Playing catchup today after staying home sick for a day and a half. I find myself repeating these patterns of “push too much” and “overschedule” and end up paying for it. I ended up not finishing the “post once a day for March” goal that I’d envisioned for my March Happiness Project goal, but I want to at least answer the questions (however short the answers may be).
Tuesday, March 25, 2013
What is your favourite personality trait that you possess?
Before this month, I would have said “creativity.” After reading a letter from my dad to my cousin’s son (who had asked about the traits that his children had picked up from him and my mom), I would say “compassion” (tied with “connection to family”).
Wednesday, March 26, 2013
Do you enjoy being alone? What do you do when you’re by yourself?
1) Read.
2) Knit.
3) Cook and watch reruns of my favorite shows on Netflix.
Thursday, March 27, 2013
Have you ever taken a trip by yourself? Do you prefer to travel with people or alone?
In spite of liking to hang out alone, I prefer to travel with other people. My favorite trips have been with my fiance or with close girlfriends (aka ladycations). I’ve admired those who journey around the world alone, but I value the shared experience more than just the experience itself.
Friday, March 28, 2013
How old were you when you started your first diary?
I was eight years old. I started my first diary in a pink, ballet-slipper adorned, locked notebook that I could open with a small silver key. I saved that diary along with subsequent notebooks: another locked box holding a pink, green, and yellow notebook, a green spiral notebook, a composition book that I decorated with magazine cutouts and covered with clear tape, and many others. I enjoy looking back on the memories I recorded then.
Monday, March 31, 2013
Tell us one thing you learned about yourself this month.
I learned that my intentions to follow The Happiness Project this year, though well-meaning, were based in inauthenticity and wanting to be more to the point of making myself unhappy. I wanted to blog about my journey and self-improvement, but found that I fell into old habits of taking on too much, especially because the book encourages you to keep up the monthly resolutions even as you add more with each new month. It was fine for January and February, but I began to feel like I was juggling too much and perceived THP as a chore rather than as improvement. I realized that what worked so well for Gretchen Rubin won’t work for me if I copy it or compare myself to her. After reading a wise blog post by a friend, I started to think about about saving my emotional and temporal investments for the important stuff. The life of a teacher is very different from the life of a writer and requires different supports. The life of an “about to get married” woman is different from that of “mother of toddlers.” I’m not giving up on the Happiness Project, but I have to do it in a way that’s enough for me and serves me well rather than making me think of always achieving more.
One Comment
Jess
I found THP did not work for me either! Like you, I take on too much at once. Something smaller and easier like the #100happydays was much easier and manageable for me. I couldn’t put my 100% into THP so I felt like I was failing. It was too much to handle!