Gaining clarity
April 10, 2009 by Juliet Chase
Filed under Juliet's Journal
In theory this last week had more setbacks than forward progress and yet I feel much better about life than I did at the beginning. Maybe that’s the sign of an eternal optimist, figuring that the good things are now that much closer.
The short romance story I mentioned a few weeks ago was returned to me with the news that it wasn’t a good fit but that I have a commendable writing style (hmmm, what did they mean by that exactly?) So no sale there and I’m not sure what to do with it since I’m not aware of any other markets for anything that short. I may just post it on a writing site for the web to find as it wills. If I do that, I’ll post a link here. Might as well let it all hang out there;-)
I had two go-arounds with enthusiastic recruiters for contract jobs that had me keeping my cell phone closer than I really like. Both of which disappeared into thin air after a few days – but leaving me feeling more relieved than anything. One had a very long commute and the other would have involved a drastic pay cut. More than likely a savvy manager somewhere along the way noted that, but I can’t help feeling like a guardian angel or two or three intervened to save me from myself.
My mother added a new injury to a pre-existing one and while she will eventually get back to normal, it’s not happening fast enough to suit her. And since all her frustration and impatience sounds a lot like what I’ve been saying to myself about other things, I’m trying to take a lesson from it while I search for interesting news to help her with the boredom factor.
And to top it all off I’ve committed to spring cleaning my house over the course of the next month; mattresses off the beds etc. I hate it. But I do like the results. Since I can’t do that level of effort flat out everywhere, I’ve divided the house into sections and will tackle one per week.
Each thing that looks like a setback, a failure, or a no is helping me to decide whether it’s something I really want to pursue or tackle in a different way.
5 tips for spring cleaning your mind
March 26, 2009 by Juliet Chase
Filed under Health and Happiness
There’s something about spring cleaning that gives a fresh perspective to a familiar room; maybe it’s just reacquainting yourself with the details that aren’t so apparent day to day. The same is true for all those internal thoughts and plans. Here are five relatively simple things you can do to clean out the mental cobwebs.
- Throw away or give away all those half-finished projects; those things that you started or set aside materials for more than six months ago but that you haven’t touched in the last 60 days. Really be honest about the likelihood and your desire to finish them. If they don’t make that cut give them to someone that will find value in finishing it or just get rid of it and cross it off the list. You’ll free up physical space, mental space, and lose some guilt as well.
- Update your to-do list, goals and risk lists. Gather any and all paper and electronic lists and go over them with an open mind. Check off the things that have been done, remove things that are no longer pertinent (it’s ok to let go of a goal not yet accomplished if it’s no longer a dream.) And add anything new that’s come up. Also, if you’re a habitual list maker think about consolidating lists so there aren’t so many to keep track of.
- Clear the air with other people. If something has been bugging you, even if it goes back to your childhood, bring it up with that person in a non-confrontational way. Even if it doesn’t completely mend the hurt feelings, finding out why they said or did what they did will free you up from wondering and speculating. It’s amazing how many hurtful things get said when someone simply isn’t feeling well; finding that out helps put it in better perspective.
- Let go of any fears about money, kids, grades, whatever for one week. You can pick them back up after seven days if you really want to. And turn off the TV and radio for the same week; yes, really. If something really dire happens, someone will tell you. Then see what comes to fill this sudden void.
- Rearrange your environment and your routine. This doesn’t have to be drastic unless you want it to be. Just try moving pictures around to different walls than they were on before. Go for a walk or run in the neighborhood instead of the gym, take the headphones off on the bus, eat breakfast in the living room. Switch it up a bit.
