Me & My Quite Contrary Life

NUDGED: "Pray every day" BACKSTORY: I created a personal prayer closet at our house after being inspired by the movie " War Room ". This is a sacred space for me that has held many prayers over the years, both written in prayer journals (with answers!) and prayers taped to the walls. I got out of the habit of using my prayer closet regularly, so this nudge challenges me to physically go there every day and spend some intentional time with God.  QUOTE: "The Bible never once says 'Figure it out', but over and over it says, 'Trust God.' He's already got it all figured out." - Danny Gokey and HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: I was able to accomplish many of my prayer goals this week that I wrote down last Sunday.  I made good progress, despite still having more areas I want to work on. This week: I prayed daily in my prayer closet.  I wrote down new prayers in my journal so I can keep track of answers. No answers this week to inc...

NUDGED: "Complete a sewing project" BACKSTORY: I thought everyone started multiple sewing projects, worked on them, then started new ones when they were inspired. The pile of projects grows....but you are having fun! Apparently not everyone thinks this way. I learned I am "special" at a Craft Day last week. Other people who attended had ONE project they were working on, and only started a new project once they finished one. I brought over 10 projects with me to the event, and have more projects in progress at home. I think I have a problem. My challenge for the week is to just get ONE sewing project done. QUOTE: "Much of the stress that people feel doesn't come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they've started." - David Allen HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: I selected this nudge on Sunday and got to work on it right away when I had some free time. I enjoyed sewing all afternoon and evening and I FINISHED sewing one blanke...

NUDGED: "Renew CPR training" BACKSTORY: I used to be trained and certified in CPR and first aid, but I haven't renewed my certifications in a few years. It's pretty morbid, but I think about this occasionally and wonder if I would remember what to do in an emergency. I'm also really scared of choking and have nightmares about it (myself or others). Getting my CPR training renewed has been an item on my to do list for years (yikes!) but I have been too scared/intimidated to actually do anything about it. Until drawing this nudge, that is! QUOTE: "Take some time to learn first aid and CPR. It saves lives, and it works." - Bobby Sherman HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: I looked into the different options - taking a class in person or taking the class online. If I took the class in person, I would have an instructor to ask questions and can physically perform the techniques, but would have to wait a few months until a class becomes available. The online class...

NUDGED: "Focus on strength" BACKSTORY: I have always struggled with my strength, or the lack of it! I actually quit gymnastics as a kid because I couldn't do the monkey bars (true story!). As an adult, I see the importance of being strong in body and the many benefits as you age. I have been working on completing my first unassisted pull-up for two years but have made little progress so I get discouraged. It's time to re-evaluate my strength goals this week. QUOTE: "Being stronger in the gym gives you a push to go out and try activities you've always wanted to do, but weren't sure if you could." - Nia Shanks in "Lift Like a Girl: Be More, Not Less" HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: I did a little each day to work on increasing my strength, including push-ups from the floor, planks, bar hangs and squats. I went to the gym twice this week and completed one home workout, all focusing on strength training. Did I see progress? Honestly, not much. ...

NUDGED: "Increase simplicity in my life" BACKSTORY: Perfect timing to work on this nudge during the week of Christmas! This holiday is not about all the gifts, parties, food, and music...but a baby born in a manager. We make it so complicated and stressful. In the process, we lose sight of the most important thing when filled with many other good things. My goal this week was to find ways to increase simplicity (and decrease stress!). I make things too complicated!  QUOTE: "Simplicity is the essence of happiness." - Cedric Bledsoe HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: I was surprised to discover simpler ways of doing tasks this week and had many good outcomes with my changes. Here's a few of my favorite happenings: The hard way : Agonizing to decide specific 2020 goals within my yearly theme and trying to come up with answers for the goals template I found online (where I want to go, what I want to learn, etc.). This felt harder than it needed to be! Simple...

(Caution....long post ahead! Get comfy!) For the past decade, I have selected a word/phrase as my “resolution” to work on each year. Each theme was meaningful to me and guided me throughout the year. I never know what I will learn or where it will take me, but am always amazed at the end of the year when I look back at how much I have grown. My phrase for 2019 was “ Be Brave ” and it has been another big year for me. I have a long list of the many brave things that I did that were out of my comfort zone. I am so proud of myself! While the year and theme may be soon over, each word/phrase has always stuck with me afterward. I will continue to be brave! But it's almost time to start a new word..... In the fall, I start contemplating the new word/phrase for the upcoming year.   I started by making a list of words as possibilities, then prayed about it a lot. I look for a word that will challenge me and excite me. For the upcoming year, I kept circling around the words ...

NUDGED: "Do something that scares me" BACKSTORY: My theme/resolution/motto for 2019 is "Be Brave" and what a year it has been! I have done many things out of my comfort zone and have learned to be brave in a variety of situations, in addition to completing 60 nudges to date. I was excited to draw this nudge and work on it more this week, as a chance to continue to look for things that scare me, then do them. There is so much freedom after the initial fear! QUOTE: "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone" - Neale Donald Walsch or the background image on my computer: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:  Admittedly, this nudge wasn't as scary as it would have been a year ago. I'm so proud of how much I have grown and how many new things I have tried (and survived!). It was actually difficult to come up with a list of scary things to do this week. I made a list of things I haven't done before, like riding on a snowmobile or tubing down...