Happiness: Better Late than Never!

laughing Buddha, originally uploaded by prayerna.

Some of you may know that I've deemed 2010 the year of "letting my life speak". In January and February I've had many many chances to practice this. Part of my journey has been a little thing called The Happiness Project. Gretchen Rubin is the cause of all that happiness. It's a fascinating story that I encourage you to check out.

So, the reason for this post is not only to update you on my never ending search for personal happiness but to offer you the chance to increase your own. There are a couple of really handy things that Gretchen has put together that has helped me put my focus where it needs to be when it comes to my happiness. Namely, me....or you, if you are thinking about your own happiness. The first one is the Happiness Project Toolbox. It is chock full of fabulous self-esteem goodness! There are so many opportunities in there to help you "trudge the road of Happy Destiny". An aside, if you will, on the word "trudge" which means to "walk with determination". It makes trudging sound much better now don't you think? So, with determination I am walking the road of happy destiny.

The other support she offers comes by form of a pledge. Now, if you are anything like me, I've pledged my life away one too many times on things like weight loss, organizing, bill paying, exercising. Embarrassingly, my list could go on and on. This feels different to me...somehow, more attainable. Well, Gretchen's proposed to those of us pursuing happiness that 2010 be the year of the Happiness Challenge. Each month, she suggests an area of life to take on, and over the next four weeks, she proposes real and manageable resolutions to help you increase your happiness. So far over 7,800 people have taken the pledge to be in charge of their own happiness. You can join me on this adventure by going here and signing the pledge too.

And, finally, I wanted to take the time to let those of you (and you know who you are) know how grateful I am for the love and support you have given me over the past year. Moving to South Carolina has been challenging in so many ways and on so many levels. But you, my dear friends and family, have never failed to love and sustain me throughout it all. Know that I've got your back too if ever you should need it.

Menu Plan Monday ~ March 30

Image by escapethematrix via Flickr

Well, I can't say I'm ready for June Cleaver training school but I did did manage to prepare three out of four meals this past week. My eyebrows were not quite as perfectly shaped as my model here and no crack was ingested to get it done as it looks like from my example. But what I discovered is the slogan that I've heard for many years in the rooms now works in many a domestic area as well:

"If you fail to plan you plan to fail."

So how did the undomesticated Betty do? I hit three out of four. That, my friends, took a lot of willingness on my part to get out of my pajamas on Monday at a reasonable hour. I could digress right now and begin a little tangent about the term "reasonable hour"...because really, we all know it's totally subjective. But I have a plan to finish this post so no follies into flippant land are allowed at the moment ( Shhh, June is watching). The trick for me was to have a shopping list for the items I needed to prepare the meals for the week and actually go to the grocery store and buy them. What a concept!

And She Saved Money too!

I also found that shopping this way decreased my grocery bill significantly that week. I made fewer small trips to the grocery over the past week than I did before. Blah, blah, blah. We all know this don't we? So I'm going to move on to things more (or less) interesting...depending on your point of view, of course. Self-loathing is a much more entertaining topic than saving money. So let's move on to that shall we?

I discovered I felt better about myself at the end of the week. I had a little more spring in my step and a little more energy with which to waste on more household work. But, it did pay off in self-esteem dividends. Even if it wasn't recognized as stellar by the commander-n-chief, it was stellar in my little world. So I'm here to sign up for this week as well. I didn't get too many comments last week from the ranks...heavy sigh...and I thought I knew yee. Boy, I was expecting such banter and sarcasm from you, like none I have seen here in the south, but you left me dry...parched...I need a drink.

Could someone make Mama a Cosmo?

(Click on the logo above to see all the links of everyone participating)

So here is the plan for the week of March 3oth:

• Monday: Tuna Melts, Veggies & dip, chips (healthy meal of the week!)
• Tuesday: Ravioli & Cheese Bake, Salad, P's homemade bread
  
• Wednesday: Leftovers or cereal
  
• Thursday: Apple meatloaf, whole wheat Couscous with carrots & cauliflower (Thanks to Jolly Mom!)
  
• Friday: Dad's Amazing Homemade Pizza Night (seriously, he needs to open a Pizzeria here in our little town -drive that crap pizza place outa business)

Gavin starts his baseball games this week so these may get switched around if the level of insanity reaches a critical level. Next week I'll be in the Hoosier state letting other people cook for me...how great is that!

Now, step up your game and leave some freakin' comments on this blog...you know who you are!