The Passport Party Project

I am a lover of adventure, preferably one that takes me to a foreign land to experience a different culture. When I a wee tot, adventure happened between the pages of the books my nose was always stuck in. In those books I imagined myself in far way places and as other people. I was Anne of Green Gables and Nacy Drew. I lived with Charlotte on the farm or was a Princess in some far away castle. No place or person was too far or different for me to be. But to go to these places one needs a handy dandy document called a passport.

Stunning Iceberg

With a passport you can travel the world and explore it's wonders; touch the ice on a glacier (on my bucket list), swim the bath warm waters of the Arabian Sea (loved it!), float in the dead sea (I finally floated without effort) and climb a dormant volcano on an Hawai'ian Island (Diamond Head is spectacular).

Arabian Sea July 2007

In a effort to enhance my travel knowledge and connect with others who are like minded, I've become a daily visitor to the Twitterverse. Over the last few months, I've met many people who are living their travel dreams and encouraging others to do the same. One of my Twitpals mentioned The Passport Party Project. Started by entrepreneur and travel blogger Tracey Friley. At first I ignored it because, well, I'm reading too many blogs and not writing enough on my own, But funny thing is, I was reading another blog that mentioned the project and it was a whisper from the universe to go check it out. Actually, the first tweet was a whisper, the mention on the other blog was a outside voice and a side eye.

View from Diamond Head June 2009

The project in a nutshell is to host 10 events where 10 girls would be helped to get their passports and a new world view. How awesome is that. I love this project. I got my first passport at age 8, and took my first plane flight at 11 when I emigrated from Guyana to the US. I got my US passport at 27, a few months after I swore in as a citizen. I even got one of those red passports when I was in the military but never got to use it. Needless to say I love having a passport and will make every effort to get stamps where ever I go so I can fill the book up. Check out this project and support in any way you can. With a passport the world is at your feet. You can step out of the pages of the books and into the metal tube that will take you to the far corners of the world.

On left Green Guyanese passport (20+ yrs old!), On right blue American Passport (7 yrs old)

Happy Travels to you ladies and the soon to be travellers of the Passport Project!

Lady LittleFoot

Envision: Monthly Review - July 2012

August is moving along swimmingly, though more hot and humid than July. Can you believe we are into the second week of the month already. My cousins are heading back to school is less than two weeks and my aunt is overjoyed! As I finished up the 31 Day Reset I came across another post by the Happy Black Woman on how to conduct a monthly review. It was right on time.

July, was a busy month for me. I spent Independence day in NYC, going to one of my uncle's for BBQ. His younger son, graduated High School this year and is heading to college. That is mind boggling to me as I held them as newborns. My, oh my, the time sure does fly. I started the 31 Day Reset at the beginning of the month and it was the impetus for me to do some of the things I kept saying I would.  I found a great deal and started going to the gym. This is no treadmill and posh bathroom gym. It is a serious fitness training facility and you work your butt off and ooze gallons of sweat. I complain and cuss the trainers but love every second of it. The experience I am having there confirms for me that for my fitness, I need to make an investment in an environment of small class and intense training.

Hot and humid July is made for indoor activities. One of those activities is letter writing. Yes, those kinds of letters, not emails or texts. Old fashions ink pen to pretty paper letter, folded and placed in stamped envelopes and sent of the friends across the world. I decided in July to write one letter a week to far flung friends. I wanted to do this because I think letter writing is a lost art that has much value. It shores up relationships across distances. Even with all the new technology, there is nothing like getting an envelope that contains a handwritten missive. That alone showed that someone took the time out of their day to put pen to paper and convey their thoughts and feelings to you. My friends are already appreciating the letters.

July also saw me getting back into self care. I have neglected it in the preceding months due to low funds but I made use of the coupon sites and found some great deals. I went for a massage and chiropractic consultation and now I'm seeing the chiropractor several times a week which has led to a reduction of pain in several areas of my back.

The hazy days of July also brought sadness and tears with mugginess when I received a second no for acceptance to graduate school. At first I tried to shake it off, but then realized I had to mourn the loss of that opportunity. So I let the tears fall and said au revoir to that dream, at least for now. I learnt a valuable lesson. Take the time to mourn a loss. You must go through the grieving process. Allow yourself to feel the hurt and pain and let the tears wash it away. I am so glad I did, as it allowed me to focus on the next step rather than on what if and what else I could have done.

Moving across the pond to Europe to go to school, live and work has been a dream of mine since I was in HS. When graduate school didn't come through for that to happen I applied to a few courses to get certified to teach abroad (I'm Barcelona Bound at the end of the month). One door was closed and another opened.

I choose the word ENVISION for the month of July. I finally started envision how I want my life to be and not just the big picture but the details. Once you see the details in your minds eye, you move forward to making it come to pass.

For August I will sell all this furniture in my storage unit. I don't need them and they will become an albatross for me as I move forward. I will continue to sort out my STUFF and get rid of what I don't need and won't use by either sending to trash heap or donating. I want to feel accomplished by these things and I want to let the excitement of getting on a plane to Barcelona be paramount in my life.

Going forward I will be doing these monthly. I will not try to do them. I will do them. Another lesson learned. Declarative statements are best when setting goals. I think I will also add a twice yearly review, that should be easy if I have the monthlies already done. I am going to be my best accountability partner and I will share my goals with my accountability partner, KC Voltron so she can best assist me on the things I aim to accomplish.

Me & KC Voltron when she visited me in SD

What about you? Are you goal setting? Do you have a system in place to check that you accomplishing your goals? I challenge you to a review for a month or two and see how the results make you feel and how if it will help you in your reaching your goals.

Lady Littlefoot

31 Day Reset - Day 31: Create a Vision Board

I made it, I made it. Woohoo! I ran the 31 Day Reset race, and though there were fits and starts, I finished the course. I am super de dooper excited about the discoveries I've made along the way about myself. Some were jaw dropping surprises, like wanting to touch a glacier and for my higher education pursuits to be heavily focused on science. The capstone of the reset was creating a Vision Board as a reminder of all your dreams and goals. You could go old school and build something out of a poster board with images cut out from magazines or drawn, or you could chose the electronic route. My life is one of constant movement and will be so for the likely future so I chose the online option.

Earlier in the year after I left San Diego and was twiddling my thumbs, I saw a You Tube video from the Passionista Abiola Abrams on creating a vision board. So I did. I used My Next Chapter Story Board from Oprah.com. It wasn't bad but it was definitely lacking. It was sparse and I wasn't connected to it. I used some of the images available from the site and they really didn't resonate with me. And it was just plain difficult to do as I tried to figure out what I wanted on the board.

