I love it and have got to have it"---It's mine!

What is in my head and won't go away?
"Do what is most important now."

"I don't love it. I don't think I look good in it. I try it on and take it off and wear something else every time. It will be out of style in a year." It's gone. There is probably someone that will love it and look good in it. It's theirs!

View all my reviews

Here's another good book
for lightening your load:
Read my Blog: Throw Out Fifty Things

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Lookin' Back - Movin' On

Continental Divide on the way to Idaho Springs, Colorado

It's that time again...Remembering the Past, Living in the Present,
Planning for the Future!

I didn't make any resolutions for 2013 and will not make any for 2014.

But, thought I would give you an update to my 2013 Priorites:

#1 Diet: Eat only when I'm hungry...No counting calories "check"
(At least on not counting calories:)
#2 Moderation in Everything "check" well......excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas! See #1
#3 One day off a week from Technology, To-Do Lists, Have-to's, and Should's. I had 'Good Intentions!'...and you know what 'they' say about that:)
#4 Exercise x's 3 - Keep Moving. "check" Can do better!
#5 Priorites: Quilting - Joined Quilt Guild and took over the Boutique.
Etsy Shop - Spent some time every day in shop "check"
Blogging - Figured out a routine...doing better.
Collage, Art, Artist's Trading Cards...not so good:(
Golf -Played with Chuck in neighborhood scramble "check"

I checked off one major project....Yea! I collected Christmas Cards for the last 25 years...those I have received through the mail; some people gave me; and some I found in thrift stores, flea markets, or estate sales. I was determined to make an Alphabet 'Touchy/Feelie' Christmas Alphabet Book...one like my Mother-in-Law made for her grandchildren. I persevered. It was completed before December 31st!

My Priorities for 2014--those things I want to do at least once a week--Etsy Shop, Art, Golf, Quilting, Exercise, Blog.

Sometimes 'life happens' and I don't get to one or two or three my Priorities. I don't beat myself up about it. I just try to do better next week.

I added two priorities for 2014.

#1 When 'out of the blue' I think of someone I will contact them.

More times than not when I didn't I wished I had.

#2 I will be an 'active' person instead of a 'reactive' one.* There is a difference.

Penobscot Bay, Maine

Wishing you and yours-

A Happy and Prosperous New Year in 2014!

Sunday, January 13, 2013

I Resolve in 2013...

...to make no New Year's Resolutions. 2012 resolution-free year worked out 'Fine'! In fact, it was amazing.

I will keep the following general thoughts in mind to keep me focused.

#1 Eat only when I am hungry.
(No more counting calories!)

#2 Moderation in everything.

#3 One day off a week from Technology, To-Do Lists, Have-to's, and Should's.
(This will be the hardest for me.)

#4 Exercise, Exercise,Exercise...
Keep Moving!

#3 My priorities are:

my Etsy Shop,

Quilting

Blogging

Plaid Pages, a journal,

Eating In and Out and About,

and Quick Tips and Notes

Collage

Altered Art

Artist Trading Cards

and Golf.

If I do not spend some time weekly

on any of these priorities,

it's time to regroup
and evaluate!

#4 Remember: The only thing that goes with me from here to there is relationships with people and knowledge.

#5 It's okay to do nothing...
I am retired after all:)

#2 bears repeating-

Moderation in everything!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Resolutions - 2012

I confess-I never made any resolutions for 2012. It was on my 'To Do' list for at least six months. Then, my life 'ramped' up with selling one house, buying another, and then moving. Making resolutions was not really very high in my priorities. It turned out we didn't need any!

Amazing 2012 - Resolution Free!