My Happiness Project

I have learned a lot from Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, but something that has truly made an impact on my life recently is,

"What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while."

How simple and true!  Going for a 10-minute run every day is more beneficial than running 10 miles once a month.  Showing up on time for work every day is better than showing up an hour early once a week.  I am working to implement this truth into my everyday life, and I have been focusing on creating my very own happiness project.

Usually, we make a giant list of resolutions on New Year's Day to lose weight, spend more time with family, go on vacation, get out of debt, get a promotion, volunteer more, run a marathon, etc, etc etc, and we get overwhelmed by January 4th so we give up.  Does that sound familiar?

The Happiness Project takes a different approach.  The gist of the happiness project is breaking goals down into more attainable, tangible, achievable tasks.  I am going to be focusing on one area of my life each month and creating a short list of resolutions to keep to go with it.  For example, I am focusing on energy in January.  We joined a gym and started cleaning out our closets.  In March, I plan to focus on health and get a physical and checkups at the dermatologist and dentist.  I have printed out resolutions charts to help me keep track of my progress filled with checkmarks for good days and X's for not-so-great days. 

I have also created 12 Personal Commandments to follow.  My personal commandments are unique rules just for me.  For example, Rule #9 is "Something is better than nothing."  There are so many situations when I want to do a giant kind gesture, but I get overwhelmed so I end up doing nothing.  Sending a card just to let someone know you're thinking of them is better than the good but failed intentions of cooking them a five-course dinner.

It's never a bad time to start your own happiness project!  Follow this link: https://gretchenrubin.com/resources/  so you can download lots of helpful printouts, order Gretchen Rubin's books, listen to her podcast, follow her on social media, or download her app.  She gives practical, helpful tips on how to be happier and more productive, and maybe, just maybe, it can make your life just a little bit happier.

Below is my happiness project along with my list of personal commandments in case you are interested.

We Will Go to the Gym Nonetheless

Excuse the Lord of the Rings humor.  These are the random thoughts that pop into my head while I'm battling the evil elliptical machine. Don't judge me.

So we are one week into 2019. How are you doing on your goals so far? Crushin' it? Killin' it? Showin' those goals who's boss?

In the words of Bing Crosby, I am "somewhere between 'ouch' and 'boing'." Looking at my resolutions chart filled with check marks for good days and x's for not-so-good days, it's far too easy to stare at the multiple x's and feel like a failure then call it quits.  

Here is how I'm doing so far this year:

Here's a little encouragement for you:
Don't let the PERFECT be the enemy of the GOOD.

Give yourself some grace. There's nothing wrong with trying to improve yourself, but don't be so focused on your shortcomings that you can't give yourself a gold star for your little victories.  Don't be so discouraged thinking you won't be able to reach your goal weight by Valentine's Day that you decide to just stop working out.  Don't let the columns full of X's make you doubt your capabilities.  You still have 51 weeks to rock 2019! 

If you would like a resolutions chart, the one I used is from Gretchen Rubin's website.  Here is the link: https://gretchenrubin.com/resources/ 

Cupid & Jesus

One of my favorite things to do with Ben is to listen to audiobooks in the car.  It gives us a shared experience and something to discuss, and it also solved the problem of what music to listen to.  We take turns choosing books, which leads to both of us listening to books we would have never picked out. I had no idea I would love Jurassic Park, Ready Player One, Unbroken, or 13 Hours, but they were surprisingly among my favorite books of the year.  Some of my favorite books that I chose were Case for Christ, 1984, Catch Me If You Can, and the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.  Our reading list is all over the place, but it keeps it interesting and fun, especially when both of our jaws dropped and hearts stopped because there is a television hidden behind the painting in 1984.

My latest choice was Edith Hamilton's Mythology, which I read as a high school freshmen in Mrs. Johnson's class.  This class and book awakened a love for Greek mythology that I have treasured and enjoyed ever since.  I even quoted "Cupid and Psyche" in my wedding vows.  But it has been a while since I picked the book up, and I also wanted to help Ben understand my love for it by hearing the stories.  I hope this goes without saying, but just for the record, I am a Christian, and I believe in the One true God.  But I find the stories of Greek mythology fascinating and fun.