Original Vision Board

After all of the exercises I did during the 31 Day Reset it was much easier to do the vision board. I just opened my reset journal to my Reset 10 (which was fleshed out in Values in Action and Life Map). Whenever the site didn't have a image that represented what I wanted I went to Pinterest (I have several boards or varying interests) and then to Google to collect the images I loved best.

For a refresher here is my Reset 10:
1. travel & adventure                    6. learning/education
2. love & marriage                        7. helping others/being of service
3. children                                    8. integrity & leadership
4. economic security                     9. stewardship of the earth
5. faith                                        10. healthful living

See if you can pick out the pictures that represent or allude to each item.

Vision Board Redux

If you have never done a vision board (also known as a dream board) perhaps it's time to examine where your life is and whether your internal vision matches the external reality. If it doesn't then it's time to reset your life and envision the future you want. Let me know how it goes.

Lady Littlefoot

31 Day Reset - Day 30: Write Your Own Eulogy

I know, I know why in Sam Hill do you go from happy future looking and dreaming to this piece of morbidity. For that have to turn to the Happy Black Woman for an answer. In her instructions for Day 30 she tells us that the eulogy is a speech someone gives about you at your death. For our purposes this eulogy will be a clear picture on how you want your life to look to others.  For an in depth look at how to write your eulogy check out the Art of Manliness, as Rosetta recommends (she acknowledges that it's an odd choice, but hey it's a good resource). They get really detailed. From your geographic history to education, family and relationships, hobbies and interests and the qualities and characteristics that set you apart as well at things people will miss about you.

As I wrote out my eulogy I was able to clarify some things. Or rather some things became clear to me. I approached this assignment with some trepidation but it was one of the best for me. I started writing and my hands starting hurting from how fast I was trying to get every thing written down. I am not quiet finished with it, I'd like to refine it some more and add some areas to it. All in all, if you haven't ever thought about what you want your life to look like and what your legacy will be, this exercise will help you get there.

Littlefoot's Eulogy

Today we gather to celebrate the life of Lady Littlefoot (obviously this is not my real name), known by many others names, daughter, sister, mother, aunt, friend, sister-friend, Marine, teacher and so much more. For these many roles she was called many things, her favorite being Littlefoot, from her time in the Marines when her boots were a source of hilarity for her fellow Devil Dogs. Littlefoot was born in the northern highlands of South America, in a little country called Guyana. She grew up in a small town on the river, where the susurrus of wind in the trees and the echos of the waves on the sands played a soothing lullaby.

*skip a few paragraphs*

Littlefoot and her husband hosted dinner parties when they were home, having lively discussions on the issues of the day over great food and drinks. They took joy in presenting a well balanced and beautiful meal always with a little surprise for the diners. Littlefoot was a forthright woman and if you asked her opinion and/or advice you got it straight, no chaser. People valued her honest and integrity, and when she went to be with the Lord she took many secrets with her. She was a great friend and confident; a listening ear when needed, a consoler in times of sorrow and the best kick in the pants giver when needed.

I'll leave you with these two paragraphs from my self written eulogy, as it is rather long and a little bit all over the place. It is definitely something that I will work on being more cohesive and giving a better flow. There is so many areas I need to elucidate and or expand on that the eulogy in it's entirety will roam all over.

I hope it gives you a glimpse of what I want my life to look like and how I would want to be remembered.

Littlefoot.

31 Day Reset - Day 29: Make a Bucket List

Yippee, something fun to do! (Besides ogling the men swimming and tumbling in the XXX Olympiads)

The title is explanation enough. Make a list of all the things you ever want to do before you die. I thought, how easy is that. This will be done in no time flat. I did not expect to be surprised by my list, but at number 5 I was dumbfounded, because anyone who know me know I hate the cold. As a child of the tropics, I prefer a temperate to warm environment that does not require me to be wrapped up like an Eskimo.

Get an advanced degree (in science - kinda saw this one coming over the last few months)
Get married - no surprise there
Have a few kids, at least a boy & girl - again no surprise
Visit 6 of 7 continents. - Hello have we met?
Touch a glacier - Fall out of my chair surprised at this one!
Swim with sea creatures, dolphins/sharks (I don't like open water & depths I can't touch)
Ride a camel with a Bedouin
Learn another language or two, Spanish & French, maybe Arabic
Learn to swim or rather overcome my fear of the deep
Learn to ride a bike (there is a story behind this deficiency)
Run a triathlon (hence the need for swimming & biking)
Run a marathon
See the northern lights
See the southern lights
Take a round the world trip (preferably with my hubby or w/ hubby & kids)
Own a boat or at least live on one for a little while (where do I come up with this stuff?)
Rock climb (I'm not fond of heights)
Sky dive (hello heights again)
My long shot - see the earth from space
Publish a work of science (climate change, sustainability, environmental science etc.)

Have you made a list like this and surprised yourself? What did you discover about yourself while making the list? For me there were plenty of surprises and I discovered that there are hidden dreams lurking in the depths of my heart. And that alone was worth this whole month long journey!

Thank you Rosetta!

Lady Littlefoot

31 Day Reset - Day 28: Let Go of the Past

Like most of you I am caught up in Olympic Fever so I've neglected the blogging somewhat. However, I made sure to complete my 31 Day Reset Tasks (for the most part). Let Day 28 you were instructed to "Let Go of the Past" with a fairly simple exercise. I say fairly simple because I haven't done the exercise as described. There were 3 steps (simplicity personified).

First, make a list of all the things you have been holding onto, failed relationships, bad experiences, arguments with friends & family, situations you regret etc., etc. Second step was to find a way to achieve closure; pray on it, say a mantra, light a candle and meditate, what ever you can apply to the even that will remove the painful/negative impact. Step three rip the pages from your journal or print them out for the high tech folks and burn them. Yes, take them outside, in the back yard, the park, the balcony and have a little bonfire and burn, burn, burn the it all. As the smokes rises let it all go and reset yourself. Begin anew.

I've described this exercise clearly yet I didn't do it. Why you ask? I'm not sure. Part of the list making was to set on a time frame. 1 year or 30, however long you need to let go of stuff. I've gone through some things in my life and, in a effort to live a more present and forward reaching life I've had to learn to forgive when I'd rather commit murder. Sometimes, the forgiveness had to take place in a vacuum, where the person could not be confronted and made to acknowledge the wrong they did. I am a person that tends to hold onto things, specifically hurts and slights so letting go and forgiving is something that I am constantly doing. I've learned that forgiveness, is on going. When I least expect it an incident that I thought long forgotten and forgiven will be triggered by a present occurrence and I will be taken aback. Over the years, I've learned to acknowledge the hurt and pain and other negative emotions cause by the past incident, because we must acknowledge our hurts then speak forgiveness to the person/persons, and for me I pray as well. I ask God to continue to teach me to forgive and cover the person(s) wherever they are with is love. This works for me.

