New Year New Entry

I am no different then others, I find myself looking forward to the new year and thinking about what I can do to make my life experience different in the coming year.

Of course, I think if the usual bad habits I have that I wish I did not. Unfortunately, we know those goals rarely last past week 2 of January. (Just long enough to have all my friends NOT want to eat or drink to celebrate my birthday -- poor me!)

I realized that I did not attend any photography group events last year. I did take lots of photographs (although very few have been posted) but I did them on more spur of the moment events rather then doing the planning to do it with the photography group.

I have made lots of cat blankets for Purrfect Pals. I made some scarves for the Warm for Winter project but did not ever get them sent to the group -- next year! I also participated in a project organized by the The Burien Yarn Stash store to make scarves for women going through breast cancer treatment. Their most current email talked about creating purple or lavender hats for newborns to send home with new babies to remind parents about the dangers of Shaken Baby Syndrome. Another great project to support.

So what about 2011. I am the Guild chair for the Crochet Guild Seattle. I have been thinking about what I would like to do with this group. I am trying to think of 5 minute info bites about the crochet world or book reviews at our meetings. I don't want to make our meetings a chore but at the same time I want the time the women spend with us valuable.

While I was at a conference for work in Dallas, Texas earlier this year, I heard an author speak about his book, The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Anchor. He had some simple tips for adding happiness in your life and in the lives of others (thus adding more to your life).

One tip he had was the 20 second rule. If it will take 20 seconds to get something, you will not do it. So if you want to break a habit put a barrier of 5 to 20 seconds for you to do it. My challenge it playing games on my cell phone. If my phone is next to my chair, I can find myself playing games for hours while watching TV. I believe playing games on those small machines harm my hands and arms more than working on the computer or crocheting. The challenge is that I miss text messages if the phone is not near... However, I can certainly move and/or donate my OLD phones so they are not right there :)

If you want to DO something take that barrier away.

The other tip I plan to do (he has 7) is to email a thank you to someone every day. It starts your day out with a good feeling for realizing yet another person in your life and it will improve that person's day too!

Now, off to do something away from the computer. Really! I'm not going to play a game on the computer!