Me & My Quite Contrary Life

NUDGED: "Review all my past nudges" and celebrate! BACKSTORY: I can't believe this is my 100th nudge! I began this project on October 14, 2018, after being inspired by the 52Nudges blog . I desired to have more joy in my life and to get out of my comfort zone. I wanted to accomplish things instead of just talking about them and saying "someday". These nudges have challenged me and helped me grow in so many ways. For this 100th nudge, I wanted to look back at all my previous nudges. What were my favorites? Which ones were the most difficult? Which things have I continued to do after the week's challenged ended? What have I learned?  QUOTE:  REVIEW: My first nudge was "Change my routine" on October 14, 2018. That week was difficult as I was kicking off this new nudges project and really wanted it to go well. While it was difficult to change my schedule (I'm a planner!), I found myself happier afterward and was motivated to continue tackling mor

NUDGED: "Put together a gift basket for myself" BACKSTORY: I have come across a handful of special baskets at other peoples' houses. Instead of being decorative, these baskets have been put to use and filled with all kinds of good things. They are mobile fun units. They are usually located in the living room, and contain things such as coloring books, colored pencils, books, art supplies, etc.. The baskets can be pulled out and enjoyed at any time. I really like this idea but never created one for myself....until this nudge! QUOTE: "Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun." - Randy Pausch HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: This was a fun nudge to tackle! I first found a blue plastic tote that was storing holiday decorations, and moved those items into a cloth bag. I really wanted to use what I had available and not spend any money on completing this nudge.  I then laid out all the fun things I enjoy doing in my free time. This included coloring books and c

NUDGED: "Learn from the other side" BACKSTORY: This is a difficult nudge! Our nation feels very divided right now. Everyone has their own opinions on issues, especially when it comes to religion and politics. I know how I stand on these topics too, so I don't listen to reasoning from the other side. But, I want to learn.  This week, I will resist the urge to debate and prove my point. I will lean into my curiosity and really listen. What is their perspective? Why do they feel this way? QUOTE: “Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity. The greatest problem with communication is we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply. When we listen with curiosity, we don’t listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what’s behind the words.” ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: I began the week by making myself a roadmap of the viewpoints I wanted to learn more about. I wrote down which side of

NUDGED: "Learn something about my city's history" BACKSTORY: I was born and raised in Sioux Falls, and am really proud of this city that I call home. It's a great place to live. I know some of the city's history, but there is always more to learn. I'm going to let curiosity be my guide this week as I discover more about the past. QUOTE: "We are not makers of history. We are made by history." - Martin Luther King Jr. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: I was surprised by all the resources that are available to learn history. To learn about my city, I could read historical signs posted at various sites, read one of many books published by local authors, check out local museums or even their online exhibits, view photos and collections from state archives , hear stories on several websites after a simple online search, or even just talk to someone older than me who loved through it. I learned lots of really cool things about my city! Here are some highlights