In the first chapter, the author is listing all the major gods and goddesses the Greeks believed in such as Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon, but then it goes on to discuss some of the lesser gods including the god of love, Eros, better known as Cupid.  Plato is quoted saying, "Love - Eros, makes his home in men's hearts, but not in every heart, for where there is hardness he departs.  His greatest glory is that he cannot do wrong nor allow it; force never comes near him.  For all men serve him of their own free will.  And he whom Love touches not walks in darkness."

"Huh.  It sounds like he's talking about Jesus," I told Ben.  After reading it again, I can see where you can easily replace "Love" with "Jesus."  "[Jesus] makes his home in men's hearts, but not in every heart, for where there is hardness he departs.  His greatest glory is that he cannot do wrong nor allow it; force never comes near him.  For all men serve him of their own free will.  And he whom [Jesus] touches not walks in darkness."

This is an extremely random thought, but that's how my little A.D.D. brain works. I hope this little random thought makes your day just a little bit happier.

Question for the day: What is on your reading list for 2019?  What are your secrets to reading more?

My Year of Adventure -- 19 for 2019

I have a confession to make.  I am currently obsessed with Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project and host of the podcast Happier.  She gives helpful insight and practical advice on how to change little things to make your life happier.  I catch myself talking about Gretchen Rubin constantly so if you don't want to hear about my current happiness project, it might be a good idea to stay away from me for a little while.

Inspired by her podcast, I chose "Purpose" to be my theme of 2018 and made an 18 for 2018 list (below).  It's more or less a bucket list for the year.  I didn't cross everything off the list, but I did do better than I normally do on resolutions.

18 for 2018

1)  Don’t Miss a Family Birthday Party

2) Finish 1 Book Each Month

3) Finish Wedding Scrapbook

4) Finish Wedding Thank You Notes

5) Get My Real Estate License

6) Go Fishing

7)Go on a Weekend Adventure

8) Go Paddle Boarding

9) Go to the Dentist

10)    Go to the Eye Doctor

11)    Host a Dinner Party

12)   Learn How to Meditate

13)   Learn the Words to Ice Ice Baby

14)   Make 2 New Friends

15)   Make Bed Every Day

16)   Master the InstaPot

17)   Run the PCB Marathon

18)    Take a Yoga Class

For 2019, my theme for the year is "Adventure."  I want to explore new places and have new fun, but I also want to see each challenge, each opportunity, each day as an adventure.  I made my 19 for 2019 list, and I'm excited to get started.  If you have any suggestions, tips, advice, or encouragement on how to help me get all 19 of these scratched off my list, I would appreciate it!

19 for 2019

1) Finish 2 Books Each Month 

2) Run Seaside Half Marathon 

3) Learn to Meditate 

4) Go to the Dentist 

5) Go Paddleboarding 

6) Go on a Weekend Adventure 

7) Go on a Vacation 

8) Go to the Dermatologist  

9) Make 2 New Friends 

10) Have a Staycation 

11) Blog Every Day 

12) Never Miss Birthdays on Facebook 

13) Start a Book Club 

14) Go Swim With the Manatees 

15) Organize Pictures – Prints & Digital 

16) Go Hiking 

17) Buy Kayaks 

18) Finish Wedding Scrapbook 

19) Make a “Facts of Life” Binder 

Now my question for you is what are your goals for 2019?  What are your plans and strategies to accomplish your goals?  Do you have a theme for the year?  Do you have a 19 for 2019 list that you would like to share?

I hope this helps you in some way, and I hope you find yourself a little bit happier.

I Am Lacey.

