Posts from the ‘Personal’ Category

Living with Less

I recently read an interesting New York Times article about living with less.  “I live in a 420-square-foot studio,” stated Graham Hill, the author of this article.  “I sleep in a bed that folds down from the wall.  I have six dress shirts.  I have 10 shallow bowls that I use for salads and main dishes.  When people come over for dinner, I pull out my extendable dining room table.  I don’t have a single CD or DVD and I have 10 percent of the books I once did.”

Hill’s happiness grew once he got rid of unnecessary stuff — and the stressors that came with it.  I know with our recent move, we gave away items; shredded many papers; and threw away a ton of “stuff ” that we no longer needed, that accumulated in a relatively short period of time.  It felt really good to clear out the unnecessary, especially because we did not want to move unnecessary items!   Sometimes having less is actually having more.  Getting rid of things is such a cleansing feeling.  Do you agree?

The above illustration by Maxwell Holyoke-Hirsch.

House Update

At the beginning of the month, the builder broke ground on our new house!  We are excited to finally see some visible progress!

Also, Doug and I recently have been quite busy selecting the finishes for our new house — many decisions  to make in a short period of time.  We really hope that what we selected will look nice and comes together well.  It is difficult to choose and select finishes when everything it out of context — literally in pieces versus seeing everything in context in a finished room!

Biscuit is really excited for a change where he will be surrounded by more of his furry friends along with all new smells!  We are looking forward to spring with warmer temperatures so that we can take Biscuit out on more outings!  Biscuit loves to get out and about — we found out that he loves going to Lowes — who would have thought!  Biscuit received many compliments the last time we took him to Lowes!

Happy Friday!

Life Mission Statement

I have been working on creating my own “Life Mission Statement.”  I have never formally drafted an individual mission statement before, and I am not yet done drafting my mission statement; however, I have found these prompts, questions helpful, if you are interested in creating your own life mission statement.  Most businesses have mission statements, so why not have individual life mission statements?

A personal mission statement is a written culmination of values, roles, objectives, self-reflection, and self-evaluation.  It has the flexibility to change as you change and the ability to keep you focused.  I believe that we all are blessed with unique gifts.  Importantly, the expression of our gifts contributes to a cause greater than ourselves.

Here are some prompts/questions to help you get started with crafting your own personal life mission statement.

1. What makes you smile? (Activities, people, events, hobbies, projects, etc.)

2. What are your favorite things to do in the past?  What about now?

3. What activities make you lose track of time?

4. What makes you feel great about yourself?

5. Who inspires you most? (Family, friends, authors, artists, leaders, etc.) Which qualities inspire you, in each person?

6. What are you naturally good at? (Skills, abilities, gifts etc.)

7. What do people typically ask you for help in?

8. If you had to teach something, what would you teach?

9. What would you regret not fully doing, being or having in your life?

10. You are now 90 years old, sitting on a rocking chair outside your porch; you can feel the spring breeze gently brushing against your face.  You are happy, and are pleased with the wonderful life you have been blessed with.  Looking back at your life and all that you have achieved and acquired, all the relationships you have developed; what matters to you most? List them out.

11. What are your deepest values?

12. What were some challenges, difficulties and hardships you have overcome or are in the process of overcoming?  How did you do it?

13. What causes do you strongly believe in?  Connect with?

14. If you could get a message across to a large group of people.  Who would those people be?  What would your message be?

15. Given your talents, passions and values.  How could you use these resources to serve, to help, to contribute? ( to people, beings, causes, organization, environment, planet, etc.)

The Connection Between Relaxing and Increased Productivity

There recently was a great article in the New York Times about the importance of relaxing — and how taking time to relax actually increases productivity.  More and more people find themselves overwhelmed with the increasing daily demands that never seem to end.  According to researchers, the best way to get more accomplished may be to spend more time actually doing less.  According to this New York Times article, the research shows that strategic renewal including daytime workouts; short afternoon naps; sleeping longer hours; more time away from work; and longer and more frequent vacations actually boots productivity, job performance; and health.

This article made me think about how to balance my internal drive to work with periods of relaxation.  I plan to start a new practice: take more regular breaks to rejuvenate; take afternoon walks; and take reading breaks.  So this will require being more mindful and intentional.

This article also made me think about Biscuit.  Biscuit is able to relax with no problem (presuming (1) he is not at the vet; and (2) he is not worried about being left behind somewhere, which are both anxiety provoking for Biscuit).  This New York Times article makes me think that perhaps we should take a lesson and adopt some principles from our furry family members who naturally have no problems relaxing on a daily basis — See a peaceful and handsome Biscuit pictured below!