Joy and Treats

Yesterday after my weekly treat of going into the studio to paint for 5 hours I finished a painting of a still life that I will post on my blog and I began a new painting of another still life. How cool it is.....

So after the art studio I went grocery shopping and purchased a few books so I can use them as a daily treat.

I know I committed myself to do a daily walk...already I failed to follow through...sigh. No story to tell and will not explain the reason why I failed to walk. Sigh

I have been busy on the computer today by following through with the meeting of this past Wednesday evening.

I look forward for the preparation with Mary-Ann for Maya's baby shower in January.

Treats

This morning I woke up very late and was not in the mood to go walking specially that the weather was not enticing.

I prepared my Sunday lunch and then got dressed and decided to go to the neighbourhood bakery you know to feel that I had a purpose for my walk. Well when I got there, the bakery was closed and I started laughing because it told me I do not need to find reasons to go for a walk; the bottom line I am the reason. There is my Joy Walk of the day.

Now my treat, mmmm what kind of treat to have today... Well I know read a book....

Hahaha I think that I am reading two books by Martha Beck at the same times. The Joy Diet, Finding Your Own Star and a fun book called Family Tree that I finished.

Today is a good day even when the weather is grey...

Taking care of me

This morning I made up my mind that I need to move more. So I began doing a Joy Walk to get me back on track with taking care of myself.

I had my ipod and was listening to a variety of singers like Edith Piaf, the group call Tricot Machine, Dalida and more either in French or in English.

Three years ago I lost 40 lbs. just in time for my daughter's wedding. I have for the past year and a half gained back 25 lbs. My eating habits is quite good most of the time so I know in order to get back on track I need to move more.

I do not like the word exercise, so instead I am calling this a "Joy Walk". I am committing myself to do a daily walk for the next week at least 20 to 30 minutes.

To plan a Retirement

To plan a retirement is not only monetary planning but to plan what we would do with our spare time.

This past week my husband and I were discussing the subject of retirement. He asked if I remember when my daughter and I used to tell him that he needed to have a hobby. He surprised me by saying that when he will retire he would like to volunteer his time with "Habitat for Humanity". I had goosebumps when he mentioned that. Volunteering helps you to meet new people and to better learn about ourselves and specially to feel good about ourselves.

My husband's family were not a family that read books, volunteer etc. My daughter and I encouraged him to read by giving him books for Christmas. When my children were very young I would volunteer my time to get me out of the house. The bottom line to make a change is to lead by example.

It Has been a long time....

It has been a long time that I have written on this blog.

I am currently taking a course called "The Joy Diet" based on the book of Martha Beck.

Daily I am learning to take 15 minutes of nothing. 15 minutes of nothing you might say...Do I have time for this? Well It is a beginning process of becoming happy. The book speaks of 10 daily practices for a happier life and doing the 15 minutes of nothing is the first step.

Thoughts come and go throughout these 15 minutes. There are time that taking 15 minute of nothing is too long...sigh...

When these thoughts come I ask question Is that story I tell myself true? I had a aha moment when I tell myself I am not good at this or that and I ask if this is true and can I change the story. This process is very interesting.