As I write this I am contemplating, this exercise. I know I will do it. The time frame I am still working on. I think I am a bit afraid to open Pandora's box and find something there that I haven't acknowledge. But we have nothing to fear but fear itself. So I will take a few days and then revisit this exercise. The beautiful thing is I have my Reset notebook and this blog to remind me to address the scary monster in the closet.

Lady Littlefoot

31 Day Reset - Day 26 & Day 27: Go Beyond your Comfort Zone

Making Friends

Say what? You want me, Ms. Homebody, the one who prefers to bring people to me, to go out in the big world and make new friends? Uh, uh, ain't gonna happen, I don't want to!

OK, tantrum thrown let's get down to brass tacks. Friendships take time and work and the goal of Day 26 of the 31 Day Reset, is to get you started making new friends who share similar interests such as the area of your Reset Project; in my case health and fitness. To achieve the goal of making a new friend, you'll make a list of three people you recently met. Then invite them for a meal, to an event or just contact them to see what they've been doing since the last thing you spoke and/or saw them.

Outside of the gym I haven't met many people because most of the groups I became part of on my Reset Project were online, with people scattered across the country if not the world. So that list did not happen. This does not bode well for making new friends. I've been at the gym for over a week now, though I'm friendly with the folks there I haven't connected with anyone. At least not enough to exchange contact information with. This illustrates something about me.

Even, though I get along with people well, I am not so good at the making the friends part. I don't like to feel like I'm imposing on people and their time. I do realize that this impedes my growth as a person and would make my dreams of world travel more difficult than it needs to be. I have started to step out of my comfort zone, and initiate conversation with people, as much as possible. This exercise has shown me how much more I need to channel my friend Globetrotter, who has no problem talking to strangers; in my quest to become comfortable interacting with new people.

Reviving Romance

Whether you were single or coupled Day 27 was all about reviving your love life. Singletons had a simple task to revive/jump start your love life. Either ask someone out you already know and like, go out to a happening spot and connect with folks there or get on your computer for an online connection.

I wish I could report to that I did one of these things. There is no one in my life at the moment that I want to get to know better as a potential romantic partner, and I've tried the online dating thing and was not impressed with the options presented to me. I could have gone out, in fact I had plans to go out Saturday night, but the night came and went with me sitting on the couch eating ice cream. Yeah, I know bad on the romance and the health & fitness front. But I could not muster the energy to go out and make conversation with total strangers. The path to romance and happily ever after requires effort on both people's part. Like making friends it requires stepping outside your comfort zone and relationships do not grow without putting some effort in.

I know I have to make the effort to meet new people and to connect with potential romantic partner. But something keeps holding me back and what that something is, I don't know. Fear of the unknown, of what lies ahead, of the winding path you can't see ahead is a hefty stumbling block, like one of the erratics left behind by a long ago glacier. I keep reminding myself that the only thing to fear, is fear itself. Every, choice in life requires letting go of whatever it is we feared about that choice and holding onto the experience and blessings that choice brings into your life. I will continue to, little by little, make the effort to initiate conversation with others and be open to meeting new people whether for friendship or romance.

Lady Littlefoot.

31 Day Reset - Day 25: Find a Community to Support Your Goals

As I move forward with this 31 Day Reset your life challenge I am gratified to know that my mind is already in the road and can see the steps that are needed ahead before I get there. The exercise for Day 25 was to Find a Community to Support Your Goals. Preferably this community would be outside of your friends and family because we know that their idea of what is best for you in tied up in how they see you, and that vision of you relates to them. Yes, I know not all of our friends and family members are like this but it doesn't hurt to have outside information. 

As part of my personal development I chose to focus on my health as my Reset Project. Before I made it my reset project, chose that area to focus on because I have a birthday coming up in a few months and I want to celebrate it in the best shape of my life. I want to put on my itsy bitsy teeny purple bikini and not feel like I'm bursting out of it. I have a goal of 10 pounds and 4 inches off my midsection to get back to my ideal body. I want to run 6 miles and feel great afterwards, not run 2 miles and feel like I'm dying. So I am back to participating in the groups I was connected to as part of this endeavor. 

As I mentioned before I started working out with H.I.T Fitness Warehouse last week (7/19). The H.I.T. stands for High Intensity Training and they are all about making the most of the 60 minutes you have for your class. The trainers are encouraging and are available with advice on food and supplements . All you have to do is ask. I've also been part of an Facebook private fitness group. It specifically focuses on working on your abdominals but the members support each other no matter the fitness goals. I've also started following fitness guru Brad Gouthro, because his site had loads of information to build your best body. He also is very responsive on Twitter and YouTube which I appreciate. 

Additionally, I have started using the food and exercise tracker on MyFitnessPal. I signed up for it and was using it on my phone but the App stopped working so I stopped tracking. Now I make it a point to log on via computer several times a days if necessary to make sure I am tracking my consumption. Already I know I need to drink more water. 8 glasses a day is just not enough, not with the intensity of my workouts. Since I like to cook and am always fiddling with recipes, I've joined SparkRecipes specifically for their recipe calculator, which allows me to figure out the calories and nutrients in the meals that I prepare. 

I think that I am on a good path to improving my overall fitness and hopefully will start seeing a reduction in pounds and inches fairly soon. When I started the gym, I took some measurements and was going to repeat them but on the advice of one of the trainers at the gym (see that group is already working) I will measure every two weeks. This will allow me to see the results and not be discouraged if there are none week to week. 

I hope that my journey inspires you to start one of your own. If not health and fitness then some other area of your life where you want to see results sooner rather than later. Pick one, and get plugged into a support system.

Lady Littlefoot. 

31 Day Reset - Day 24 - "Allowing the tears to fall."

This past week week has been rather difficult, partly because I've been doing more in my day as well as working out. I am exhausted. On top of that I got disappointing news, graduate school #2 said no to my application. So a combination of tiredness and disappointment has me even more down and craving some Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk (NYSFC) .

In addition to Ben & Jerry's NYSFC I could use some chill time with my good buddy LSmooth cause he gives the best hugs ever. I need a hug. But LSmooth is back in NYC and Ben & Jerry's will not help my fitness goals so I have to find some other coping mechanisms.

This down time mirrors "real life." In the midst of a project or some other activity you'll often be sidetracked or thrown off course. But no matter what the slow down is, you still have to finish the task. Be that as it may, take a moment to experience what is going on without wallowing in it. As my friend FlameStar says (and I'm paraphrasing), "have compassion for yourself and cry whatever tears you need to, mourn and then move on."
To many times we bury our disappointment and grief over a lost opportunity and do not take the time to properly mourn leading to more suffering in our lives. I often wondered why it too me so long to get over failed relationships and now I know why. I did not take the time to mourn. I read a cliche statement some years ago that said tears are like rain for our insides, it brings cleansing when needed and nourishing as well. So I allowed the tears to fall and am allowing myself to mourn the death of a dream to attend graduate school this fall.

