Simple Pleasures

Simple Pleasures Rock!

My life used to be much more complicated than it is now. I used to commute 40 miles to work on congested Massachusetts highways, spending up to 1 ½ hours in the car each way. That is 15 hours per week sitting in the car. I had a stressful job, working on average 45 hours per week for a company that always seemed to be putting out fires instead of accomplishing anything. I had to travel an hour to visit my close friends and 7 hours to spend time with my family. Life was tough. Continue reading “Simple Pleasures”

2 Life-Preservers

Why do people allow themselves to get stuck in a rut? Why do people remain in that rut doing the same thing, day in and day out despite knowing they are adding to their unhappiness. Why do they ignore the life-preserver that is being thrown to them that can open the door to health, wealth and happiness? When given suggestions on small steps they can take to make life better, they think – yes that is a good idea but I don’t have the time or the energy to do that. Or, that might work for someone who doesn’t have kids or doesn’t work killer hours or doesn’t have debt up to their eyeballs. Continue reading “2 Life-Preservers”

Change Starts With You!

Why did you fall in love with your spouse, partner, boyfriend or girlfriend? What first attracted you to that person? What characteristics did they possess that fueled your interest and kept you involved? You chose this person to be with and to love. Why?

Continue reading “Change Starts With You!”

Sculpting My Day

I am a morning person and when I get up I follow my morning routine. When I work a full day I plan on getting to work by 7:30 so I know I will be on my way home by 4:00PM. The funny thing is when I only have to work a half day I still end up getting to work by 7:30. I have not learned the fine art of sleeping late or lounging when there is work to be done. Don’t get me wrong if I don’t have to go to work I can sit back and chill and occasionally forget to change out of my pajamas! But when there is work to be done my brain only has one speed and it is the equivalent to 4th gear! My job is fast paced and productivity matters so procrastination is a really BAD thing. Continue reading “Sculpting My Day”

Spring is Coming

Spending time outdoors in nature is one of the ways I keep myself grounded. Getting outside helps me to get out of my head! Too much time inside is not healthy for me. Although we haven’t had much snow in the Finger Lakes area this winter we have had plenty of cold temperatures. Last night I went to bed and I just kept thinking that spring is coming but I woke up at 3:00 AM to see fresh snow on the ground. But spring is COMING! I know it is coming because nature tells me so in many ways: Continue reading “Spring is Coming”

Kick Fear Out Of The Way

On 7/26/14 I had one of my AHA moments of insight and this is what I wrote down. “I let fear get in my way. Fear of hurting someone’s feelings, fear of feeling stupid. Fear of rejection, fear of not knowing what I am talking about or of not being able to express myself. This is self sabotage and I will no longer tolerate it.” Continue reading “Kick Fear Out Of The Way”

Geese Fly South in the Winter… Right?

Last month, I was out walking my dog all bundled up against the January cold. Overhead I heard the familiar clatter of geese flying south. Actually I have no idea if they were flying south because I am directionally challenged… But that doesn’t matter because all of a sudden a few of them veered sharply off course and they reversed direction. There seemed to be no leader and small groups were soon flying in all different directions. The organized “V” pattern in which they normally fly became a giant doodle in the sky. I stopped and listened to the deafening noise overhead as the confusion unfolded. It was chaos! CHAOS! But geese really do fly south in the winter in a “V” shaped pattern. Within the chaos was order and I have no doubt that order was restored. formation-508038_1280

AHA… In order there can be chaos. And this is normal and ok! Continue reading “Geese Fly South in the Winter… Right?”

Make One Good Decision After Another

I am convinced that sometimes we struggle to choose between options for which there should be no struggle. We know the best option. We know it 100% from our fingers to our toes. We know which decisions will bring us closer toward our long term goals and happiness and which ones will simply make life easier in the moment. But life has a habit of getting in the way and some of us make a living out of complicating the simple things in life.

Continue reading “Make One Good Decision After Another”

Change a Little, Change a Lot

Back in August 2013, I had one of my AHA moments of insight which was “I can’t move the lake but I can move toward the lake.” See my post I Moved the Lake to hear more about this change! This AHA moment prompted me to essentially stop spending money in order to allow me to quit my job and move closer to the lake. I have made a lot of small changes over the last few years that have helped me to dramatically reduce my annual expenses.

In and of themselves these little changes don’t sound like much but the end result has had a huge impact on my life. When I compare some of my 2013 expenses to 2015 expenses this is what I find:

	2013 Monthly Expense	2015 Monthly Expense
Clothing	$50	$10
Car Insurance	$80	$50
Cable	$70	$0
Internet	$50	$15
Cell Phone	$75	$50

If I add up all of the small changes I made and look at the overall impact on my monthly and annual expenses the impact is huge. In 2013 my expenses were roughly $2600 per month or $31,200 per year. Currently my monthly expenses are $1650 per month or $19,800 per year. In just over 2 years, I have reduced my annual expenses by $11,400! What would you do with an extra $11,400? Continue reading “Change a Little, Change a Lot”

I Moved the Lake!

My family has this awesome cottage on one of the finger lakes in central New York. My dad tried selling real estate for a while and he sold one piece of property… to himself. It has been in my family since I was around 11 years old. The house is cozy, the view is spectacular and the lake is one of the cleanest in the country. 009

I spent most of my adult life living almost 7 hours away from the lake and only visiting for a few long weekends each year. My Little Blue Kayak and I love the lake! A few years ago I started longing for the lake and for my family and spent Continue reading “I Moved the Lake!”

Tag: Choosing Happiness