the ramble

After I wrote about eating artichokes, I continued to think about the things that make me happy (and therefore more pleasant to be around) vs. the things that make me more stressed or worse off. From that thought process, and from observing myself during that thought process, I’ve come up with another way to look at it. Something that Gretchen Rubin also does in her book: writing out self commandments. She has 12; I have a few more than that. They are:

Get up early
Focus on the positive
Be wholehearted
Learn new things
Write every day
Take notes
Love others
Do what you love
Make people laugh
Take long walks
Read good books
Spend time outside
Take Luna with you
Eat real food
Publish other people’s stories
Keep a change of clothes on hand
Try new things
Go without a plan
Have fun at work

I think (but don’t hold me to this) I’m going to take the time to explore each of these things in detail over the next few months. I may also package them (spend time outside; take long walks; take Luna with you all feel very similar and simple to do side-by-side).

After all, I know these things are good for me. I know I’m at my best when I’m doing them. Yet I don’t always do them. And I certainly don’t always do them consciously. So, here goes. Self improvement gimmick three-hundred-twenty-seven-and-a-half.