I will not give up on my dream, but I will review and make sure that the desires of my heart and aligned with the path God has for me to follow.

I took today off from the gym. It wasn't a planned rest day but my hip is hurting so I needed to allow myself this recovery time. I am getting the physical rest I need as well and the emotional recovery time. I've caught up on my reset challenge assignments, though I'm still a wee bit behind on the corresponding blogs but that is okay.

Make sure that you are taking time out to to mourn the dying/dead dream. To grieve the loss of a vision. Let the tears fall, and cleanse the insides and approach life with new vim and vigor.

Here's to the bright clean sky after the storm.

Lady Littlefoot.

31 Day Reset - Day 23: Plan a Reset Project

What is this you say? Where is Day 22: Start a Side Hustle? I looked at it, read the description, read Rosetta's journey taking her side hustle into a new career and decided to put this particular project on the back burner. Instead I will move ahead with Planning a Reset Project. Yes, it may be the easier task to take on because, well, I've already started it. The Reset Project requires that you choose one specific area from your previously created Life Map to make progress on within the next month. The areas identified in the life map are: Lifestyle, Work, Education, Finances, Health, Family and Relationships. Lets get started. Structuring the project was laid out in the assignment so it was very simple to fill in the blanks and answer the questions.

Reset Project Structure

Brief Description - What area of your life map will you work on? Be specific.
As I mentioned I already started on the life map area of Health.


Why the project selected? -  How will this project help you to get closer to your ideal life? 
I chose to focus on Health for my Reset Project because I had already started on this area and it was easier to continue on rather than focus on separate area. I initially got started on the area of health because I wanted to lose a few pounds and inches off of my waist as well as improve my overall physical fitness and endurance as well as just my health in general. I fee that a healthy mind and body makes it easier to pursue your dreams and passions. If you can get up in the morning and bound off to work or school your days is so much better. 

Goals & Results - What do you hope to achieve? How will you measure success?
My goals are simple, lose 10 pounds, and 3 - 4 inches on my midsection and get back to running 3 -6 miles a day. Improve my eating habits by being more vigilant about sweet and fatty treats and foods. I also hope to rid myself of some of my recurring pain with chiropractic care. Success will be measure by pounds and inches lost, strength, endurance and miles gained and reduction of recurring pain in my body.

Assistance Needed - What will you need to get your project completed or underway? How do you plan to get it?
I was able to get help in affording the gym by acquiring a deal from Living Social. I also procured another deal from GroupOn for a massage and chiropractic consultation. These were instrumental in getting me started back on my fitness and pain reduction goals. I know I need assistance in planning healthier meals so I've been consulting various fitness and food sites to get ideas and to check nutritional content of various foods. I'm also logging my meals and exercise online so I can see my caloric intake and expenditures.

Obstacles - What obstacles might you encounter and how do you plan to deal with them?
One obstacle that I have already encountered is injury. My dodgy right hip (more like hip flexor) is acting up again but I took a day off from my gym routine to rest it and apply some ice to the offending area. I have learned to rest my body when it tells me to and to take a break from exercise as needed to give my body a chance to recover. If I don't an injury could side line me longer than a day or two of rest. Another obstacle to my health goals is expense of eating healthily. I went to the grocery store and spent nearly $100 on mostly fruits and vegetables and a little seafood. I am hoping this haul lasts about a week and half to two weeks. Now granted I share some of this with my aunt but she shares her pantry with me as well so it evens out.

Next Steps - What do you need to do now in order to see results in 30 days?
In order to see results in the next 30 days I have to stay committed to my gym classes, 6 days of the week, keeping my chiropractic appointments and making sure I get enough rest to allow my body to recover. I will also engage my accountability partner in my goals and will write another love letter to myself regarding this project.

Lady Littlefoot

31 Day Reset - Day 20 & 21 & Other Stuff

As I sit here getting typing this post I am tired. Exhausted really but I will do a post tonight. Last week I started taking classes at a gym. The Living Social deal I found, $50 for unlimited classes at H.I.T Fitness Warehouse, couldn't have come at a better time. Even before the 31 Day Reset I knew I wanted to get back into my fitness and this allowed me to do so without thinking much. All I have to do is show up and get my butt kicked for an hour and then not ruin it by over indulgences. Easy enough, right. But I am sooooo exhausted. I know it's only for a time and I have a goal, to fit back into my teeny, weeny itsy bitsy purple string bikini. I digress, as I am wont to. Back to the reset. For Day 20 you were to Remove Negative People from Your Life and Day 21 you were to Stop Complaining for 24 Hours.

According to Jim Rohn whom, Rosetta references "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." In the spirit of that quote late last year, I took a look at my list of friends on Facebook and started a curating campaign. So I must admit that I did not approach this exercise with the vigor it deserved as I felt I had been doing it for the past year. On social media, I continually look at the people I am "friends" with and ask myself when was the last time we spoke? Whether in person, by phone (voice or text) or various messengers, if we had no contact I either outright deleted them or moved them to an acquaintance list. This was especially true of people I used to work with or knew from a previous church or whose sibling I am friends with. If I do not find that they add any value to my life then I completely delete them. On Twitter it's easier. I made a decision to follow mostly news organizations and people who offer edifying remarks on that forum. The minute their Tweets starts aggravating me or otherwise polluting my timeline I "unfollow' them.

In my everyday life, I have been slowly dropping people who do not bring value to my life or whose life I don't add any value to. I'll admit it does take me a while to actually delete them from my phone or cross them out of my old school paper phone book but I have stopped engaging the Debbie Downers and Negative Nigels. If I come across their name and think to reach out I ask myself why don't we speak and then I recall the reason behind and move onto someone whose relationship I value.

As I went about my day I made an extra effort to not be negative in word and thought. Word was easier, just bit my lip and not say the mean thing that came to mind but often I do have those mean thoughts, like "why did no one tell person that outfit just isn't working for them?" It may not be negative but it is catty so now I pay attention to the catty thoughts and squash them when they occur. Which dovetailed nicely with the Stop Complaining for 24 hours. So in addition to raining in my catty thoughts or negative wishes for others I also paid attention to what I said. Instead of complaining about how hot it was walking around at the zoo, I thanked God that I could walk around. There are those who are wheel chair and walker bound who would relish the opportunity to walk the paths of the zoo gazing at the myriad of animals. Instead of complaining when I forgot to set my alarm and didn't wake up earlier on Sunday, I thank God for the much needed rest. As this week continues I will make every effort not to be a Negative Nellie in my thoughts and to not complain about my circumstances but be thankful for all I have and even for things that do not work out they way I want them to. Perhaps, God has a greater plan and purpose that I do not see at this moment.

