Browsing the postaday2011 tags on WordPress, I discovered the blog Live Your Bliss. It’s written by Leigh, a woman who last year sold her house and most of her possessions and moved with her wife to Brazil. I started from the beginning of the blog when Leigh recounts the process she and Helena went through when they were deciding what sort of change to make in their life. I found the writing clear, powerful, and inspiring, and I really admire how she divided up her posts. It left me wanting to click to read the next post and see what happens next in her story (I’m going to file that technique away and maybe make use of it later, perhaps for dividing up longer posts).
As they were deciding how they wanted to change their life, Helena and Leigh made lists. In her post “Deciding to decide” Leigh made a list of how she wanted to feel every morning when she woke up.
For the most part, I like my life. But as I dig my way deeper into my mid-30’s and blog about such questions as “What do I want to be remembered for?” the things that don’t quite work for me stand out. I have a tendency to focus on what it is I don’t like (the house is too cluttered, I stay up too late, I don’t exercise enough, etc). But I’m going to take a cue from Live Your Bliss and try listing what it is I do want.
So, my list of how I want to feel when I wake up in the morning. Some of these things I have, some I don’t, and some I have some of the time but not all of the time.
- happy to see my kids
- hopeful for the day ahead
- peaceful and calm
- connected to my family, myself, and my friends
- inquisitive
- reflective
- confident I’m making a difference
- strong (physically, morally, and mentally)
And just for good measure, here are some specific things I want in most or all of my days:
- time outside
- casual in-person encounters with close friends (friends who drop by and open my cupboards and help themselves to my coffee mugs and my coffee and sit and chat while our kids play)
- hikes
- forests
- cuddle time with my kids
- space, both physical and mental
- nourishing foods prepared with love
- new discoveries with my kids
- comfortable clothes
- time to read
- time to write
- connecting with extended family (ideally in person, by phone/Skype would be acceptable)
Half empty or half full, this is what I want in my glass. I’m hoping that simply by keeping my focus on these things, I’m more likely to make them a reality.
My husband and I discussed this earlier tonight. It took me some time to switch to focussing on the positive and him to switch from trying to find solutions for everything we came up with. In the end, the discussion has helped us to reflect more on what we want and what’s important to us in our lives and in our life together. I think our lists are pretty similar, although his is shorter and includes, “time to watch football.” He’s really scared I’m going to get rid of the television in a fit of decluttering.
(He’s right to be scared.)
Imperfect Happiness 
I will come rummage through your cupboards while our kids (ehem) play. . . any day 🙂 In fact, in three Wednesdays, I’ll be there helping myself and cleaning your floors all over again. On a serious(ish) note, I like this idea of thinking of the things I WANT for the day instead of all the ways I fall short at the end of it! If this was myspace, I’d give you kudos for this post, but it’s not, so I’ll just say KUDOS instead!
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