Gretchen Inspired Project, or, why I started showing up to work on time, paying my bills, and stopped telling my boyfriend to wear a coat...

Greetings fellow bloggers!

So I have been MIA for a few months now and while I'd love to blame that on the fact that my laptop broke and I just got a new one today, but I have to say that it really is due to the fact that I started a new job in January that has just consumed my life and I love it. No more Courtyard Marriott front office, hellooo Marriott International Global Sales Team! ...and HELLO BANKER'S HOURS! :)

Anywho, enough boring stuff. So I recently found a new book, "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. This woman basically wakes up one day and realizes that she'll someday be dead and she wants to maximize her happiness.

"A 'happiness project' is an approach to changing your life. First is the preparation stage, when you identify what brings you joy, satisfaction, and engagement, and also what brings you guilt, anger, boredom, and remorse. Second is the making of resolutions, when you identify the concrete actions that will boost your happiness. Then comes the interesting part: keeping your resolutions."

Each month she tackled a new set of resolutions. Each resolution is assigned to one of the 12 months of the year. At the end of the month's section, she tells what she learned from trying that particular resolution, what it was like trying to do it, and how she felt when she accomplished or failed at doing so.

Gretchen's book has put a smile on my face whenever I lose myself in her project. This has inspired me to do the same. I have been searching at book stores and Target and all the likely places that one might find a neat looking journal or diary to write in. After searching to find what seemed like the impossible, I thought, "why not write it in my blog?" This way others can follow my progress, and my control-freak self won't be worrying about my penmanship har har.

Thus, I must identify and then create my list of resolutions. Things that I want to focus on or change about my perspective on life and the way I live everyday.

What brings me joy, satisfaction, and engagement?
-Sunshine
-Spending time with Josh, my friends, my family
-Being praised at work (or just in general)
-A great dinner and glass of wine
-Learning new tasks at work
-A clean room, house, or car
-Having my bills all paid on time
-Sitting around chatting w/ friends
-Being able to get a coffee before work in the morning

What brings me guilt, anger, boredom, and remorse?
-Not paying my bills on time and facing the consequences of not doing so
-Not having challenging tasks at work
-Being late to work or social gatherings
-Crummy weather
-Nit picking and arguing with Josh
-Traffic



"THE TWELVE COMMANDMENTS" (some taken from Gretchen's own list)
1.) Don't be late.
2.) Be responsible/do what ought to be done.
3.) Lighten up.
4.) Be boot camp perfect.
5.) Pay more attention.
6.) Pursue a passion.
7.) Boost energy.
8.) Aim higher at work.
9.) Remember love.
10.) Be serious about play.
11.) Make time for friendship.
12.) Put family first.


They say the hardest part about starting a project is just that: STARTING it. So this is me starting. Attempting to begin something great that I think will produce great effects if enough effort is focused on it.

More to come tomorrow- I'm starting up on #7 tonight: boosting energy by going to bed an hour earlier than normal 8-)

xo