Have you ever considered whittling down the circle of friends and/or acquaintances, specifically to remove the negative influences in your life? Have you looked at yourself to make sure you weren't being the negative one? Have you considered taking a set amount of time and instead of complaining about all the things that are going wrong you express gratitude for the blessings in your life?

Try one or both of these exercise. You might be surprised.

Lady Littlefoot

31 Day Reset - Day 19: Get Rid of Stuff You Don't Need

This exercise, to get rid of stuff you don't need,  couldn't have come at a better time. When I left the military I had them move all of my house hold goods (HHG) from San Diego (SD) to South Florida. The original intent was to move to Miami and start my civilian life there but then I decided to pursue a life long dream of studying abroad. So since last December the majority of the contents of my apartment has been in government storage and now its time for me to pay for it. The rates the company are charging is ridiculous so I am going to move it all to a different storage location temporarily. I will be selling most of the furniture and this assignment will help me to purge myself of all the things I hold onto for sentimental reasons or just because I may find a use for it later. Tomorrow, I will be looking at storage units and arranging the transfer of my goods. I also have a chiropractic evaluation scheduled during the day and another fitness class in the evening and sometime during the afternoon I promised my aunt that I will take her driving so she can practice. Whew! To bed I go.

Hugging a tree on hiking trail in SD 2011

Today, I completed my task of arranging for movement of my HHG from government storage into my own. This entailed visiting two separate storage facilities to get a feel for the location and multiple phone calls to pin down the details (sizes, costs, climate control, etc). With my other errands and fitness class (boxing) I did not begin the sorting of clothes as planned. But, I know I don't have much to get rid of as I did that prior to leaving SD but I want to evaluate some items, clothing and accessories and possibly shoes and plan on starting that this weekend. I will also get started on all the paper I have accumulated since moving and either file them properly or mark for shredding. When I am able to access my stored items, I know there is a file box that have to ruthlessly sort. The good news is that I will have my scanner so turn bits of paper into bites and bits and get rid of the vermin hosting paper. 

I am happy that I have a plan of attack and I look forward to cleaning house, especially as it means less things for me to store or figure out what to do with or take to grad school come the fall. And I know that will take a huge weight off of my shoulders. Have you done a purge lately? How did you feel? What was the hardest area to get rid of stuff from? I know for me it is paper, I always think I will need something and the archivist in me wonders what documentation am I leaving for my descendants of my time here on earth. A bit silly and self important but there it is for the world to see, my foible, my desire to leave a mark some how on the world. 

Lady Littlefoot

31 Day Reset - Day 18: Develop a Self Care Plan

I saw the title of today's exercise and was excited. For Day 18 you are to Develop a Self Care Plan. Well, this exercise aligned nicely with the steps I am taking in my life. Today I restarted for the umpteenth time my fitness regimen. But this time I am smarter about the whole thing. I know I am a sluggabed and will not get up when the alarm goes off to go running, so I joined a gym. This is no ordinary place, with treadmills, free weights and machines where you can idly do your work out. No sir, this is a place for high intensity. Results will be had. I found H.I.T Fitness Warehouse on Living Social (yes, one of those coupon sites and no, I'm not being paid) and for $50 I can take as many classes as my widening arse can get through without passing out. My goal is to lose 10 pounds but more importantly to lose inches off my waist, hip and thigh areas. So that takes care of one item on my self care list, actually it's two because fitness also comprises eating well balanced meals. Here's an idea of some of the stuff I'll be doing:

My Self Care Plan. 

• Wake up a decent hour (I'm working on being up at 7am). 
• Drink my lemon water (I'm including this as it's relevant for 3 more weeks). 
• Spend time doing devotion reading and prayng. 
• Eat a healthy/balanced breakfast (maybe while doing devotion). 
• Drink at LEAST 8 glasses (64 oz) of water daily. 
• Exercise for 60 minutes 6 days a week (Mon-Sat). 
• Do yoga or stretching on Sunday (30 mins). 
• Keep Monday meatless (add another day down the line). 
• Reduce ice cream (& other sweets) to once a week. 
• East at least once piece of fruit, a handful of nuts and a 1/2 cup no fat greek yogurt a day. 
• Budget for and get a monthly massage (yes, it's a luxury but one I need).
• Get to bed so you can have 8 hours of sleep and be up with the early. 

Reflect: This exercise was not too difficult for me, because as I stated before it was already on my brain. I think I may be leaving a lot out when it comes to self care. The good point is that I completed this exercise with a minimum of fuss and I know somethings are coalescing in my brain that will clear after a nights sleep.

Lady Littlefoot  

31 Day Reset - Day 17: 100 Things That Make You Happy.

I embarked on Day 17 of the reset with excitement and vigor. I was all caught up and on the corresponding day of the month. I lay in bed and started the list and got up to #27 and keep to an abrupt halt! So abrupt and disconcerting was this stop I had to head over to Twitter and leave a message [@LittleFootLady
Who knew writing down a 100 things that make me happy would be so difficult. #31dayreset]. The good news is, I am not the only one having these difficulties. JW2 also tweeted about his difficulty and later on posted on his blog, From Jay to Z where he made it up to 75 before pausing. I was eager to continue on so I read his blog and was inspired to keep going and then I slowed down again at #67 (what's with the 7s?) then I recalled that Rosetta had her list of 100 things too, so I took a look at that and was off again. I am not by any means completed with the list but I decided to move forward with the reset and just keep adding the the list as things occurred to me. I decided that Lizzy was not going to take up residence again after I'd giving her the boot, Marine Corps style. My list started off very generic but got more detailed as I went on and one word was not enough to describe the things that make me smile and bring happiness and joy to my life.

