Me & My Quite Contrary Life

NUDGED: "Figure out new Bluetooth headset" BACKSTORY: I struggle to embrace new technology, even when it would make my life easier. My brother got me a nice Bluetooth headset (Zealot H1 Wireless Stereo Headset) for a gift awhile ago. Truthfully, the only times it has been used and out of the box are the two times he has showed me how to work it. Figuring it out on my own and actually using it has been a LONG TIME item on my to-do list (over a year), and this was the "nudge" I needed to try.    HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: I had a head-start this week as recently I had my brother showing me how to get this to work again. With some kind of younger person technology magic, he got my phone to finally recognize it and it worked! I was getting tired of dealing with the cords of my earphones at the gym when lifting weights and wanted a wireless solution. This valuable piece of equipment was sitting at my house collecting dust and could be the solution to my problem of enta...

NUDGED: "Put together a puzzle" BACKSTORY: Working on puzzles was something I enjoyed doing in the past, but haven't made time for it in awhile. I keep myself busy working on other things and those things are usually not fun hobbies. One of the goals of this "nudges" challenge was to have more joy in my life, and this nudge is a perfect example of doing just that! HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:  Great timing for this nudge! I have been sensing dark clouds on my emotional horizon and have been trying to "stay light" and into hobbies I enjoy to resist the darkness. I needed a project that prioritized fun. The challenge this week was to make time for myself. I had to set aside my to do list and my need to be productive, and focus on one activity that was fun for me. I prioritized myself...and it wasn't easy! I started a puzzle on Sunday afternoon and worked on it during free moments the next few days. I was hoping to get it done within the week and...

NUDGED:  "Compliment a stranger" BACKSTORY:  I am okay with talking to strangers, but don't compliment people often that I don't know. In fact, I don't compliment people often at all. This nudge will encourage me to look for good aspects or qualities in other people to compliment them, and then say it! I am excited to see the reactions!  QUOTE:  "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." - Leo Buscaglia HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: The easiest, most natural way for me to compliment someone is to notice a Jackrabbit or SDSU logo on clothing and then compliment them on having good taste for a good school. In fact, as I was pondering how to complete this nudge, I had several strangers compliment me on my new SDSU purse this week. I had to wait until a good opportunity came up, until I spotted somethi...

NUDGED: "Research a topic (be an expert!) in a specialized area" BACKSTORY: I am a curious person who knows a little bit about a lot of things. I am trained as a journalist, so I have a wide range of study but lack depth in a specialized (niche) area like other professions. I find myself doing web searches often to learn new things. I am quickly satisfied when I find an answer that seems plausible and move on, lacking depth. With this nudge, I really want to take time to research and go deep into a topic of interest. QUOTE: "If you are not learning, you are stuck. It doesn't matter whether you are 25 or 70 years old. We were not put on earth for a few years to learn in high school or college, then just float through the rest of our lives. Learning today is becoming easier and harder for many reasons, but in the end, if you don't make it a life mission to learn something valuable every day, why are you still here? Learn something new today." - Tim Conn...