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Welcome to Day 21 – our last day!
I’ve saved the best till last.
Today we’re going to simplify our happiness.
Sound good? Then let’s get to it.
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OK, yesterday at lunch time rather than carry on at my desk munching a sandwich I read from my kindle (and managed to escape to southern Spain in the process – well mentally at least!).
This last challenge is an amazing finish to the 21 days. I homeschooled my children and I read aloud to them every morning, from the Dr Seuss years to the classical lit and history text years. When they were finished school I realized that I had read many wonderful books over those years but now I wasn’t reading ANYTHING because there was no-one with whom to share a novel or science book or history book, or… I also missed all the time we spent together now that they were off at univ and work. So I decided to start reading again, just for me. And I decided that, if it was important, I needed to fool my inner procrastinator. So I read for 1/2 hour every morning, before I do anything else. The sky did not fall, as I thought it might, if I left the world to run itself for this 30 min every morning, and I started work with an amazing attitude.
The opening lines of today’s challenge were so amazing that I have pasted them at the top of my Evernote page and I am going to post them beside my DSSN index cards (which I distribute throughout the house, in random places, so I can’t get away from them 🙂 ). These lines remind me WHY I need to DSSN: if I DSSN the work and chores, and DSSN the fun stuff, both bring amazing rewards!
Thanks again – I am off to finish Day 6 of the 7 Days to Better Time Management challenge 🙂
(As an aside, I found it serendipitous that the list of happy things at the beginning lines up exactly with my list lol)
I did a a couple of things today that I feel happy about but the main one is I went to visit a new-to-me grocery story that’s been on my to-visit list for several months. A friend has been telling me for a long time about how this store has great prices, including on organic foods. I got a couple of great deals on organic flour and made a note of other things I’ll pick up on my next trip. I love discovering new treasures 🙂 I do want to make more time for happiness in my life. I think being mindful is key. When I take the time to stop and think about all I have to be grateful for, even doing just that makes me feel happy and joyful And as I mentioned in yesterday’s task, I am going to work on scheduling more play time into my life.
Last time I left general feedback about how this challenge has helped me. This time I thought I would mention some specific things I gained – especially after doing the challenge 2x back-to-back… I have learned the value of routines, so much so that I decided I need to write down my morning and evening routines. The keywords I came up with initially this last time kind of worked until I realized I was leaving things off the list so I could keep it short and easy to remember. I also wrote down routines for some other occasional activities/situations. Writing it all down has freed up my brain for other things 🙂 Also, this challenge was a great boost, resource, and support as I began some major decluttering. My living area is back to a presentable state (well, at the moment maybe 15 minutes from totally presentable 🙂 ), and I have kept the commitment I made to myself to keep everything except my purse and drawstring backpack off my sofa! And it has also helped me re-establish a priority that I had neglected, backed up with actions. Perhaps most importantly, this challenge has reminded me of the importance of mindfulness and living consciously. There are many areas I still need to work on, but now I have a renewed confidence and more strategies to deal with them. Thanks again, Michele, for this life-changing program!
Thank you Ellen for your wonderful motivation and effort. And thank you for sharing your journey so openly and generously. People like you really make me happy to do this for a living! <3
Thanks, Michele. Just reading those words from you helped me realize something – that I do have discipline – something I’ve been telling myself I lack. As far as sharing my journey, I’m actually a fairly private person, but I knew it was important for me to ‘say things out loud’ as a way of committing and being accountable to myself. P.S. *I* too am happy – and grateful – that you do what you do for a living, Michele 🙂
After getting to the end, I love that so many have chosen to go back to the beginning. I’m going to do the same. Guessing that we’ll see it with different eyes the second time around.
This was a very enjoyable experience that provided a good deal of insight. Thank you, Michele and team.
Our pleasure Sharon! So glad you enjoyed the experience. 🙂
I never imagined I could get so much out of a 21-day program. It has made me more aware of my personal roadblocks and given me strategies for managing them. I’ve started to develop new habits that are helping me feel better organized and less overwhelmed. Thank you for this wonderful program and for your expertise, insights, and support, Michele. I also want to say thanks to Kylie, your community manger, for her support and encouragement and to the other participants for sharing their journeys and strategies.
P.S. Like some of the others, I plan to re-do this program (really appreciate your keeping it available for anther 5+ weeks 🙂 ). I think it will allow me refine some of my strategies (like my morning and night routines) and help some of my new habits stick.
Thank you Ellen for your kind words!! Thank you also for your participation, determination, and kind support of others! It’s been great having you along. 🙂
Thanks, Mchele – and you’re welcome. I’m really grateful for this opportunity – both times! 😉
Today didn’t work out. Too many deadlines to meet. However, tomorrow I’ll make room for “happiness”.
Thank you, Michelle. I hope I can join you for another challenge in the future!