100 Things That Make Me Happy 

1. singing 
2. dancing 
3. cooking 
4. reading 
5. quiet time 
6. hiking 
7. being fit 
8. playing in warm summer rain 
9. running in the woods (me the music & nature) 
10. a well made meal to savor
11. spending quality time with dear friends
12. hosting small dinner parties
13. long slow kisses
14. sunrises
15. sunsets
16. the sky after a rain storm
17. cuddling under the covers during a thunder storm
18. harassing my brother (well just bothering him really)
19. playing with my nephew and God children
20. baking & decorating sugar cookies with the above
21. pretty painted toes
22. a soft summer night and a good glass of wine 
23. sitting on the beach in San Diego watching the sun on the water
24. hiking Torrey Pines in SD watching the waves crash on the shore
25. the smell of rain on dry ground
26. the sound of wind in the trees
27. talking to God and hearing his answers 
28. guy wednesdays on HGTV
29. guys that fix stuff
30. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
31. singing karaoke
32. singing Bohemian Rhapsody at karaoke with friends
33. BONES (tv show)
34. Arnold Palmers (iced tea & lemonade)
35. ginger lemonade
36. caprese salad
37. fudge brownies with nuts
38. Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk
39. affogato
40. gelato
41. Capt Picard, Jean Luc (Star Trek: TNG)
42. speacial someone playing in my hair
43. hours long flirtation followed by long slow kisses 
44. a cold rainy day under the covers with hot cocoa
45. tea, especially hot
46. mangoes
47. dirty martini w/ extra olives & little ice crystals after a long day
48. malacca (red cachews)
49. South American cherries
50. a great smile like The Rocks' (Dwayne Johnson)
51. my Yummy Goodness Pinterest board
52. movies w/ explosions, gun fights & hot guys ala Fast Five
53. The Hobbit, LOTR & all things Middle Earth in general
54. coconut water with the jelly (pulp)
55. cooking with my Mom (& learning her secrets)
56. getting caught in warm summer rain (dang I think I repeated this one)
57. holding hands
58. walking barefoot in soft grass
59. a satisfying ending to a good book
60. hugs from munchkins (kids)
61. hugs from a well formed man
62. walking arm in arm with a good girlfriend
63. traveling
64. cooking a dish perfectly
65. dancing 'til I sweat through my clothes & my hair comes down
66. my curls falling perfectly w/ no frizz
67. twinkly eyes and engaging smile
68. sandalwood, neroli and scents like these
69. Barcelona
70. San Diego
71. Paris
72. soft scrambled eggs
73. whole wheat spice pancakes
74. crepes 
75. Sade
76. Adele
77. Emelie Sand
78. female singers w/ raw power & emotion in their voice
79. Google and all its power :-D 
80. Gambos ala plancha on the beach in Barcelona (see above picture)

So this is where I am as of today (19 Jul 2012). I will keep adding to the list but for now I will move forward  with the 31 Day Reset.

Lady Littlefoot

31 Day Reset - Day 16: Rest, Reflect & Comment

I've come to the end of another week in the Happy Black Woman's 31 Day Reset your life challenge. This is a chance for procrastinators to catch up on the exercises they have been putting off. It's also a chance to reflect on the exercises you have completed and to connect with others on the same journey and offer encouragement or just to see you are not the only one struggling. Of course there are questions to reflect upon, here goes:

Reflection:

What is the most important thing you learned about yourself this week?
The most important thing I learned about myself this week is that, I have a hard time visualizing my future. The greatest cause of this is fear. Fear that I am not up to the tasks that I set myself. Fear that I am not capable of undertaking the journey I envision to get to happy, fulfilled me. Additionally, I feel as if that life is too good to be for me and almost as if I don't deserve all of that. So the easiest thing is not to envision and commit that vision to paper because then I won't be in a position to disappointed if it doesn't come to pass.

*As I am typing this a quote floats into my brain "for the lack of vision my people perish." Yes, it's Biblical so now I'm on a scripture hunt. I need a new Bible.  


What has been your favorite exercise so far? What did you like about it? 
All of the exercises this week has been helpful to me, even that prolonged to be rewritten life narrative. I did enjoy writing to my lizard brain ( hey Lizzy, Lizzy ), but then again who wouldn't enjoy kicking the low performing aspect of themselves to the curb? The Redesign Your Day assignment was good for me, because well it was easy (thank you Rosetta for the example) and most of it was already in my head ready for commitment to paper. No extra ruminating required. I like easy. :-) 


Which exercise did you struggle with the most? 
Ah, let me see ... the Life Narrative. The whole visualizing was harder than I expected it to be. I'm a big picture person and loath detail work. I conceptualize well but want someone else to come up with the little steps to make the big picture come together. I know this does not always work so I have to work on filling in the connecting steps in the picture board of life. I am now caught up to the actual day we are on in the month, so I am excited about that. Hopefully, I won't procrastinate and put off exercises because of their difficulty any more for the rest of the month.

Lady Littlefoot

31 Day Reset - Day 15: Ditch TV for 24 Hours

Day 15 was an interesting exercise. Give up TV or non-work related Internet use for 24 hours. I am not a habitual TV watcher. Yes, I do have shows I like but I will catch up with them on Hulu or Netflix (thanks cousin). However, I do spend an inordinate amount of time on the Internet. I sometimes rationalize this by saying I am researching something or reading the news but if I have Facebook (FB) or Twitter open, it's more likely that the research or news reading will take twice as long. And if I start perusing all the blogs I follow, well, 3 hours will disappear in a flash! So for this exercise I decided to do limit my Internet usage and not use TV as my break time (HGTV will be there the next day).

I started the day off with a little speed bump. I neglected to turn the FB notifications off on my phone. I didn't realize how much of a temptation that would be to check every little update. So one of the first things I did upon waking was turn FB notifications off. Then I contemplated turning the Twitter one off too but I only get notifications when some one includes me in a Tweet so I left that one alone. Upon turning on my computer, I resisted the urge to open FB or Twitter or to check any blogs for updates. Instead, I went to work. I logged into my professional Gmail account from which I applied for a few jobs and left a message for the storage place that is holding all the pieces of my San Diego apartment.Then I got on the phone and stayed in the call queue to the NYS Department of Labor for 40 plus minutes. Finally, I got to talk to a human being and they will release my funds (tentative excitement because I might need to call again). Then I helped my aunt clean and cook for my cousin's surprise birthday party. At the end of the day I was so tired. Probably because I had only one meal the whole day. I have to do better about the eating. The lack of a structured day makes it hard to stay consistent about meal times. 


The only major slippage I had for the day was watching BBC's Wildlife Special with David Attenborough while I was prepping and cooking. Well, it was more like listen. I supposed I could have listened to music instead but I like the nature shows and they are soothing to have in the background. I will watch/listen to these particular shows again. Mr. Attenborough can read the phone book and make it sound interesting.


All in all it has been a productive day. I will endeavor to make tomorrow even more productive. Everyday list making is helpful in getting things done (I need to do better about getting the list out of my head and down on paper). I made some headway into "Climate Change in Prehistory: The End of the Reign of Chaos" by William J. Burroughs, my educational reading choice of the moment. As this work is more scholarly that the last book I read on climate change, "Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature and Climate Change," by  Elizabeth K, it's taking me longer to read and understand all including the charts and graphs through out. I hope in time as my brain shifts into scholarly mode I will be able to read and understand these types of books more quickly.  


Happy Black Woman, Rosetta asks the question, was it difficult to go without the boob tube (or playing around on the internetz) for a whole day? What did you do instead?

