Me & My Quite Contrary Life

NUDGED: "Memorize a Psalm" BACKSTORY: Memorizing Scripture verses has been a long-time goal of mine. I want my mind to ruminate on good things, and I appreciate how the right verse often comes to mind during times of stress and anxiety. I have gotten out of the practice of memorization lately though. I also wanted to challenge myself this week to memorize more than just a line or two, but an entire Psalm. Why? I love the wisdom and beauty of the Psalms, and how they speak to every mood. I know it is possible as other people have memorized Psalms or entire chapters of the New Testament. But, can I do it? QUOTE: "I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture... No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends." - Chuck Swindoll HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: I picked Psalm 16 to memorize this week, as it is one of my favorites. It has 11 verses. I made my plan early in the week...

NUDGED: "Break a rule (not a law)" BACKSTORY: The idea for this nudge came from the 52Nudges Project Founder . In fact, it was this nudge that launched the entire project for her. I like rules and following them. I get frustrated by people who break the rules! I knew this nudge would really stretch me to get out of my comfort zone and take more risks. Deep breaths..... QUOTE: "Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist." - Pablo Picasso HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: I was very aware this week of the rules I live by. There is a  difference between a rule and a law, so I tried to just focus on the rules. Some rules were given to me by society and some are self-created. I thought it would be easy to break a rule this week, but I struggled to come up with a good idea. I found that many rules are in place due to my preferences or my moral code. For example, I hate being late and cannot show up to work after 8:00am. I can't park on a line and...

NUDGED: "Learn to identify all the countries on a map" BACKSTORY: I struggle with geography. This includes navigating in nearby cities and states, as well as knowing where entire countries are (awful, but true!). My last geography class was in high school and while I was considered proficient then (I passed!), I do not consider myself proficient in geography now. This week, I want to pick up my studies and learn where all the countries are located. It seems overwhelming to me right now due to the vast number of them. But, this information may come in handy for future trips! QUOTE: "I thought Europe was a country." - Kellie Pickler, country music singer HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: I had flashbacks to my high school world geography class all week. I vaguely remember learning countries and capitals from all over the world, but saw many country names that I didn't recognize this week. Yikes. I quickly realized how bad my world geography is, especially when identi...

NUDGED: "Set a small goal and blow it away" BACKSTORY: The idea for this nudge came directly from the 52Nudges Founder Kathleen Guthrie Woods. When I started my project, I used many ideas from her list to get my list started, including this nudge. The timing again was perfect. I drew this nudge when I have been feeling discouraged about not meeting some goals I set. I definitely need a win! QUOTE: "You should set goals beyond your reach so you always have something to live for," - Ted Turner HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: The temptation with this nudge is to set an easy goal so that I can surely surpass it, but I want to challenge myself, then celebrate a victory. I need to test myself! I made a list of ideas to start. There are many goals I want to work on, but I had to make sure it was attainable within a week with some dedicated effort. After exploring all my options, I selected working on the same goal Woods did with her nudge - holding a plank. Proper p...