Earlier this weekend, I wanted to beat myself up a little, like I feel like doing to those damn kids in the Putnam County Spelling Bee. The reality for me right now is that I cannot physically and mentally do everything I want to do in the timeframe I scheduled everything. It’s a bummer because everything I want to do brings me joy. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, I checked myself and counted my blessings of which I have a multitude.
So, how do I salvage the remaining portion of what I committed to without forsaking my sanity and still gleaning some benefit? Letting go of the time lost and picking up where I am right now is my solution. I have not, I repeat, not written one word of my 50,000 word novel. However, if I start today and write every day for the next 21 days, I could still meet my November 30th deadline. Of course, that means I will need to write at least 2,381 words per day. I have only meditated once with Deepak Chopra. However, if I start today and meditate every day for the remainder of the meditation series, I will only lose one day. The series allows a five day window to catch up. Finally, I want to get back to my scrapbooking and getting my house in order. Realistically, both of those activities will have to wait until I’m on Thanksgiving break. My calendar is marked to devote some time to both. Fingers crossed that the utility room will be completed by then.
In Other News:
- I am taking an Improv: Level I Course in Metairie. This course will focus on the foundation of improv performance. It will also help me with improving my acting and auditioning skills through active listening, confident communication, and acceptance of given circumstances. It is four classes that meets once per week (two in November/two in December). The first one starts this Tuesday evening.
- As for my weight loss goal, I am down another pound which puts me at a total loss of 12 pounds since September 2nd. I have 7 more pounds to lose by the end of 2019 to reach my goal.
- There are only two more opportunities to see The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee: Saturday, November 16th at 7:30 pm and Sunday, November 17th at 3:00 pm. Tickets are still available at www.theoctavians.org.
I have NO plans today but to rest (and write/meditate), dear reader. I started feeling a little funky last night (itchy throat, dull sinus headache). I think it is a combination of weather change, staying up late, and being on the go constantly. All great components on their own; but together, they can lead to feeling run-down and depleted. I cannot get sick with two upcoming shows and everything else I want to accomplish this week. So, today will be ALL about self-care. I even got out of going grocery shopping at Wal-Mart. Happiness!
“There were two ways to be happy: improve your reality, or lower your expectations” ~ Jodi Picoult,
My quest for Big Easy Kombucha is still in full force. I have only been able to find it at my local Wal-Marts. They have added two more flavors, Jammin’ Ginger infused with ginger, Meyer lemon, and hibiscus and Melon Magic infused with cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon. I usually enjoy a cup of Kombucha with my dinner. Apparently, Big Easy Bucha has a tasting room in New Orleans where you can try Kombucha on draft. Road trip!
My life is pandemonium right now, and I’m surprisingly happier because of it. I have a bunch of irons in the fire. Some are way more enjoyable than others. I’m working on making my dreams a reality. It is awesome to set goals; however, I must remind myself that the satisfaction of achieving those goals comes from the journey or the process in fulfilling them.
#8 Read one book a month for self-improvement. This month I read The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better (and Other People’s Lives Better, Too) by Gretchen Rubin. I’ve always been fascinated by personality assessments and learning how personality influences decision making, job performance, etc. While those assessments share some specific aspect of human nature, Rubin’s framework is based solely on meeting inner and outer expectations and how people respond to them when making decisions, reaching goals, and handling relationships. A variety of personality types can share a tendency. As I have mentioned previously on my blog, I am a Questioner. According to Rubin, “Questioners question all expectations; they meet an expectation only if they believe its justified, so in effect they respond only to inner expectations” (6). Finding out my tendency has been helpful to me. It has helped me understand why I am unable at times to complete a task or make a decision, or it explains my resistance to meeting someone else’s requests. If you, dear reader, are interested in finding out your tendency, visit 
Good morning! Today is a most terrific day. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the air conditioner is running, and I got Sesame Street stamps from the post office yesterday. Happiness boost! It is also the birthday of one of my dearest friends on the planet…the fabulous Michelle. How fitting that I bought Sesame Street stamps the day before the celebration of her birth! Sesame Street is one of the many popular shows that airs on PBS.
which is extremely beneficial when you want to see how you are REALLY spending your time. We all (myself included) like to say we are busy; however, that is a story we like to tell even to ourselves. I found her “three versions of the self” interesting. She describes each version: “The anticipating self is wondering about, planning, and worrying about the future. The experiencing self is in the here and now. The remembering self thinks back to the past” (Vanderkam, 70). The anticipating self sets our intentions or goals while the remembering self reflects on the fruits of our labor. Our experiencing self follows through or falls through with plans, intentions, or goals depending on the circumstances or feelings in the present moment. My experiencing self gets in my way of taking action on a regular basis. It is pals with FEAR and PROCRASTINATION which has robbed me from realizing a few goals or pursuing a couple of dreams. This is my year to COMMIT, so in order to take more action and waste less time, I need to commit to listening less to my experiencing self, plan the task/event, and execute.
Since my last post, I have officially turned 50 years of age. My fantastic friends at school started my birthday celebration off with balloons, flowers, lunch, cards, and sweet treats. The next day was the shindig with family and friends from near and far. Son #1’s talented friend Tyler made delicious homemade pizzas for everyone in attendance. My BFF Shelly baked an amazingly scrumptious cake with a bra on top of it. And, my gifted cookie maker friend Darleen made incredibly yummy cookies for me to hand out to my guests. What a delight to celebrate ME surrounded by some of the most awesome people in the world! Although my birthday month will soon be over, my year of 50 has just begun.
The Kat Files 