It wasn't difficult to to give up the boob tube, I don't watch too much of it. But I was very tying to use the Internet for only productive things. I realized in the last few months of not working I have spent many working hours "playing" on the Internet and not being productive. I am committed to doing better, even if it means setting a timer for Internet fun time and sticking to it. I have a friend who would set a timer for FB and when it goes off, she closes the FB page. Another friend removed the FB App off from her phone. I may have to consider their methods to not waste time.

What methods do you use to ensure that you are not wasting time on the Internet or some other time stealing activity?

Lady Littlefoot.

31 Day Reset - Day 14: Redesign Your Day

Oh goody something easy. That's not exactly what I said when I saw Day 14's Redesign Your Day exercise. I was immediately petrified. Ok, so I wasn't petrified I was just a wee bit nervous that this exercise would take me the better part of 3 days to complete. However, once I read the description I was settled and could get to work rather than dither. Also the example was extremely helpful in getting me started. This exercise calls for you to outline a strategy to redesign your day to make more time for the things that truly matter to you. Here goes:














Littlefoot's Redesign

• Wake up early (I get more done that way). 
• Schedule 60 minutes for exercise (done early to make sure it's done). 
• Eat a healthy breakfast (fuel for the day). 
• Spend transport time either reading or listening to audio book to accomplish goal of book a week (use the library!). 
• Eat packed healthy lunch then walk outside for 15 minutes to clear mind. Read devotional or connect w/ a loved one briefly. 
• Cut out activities that "kill time" i.e. mindlessly checking text message and social media apps.
• Limit time spent on the internet, set timer for 60 minutes for social media including blogs. (Have separate allowance for scheduled chats). 
• Pack healthy lunch and snacks for next day. 
• Review devotional and pray. 
• Go to bed early enough to allow for 7 hours of sleep.

Lady Littlefoot

31 Day Reset - Day 13: Conduct a Time Audit

Conducting a Time Audit was somewhat painless. All you had to do was list each hour in the day and account for it. What are you doing say 10:00 - 11:00? For most of us that is gainfully employed either making money for someone or for ourselves. Since I am not working it was easy to see what I do with most of my time. WASTE IT! Time just keeps slipping away from me because I do not make intentional use of it.

I know that when I have plans for my day I am up with the sun and I get that done and so much more. But plans alone aren't enough I need somewhere to be, an appointment to keep, because plans along will have me turning the alarm off and pulling the covers over my head.

So Littlefoot dearest you need to start living each of these non working days intentionally. If you have to get an appointment book and write things down then DO IT and stop wasting time. While you wait you can do other productive things rather than spend your days hopping around the interwebs. Up and at 'em kid!

Lady Littlefoot

31 Day Reset - Day 12: Craft a Life Narrative

The first thing I thought when I saw Day 12's title of  "Craft a Narrative" was, oh, this is going to be easy. I already wrote the Personal Mission Statement (PMS) and created the Life Map. This task should be a snap. I just need to review those two items and it will be easy peasy. Boy, was I wrong. Even after kicking Lizzy, my primitive resistant brain to the curb, I still had trouble putting pen to paper and crafting my narrative. I theorized in my reflective portion that perhaps this entry was more difficult to get done because I am more able to see the big picture but often miss the little details. I am sure I will come back to this narrative as I feel it rumbled all over the place, jumping between different areas of life and not maintaining any coherency.

This exercise did not excite me in the least. It did help to clarify my life map a bit but it was like squeezing blood from a stone. I think it's time for the first session with my brand spanking new accountability partner. My narrative follows. I have left it as I wrote it so you can have an idea of how haphazardly I wrote it.

Lady Littlefoot's Life Narrative 

I am living in a city that is like San Diego and Barcelona combined. Close to water, with lots of outdoor activities and spaces as well as historical sites close by for access to a variety of activities. I'll wake up every morning and exercise, doing a combination of cardio and strength training. I eat a healthy and satisfying breakfast then head off to work which is less than an hour away from my home. My career involves helping others and being of service while intellectually stimulating me [Specifics to Come]. I am required to travel several times a year for work and I use these travel opportunities to explore other cities. 


I have get togethers with my girlfriends twice a month for ladies night or some activity to catch up. I am a creative person so will take a dance class once a week to maintain those juices. I plan for and travel internationally four times a year and go on  monthly adventures even if it's only a day hike. I am insatiably curious with a hunger from knowledge about the world and the way it works. I will attend lectures and seminars to maintain professional connections as well as to stay current in my field. In addition I will read one book a week (or at least bi-weekly) in related fields. 


I love fruits and vegetables so I will make sure my neighborhood is one with access to great produce. I will shop weekly to replenish our stores. I will host monthly dinner parties/salons perhaps to discuss a book local happenings or just to catch up with local friends and connections. 


Marriage and children are very important to me. I have a handsome, adventurous, intelligent, loving husband who get my craziness and doesn't try to change me; nor does he look down on me for said craziness. I support him in his endeavors and does likewise for me and he is the head of our home. He respects my opinions and includes me in all decisions regarding our home and family. We have two children and on their arrival I will take time off to care for them, returning to work when they are school aged. My work is well paid which allows me and my husband funds and time to travel devote to charity work.We are part of a local church and are active members, each belonging to a ministry. 


This is where my narrative stands. It's definitely a work in progress but I've gotten a rough draft committed to paper. Do not despise small beginnings!


Lady Littlefoot

31 Day Reset - Day 11: Write a Letter to Your Brain

I am trudging along in this 31 Day Reset your life challenge. I've made it to Day 11 with much groaning and belly aching, but what good is a challenge if you don't have some complaining along the way? Those of you who face your challenges silently can bite my little toe, but then again, nah uh don't do that. In your quest to maintain silence you may bite it off. I'd like to keep all my toes, even the little one with a mind of it's own, thank you very much. But I digress from the task at hand. Yes, I am very good at diverting from the course especially one I am not enthused about. Or rather a task my Lizard Brain is not enthused about. What is this lizard brain you ask?

Well of course its not an actual lizard. The lizard brain is simply resistance. It's the part of us, of our brains that causes us to do something other than what we declare we are going to do. Like this morning when I said I was going to get up and go for a fast walk / slow jog but instead I hit snooze and then just turned off the alarm, pulled the covers over my head and went back to sleep. Yes that is Lizzy in action. What? You don't name recalcitrant parts of your anatomy? Pfft, sure you don't. Back to the matter at hand. Lizzy is the epicenter of fear, it's "what stops you in your tracks and keeps you from moving forward." The exercise today was to write your lizard brain a letter. There was a lovely template that I used but something about ti was just not ringing true. So I decided to redo as I was typing this up.