Lisa Chappa Thanks so much for sharing the journey with me! I hope to see you on another challenge too! 🙂
I made a list of things that make me happy and was pleasantly surprised how many things I listed. And I am sure there are more things I can/will add to it. My happy activity today was to learn more/advanced techniques for playing my lovely red tambourine. I watched a couple of videos on YT (have seen them before but usually late at night when it’s too late to pull out my tambourine to practice/play along) and picked up a couple of moves. Plus took some time to just play. I just finished and I have a big smile on my face!
I will come back to give feedback on this challenge.. 🙂
Please do Ellen! Meanwhile, enjoy that tambourine!! 🙂
I now have a little list of things that make me happy and new found time to do them. Your assignments made me realize I am allowing many things eat up great chunks of my day. Things that do not add anything to my life. Such as surfing and dilly dallying on the internet. There are so many other things I’d really rather do. Thank you for this awesome challenge! And for offering the special price for it! I am definitely going to save up to be able to purchase more products from you. Going through this has lifted soo much weight off my shoulders! I feel much more focused and organized. I mentioned elsewhere that I feel I can live and savor the immediate moments in my life because I don’t have to focus all the time on what I should be doing. There is now a time for everything 🙂 You have helped set me on the right track to finally reach some of the goals I have set for myself year after year. Thank you so very much!
So glad you enjoyed the challenge Lety! Thanks for sharing your journey with us. 🙂 Kylie ~ Community Manager
Thank you for your very lovely comment Lety! ♡
I love that Michele: crowd them out with the things you do want! I was on leave today, and although I have kept my eye on emails (I know but for me it’s part of the email challenge from earlier this week that I haven’t yet mastered), I have had the TV on all day watching the French Open, it keeps me entertained, but also let’s me chill and think about other things I am trying to get straightened out in my head, so all good and I just might do the same tomorrow!
Today, I’m going for a pedicure, and tomorrow I’m meeting some friends to go together to a rummage sale. I try to plan at least one “fun” thing each week, and one “social” thing each week….many times, they’re one and the same.
Marla, I find that having something to look forward to makes a big difference to staying happy. Enjoy your pedi!
I am happy to have access for a bit more. I am going to start over with Day #1 after I finish school next week. Summer break is a good time for me to really simplify. Thank you so much.
My pleasure Amy! Summer is a GREAT time to do this. 🙂
Working on my gratitude-themed at journal!
Oops, ART journal!
Nice one Donna. Thanks for sharing your journey with us! Kylie ~ Community Manager
Today I’ll be working, but tomorrow I’ll kayak around St. Augustine and enjoy the view!
Enjoy Carole!
I appreciate the effort/expertise you and your team have shared with us during the 21 Day Challenge. I read my Priorities (#2) daily (sometimes more than once). I’ve made an effort on each assignment and have found that #’s 9, 16, and 18 are the ones that require the most focus for me right now. Thanks again.
It’s our pleasure Brenda! Thank you for sharing the journey with us!!
I’ll be dead-heading flowers, knitting on a prayer shawl, playing a word game against my sister on our computers. Who knew that 10 minutes could turn my day around so easily?
I’ll be dead-heading flowers, knitting on a prayer shawl, playing a word game against my sister on our computers. Who knew that 10 minutes could turn my day around so easily?
I love that Brenda! 🙂
Today..I’ll play with my grandchildren-really play-doing silly dances. This may be day 21 of 21 but I think I will continue and start over with day 1. Truly enjoyed the challenges each day-I’m just beginning to change.
I LOVE silly dancing Karen. It really makes me feel fantastic. So happy you’ve enjoyed the challenge. 🙂
hahaha love this one! and the principle of outcrowding the things one you don’t want with the things you want 🙂
Ana I love it especially because it takes WAY less willpower than focusing on not doing the the thing you don’t want. And I’m no good at willpower!
Well, I can’t promise I’ll do something super fun today, but tomorrow I’m taking a beekeeping workshop! I’ve been interested in it for a long time, and this spring I finally signed up for a class. I wish there were more than 21 days in this challenge – I’m behind on a few days, but I really looked forward to getting a new challenge everyday. I still don’t feel like I’m on top of all the challenges, but I got rid of a pile of stuff and it makes me feel so good! I feel like I have some momentum to go forward.
Well, I can’t promise I’ll do something super fun today, but tomorrow I’m taking a beekeeping workshop! I’ve been interested in it for a long time, and this spring I finally signed up for a class. I wish there were more than 21 days in this challenge – I’m behind on a few days, but I really looked forward to getting a new challenge everyday. I still don’t feel like I’m on top of all the challenges, but I got rid of a pile of stuff and it makes me feel so good! I feel like I have some momentum to go forward.
So glad you’ve enjoyed the challenge, Jen! You’ll have access for 2 months from the start date (11 May) or for as long as you’re a Premium Subscriber, so you can re-visit parts if you like. Hope the beekeeping workshop gives you a real –wait for — buzz!! 😉