Anyone who knows me knows I love a good Disney movie, and I instantly fell in love with Moana the first time I watched it and not just because of the funny chicken. I catch myself feeling jealous - yes, jealous - of Moana. Jealous of a cartoon. Have you ever heard of anything more ridiculous? But I love her strength, her courage, her drive, and yes, even her hair. But the moment I find myself wishing to be more like this untraditional Disney princess is when her purpose and her courage meet and explode within her, and she declares to herself more than anyone else, "I am Moana!"

I cry every time I watch this particular part, which has been a thousand times according to my husband. Throughout her journey of trying to find herself and save her people, Moana has a fake-it-til-you-make-it approach while reciting a speech given to her by her grandmother that begins with, "I am Moana." At first, it's just words. By the end, her purpose and identity become clear. This has been the very thing that made me jealous of a Disney cartoon. How I have yearned to discover my purpose in this life.

Inspired by Gretchen Rubin's podcast, I chose the word, "purpose" to be my theme for 2018. I focused on Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, but I got discouraged over and over and gave up. Then Hurricane Michael hit, and everything changed including my perspective. We got lucky and got our power back up three days after the storm hit so I decided to bake brownies for as many people as I could. When someone thanked me, I responded, "I just want to try to make people just a little bit happier." And it hit me.  I can't fix people's houses or tarp a roof, but I can help them smile even if it is just for a moment. That's my purpose. That is why God created me. I don't know what life He has in store for me, but I do know that I was created to make people just a little bit happier.

I am Lacey of Panama City Beach.  My goal this year is to post daily on my blog. I hope God is able to use me and my writing to make someone's life just a little bit happier.

They Followed Jesus Before Following Jesus Was Cool!

"And immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him." Matthew 4

Peter, Andrews, James, and John followed Jesus IMMEDIATELY. They did not discuss it with each other first.  They did not go home and ask their wives if it sounded like a good idea.  They did not ask Jesus about wages, health benefits, or vacation days. They did not ask what would happen to them. Nothing. 

They dropped their nets and walked away from their jobs, their paychecks, their families, their homes, and their whole lives to follow Jesus. And they did it before He started His miracles and had so many followers and became popular.

They followed Jesus before following Jesus was cool!

We now know the benefits of following Jesus.  We also know the risks.  But we know that the blessings far outweigh the risks.  Why is it so hard for us to follow Jesus now?

A Roaring Reputation

“Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.” Daniel 6:4

Yesterday, Ben and I were asked to start teaching the Middle School Bible Study Class on Sunday mornings. Thankfully, the lesson was on Daniel and the Lion’s Den so we were already familiar with the story, but isn’t it funny when you read a story for the millionth time and still learn something new?

One thing we discussed in class was using Daniel’s example of keeping a good reputation. The people around him tried to find fault with Daniel and bring him down, but his impeccable reputation prevailed. So why did Daniel get thrown into the lion’s den? He prayed! Praying to the One True God instead of just the king is what landed him into a world of trouble. We know the rest of the story. The king came back the next day to find Daniel completely unharmed by the lions because God found him innocent and protected him.

The lesson to be learned is to keep a good reputation by always being kind and doing the right thing so when people try to blame you for something, they will be unable to do so.

Today, it randomly dawned on me that it was the 13th of the month, and I had not paid my rent yet. Trying not to go into panic mode, I drove straight to the property manager’s office. They have a new manager that does not know me, and I apologized and explained to her that I have never once been late on my rent. I told her my boss’s husband just passed away, and I’ve been so focused on my boss, my work, and the biggest fundraiser of the year, that it never crossed my mind to pay rent.

The new manager could not have been any nicer and completely understood the situation then she told me that when she realized I was late, she checked back at my past records and noticed that I had never paid late before. She said she had a feeling that something was wrong, and she decided not to charge me a late fee, which she had every right to do. I was so thankful for her kindness and understanding.

When I got back in the car, I smiled when I thought about Daniel and his reputation. Reputation is not just what others think about you. Your reputation also includes how dependable you are, your actions, and your habits. Because I have always been dependable on paying rent on time, the manager saw the extenuating circumstances and showed my kindness to me. Apparently, this isn’t just a lesson for middle schoolers.