Dearest Lizzy, 


Yes, you. The one lying in the corner pretending to be asleep. I know you are awake. How? Because every time I want to do something for my own happiness and growth you manage to pop up and insinuate yourself in the mix and act like the ballast on a sailing vessel. You either slow me down or leave me dead in the water and I am not standing for it anymore. 


For instance, I started this challenge in order to move forward in my life and just as soon as I did you showed up with your procrastination costume on. Oh, the cloak was different but I knew it was you influencing me to sabotage myself by putting off my assignments for more "fun things" and finding other things to do that were "more important" than my exercises. I have your number. 


Another example was me applying for graduate school and the whole time you were in the corner pushing your negativity, asking if I was smart enough for graduate school. And what about that low GPA in undergrad, that isn't just gonna cut it for a higher degree and on and on and so forth. STOP. You are done with all of that. 


I was put here on earth for a purpose and you are keeping me from fulfilling that potential. 


Well, until now that is. I will no longer allow you to stop my progress in living my ideal life. So the next time I see you, I will simply give you a nod and go about my business. It's been nice knowing you, Lizzy, but now it's time that we part ways. See that opening, make your way out and don't let the door hit ya, where the good Lord,  .... well you don't have the right split. 


Go on, get. 


Lady Littlefoot

31 Day Reset - Day 10: Find an Accountability Partner

I've been thing about the task for today for 36 hours and I got's nada! Bupkiss, nien, not a stinking inckling of who should play this role in my life.
~~~~
Another 24 hours later and eureka! I have an accountability partner. I was turning over friends and colleagues in my head wondering who I could ask to take this journey with me? Who would be my safety checkpoint. I thought about one person and then another and disregarded them because I didn't want to impose my life onto theirs. I didn't want to bother them. They have their own life and trials and don't need me to add to their plate. As all of this was going through my head and heard the voice of KC Voltron a dear friend say "come here let me hit you upside the head. Friends are here to support you." 

I had an instinct to move before her long arms reach me. But I froze in place because she was right. That's what friends are for, to support you and be there for you. I recall another conversation we had about reaching out when you need help. I am often guilty of not reaching out because I don't want to be a bother to anyone. And in this exercise, the reason it took me 3 days to identify an accountability partner was this same need to not bother any one. So I called KC Voltron and explained what I needed and her immediate answer was "of course, I'll kick your butt." You got to love friends who immediately jump to your assistance and who are willing to make time in their full and busy life for you.  I have invited her to read the blog so far to get a better understanding of what I am doing and we have another conversation scheduled to brief her on my personal mission statement and the things I am looking to accomplish over the next few months to a year. 


A weight has been lifted from my shoulders and I am once again energized to continue on with the 31 Day Reset. I am doing a happy dance, you should join me.

Lady Littlefoot

31 Day Reset - Day 9: Do One Thing

As we move along in this life challenge we'd had days that involved identifying my values, envisioning my values in action and eventually writing a personal mission statement. This brings us to Day 9 of the 31 Day Reset which required that you Do One Thing. Not just any one thing but "one thing that will move you closer to your ideal life." This one things needs to be personally significant to you and related to a specific goal. Some other criteria include: 

1. Something you've been procrastination on for a long time (Budgeting). 
2. Something that terrifies you (Numbers in columns - budgeting). 
3. Something that inspires you (Increasing $$ in saving account - budgeting). 

I am not a fan of the really scary stuff, so you get a kitty :-)

You are to be specific and focus on on that task. So I started a budget. It's not complete by any means but it's a good start. 

For this budget thing to work it must be tangible and measurable. I am currently unemployed so my income is limited (and at the moment sketchy because NYS Dept of Labor sucks). Here is what I have so far

Income: $358/week ----> $1432/month
Expenses: $678/month
    Car Insurance:   $75/month
    Cell Phone:     $182/month [this is for me & Mom, I'm moving us to prepaid]
    Food:             $350/month [yes a little high for a single person but I incl meals out]
    Student loan:  $132/month
    ING Deposit   $40/month [to cover ongoing stock fund & misc]

As you see this would leave me $754/month to play with. I'm projecting to put $408 a month towards my travel fund & $346 towards my retirement. All of this hinges on actually receiving the Unemployment money weekly. So far that hasn't been happening so the extras get used to live on and then the credit card comes out and when the money comes it the CC gets paid and we start all over. However, I chose to focus on finances because it's something that terrifies me and I often push to the side until I am in crisis mode. I will continue to work work on this (the budgeting) including scheduling time weekly to review the accounts and see where I stand. I do this now but I've gotten lax and it's very hap hazard since there is not a lot coming in and going out.

This reset challenge came at a time where I needed to reset my financial house and get it back in order to pursue the things I love.

Lady Littlefoot

31 Day Reset - Day 8: Rest, Reflect & Comment

I made it to Day 8 of the "virtual life coaching experience" presented by the Happy Black Woman Rosetta Thurman. Considering the days I've missed I already had my rest time so I am just going to go straight to the reflect portion of this assignment. I'm on my own pace but I am to catch up to completing and blogging about the day's assignment on the actual day of the assignment. I'm getting there. I may be a tortoise but tortoises win races too. :-)

Dive platform, jump off & swim to the edge.

In reflection you are to answer the following questions:

(1) What was the most important thing you learned about yourself this week?

The most important thing I learned about me was that the building blocks are all there, I just need to take that leap of faith. I am slightly afraid of high places and of deep water. One of the most challenging things I've had to do was jump off of a platform into the deep end as part of my swim qualification for the Marines. The only thing that got me off that platform was them saying I had 30 seconds or or I would be rated as unqualified. My competitive side kicked in and I came off that board like a flying squirrel, with no finesse, no attention to technique, just off the board and into the deep water. I keep going back to that day and remembering I could have broken my neck but I didn't and I qualified as the lowest level of Combat Water Survival. That didn't matter. I qualified at "you have 30 seconds to jump or you will go unq [unqualified]." So I know I need to give myself time lines and sometimes I need to just jump off the damn board no matter how unprepared I may feel.    

(2) What has been your favorite exercise so far? What did you like about it? My favorite exercise so far has been Envision Your Values in Action followed by Create a Life Map. They helped me to bring solidity to my nebulous dreams gave me smaller tangibles to work on - slices rather than the whole pie.

(3) Which exercise did you struggle with the most and why? I struggled with the Assessment of Current Reality. It was difficult for me because it required me to honest about to my short comings; to take the blinders and rose colored glasses off and really evaluate what was working and what wasn't. But it is helpful to do that so you are not wondering down the wrong path at 100 miles an hour acting like nothing is wrong when everyone else is trying to tell you to slow down or that you are on the wrong road.  

That's is for today's reflection. I'm off the do the comment part of the exercise. I hope you all are inspired to do something similar or to just do one part of the reset especially if you are feeling a bit off in your life.

Happy Journey
Lady LittleFoot