Envision, create & manifest our best selves with the help of friends on the same path; to hold each other accountable, to encourage, to inspire and to celebrate.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but nothing feels better than to go through my 43Things list (and I mean really go through it) and individually evaluate every item on there and purge a bunch of them.

Some of them I marked done, because although I was not as complete as I originally intended with the goal, the progress I made was all I really needed from it. Others I let go because similar goals could carry their place for the time being and yet others got the ax because right now, in my life. I just don’t have room for them.

And then there were the few that I got to mark done, because I worked hard for them. And I truly and fully conquered them.

In the end, the purging of things felt good no matter how they made it off my to do list.

My list is now cut done to 25 things… which gives me room to grow with a few things in the new year. I’m ready to welcome some new goals that are fun. I’m ready to get some of my current hard goals marked done (like creating a budget) and working further towards getting new goals up that will help build me to the dream life I really want.

I’ve come so far these last 4 years since I left my husband, especially the last year in particular. And it’s really taught me that I will go far. I have you all to thank for that. Especially BeautifullyAmber and LunacyBleeding and Smartstuff who really have been people to inspire me and push me forward with their goals and comments and encouragements.

Thanks to you, I’m no longer afraid of where I’ll “end up” in the future, but excited to see what next year brings and the year after and 5 years from now, etc, etc. I know that I’m meant to go far in this world and I’m slowly seeing the bigger picture on exactly what that means.

I wish you all a happy new year filled with good feelings, progress, fun, self discovery and (possibly most of all) hope.

Love,
Carissa

Does anyone in this goal Twitter? If so follow me at:
http://twitter.com/Shortstackefx

Have a happy holidays and joyous new year!!

Love,
Carissa

I just took that 43 Things quiz to find out:

“You are a Reinventing Self-Improving Self-Knower”

Damn, I’m proud of that… and I feel like for the first time in my life… that’s actually really true. :)

There’s so much to do for school. I mean they really keep you insanely busy especially if you’re really focusing on improving and showing off just how well you can do. Myself? I’m working my poor little bottom off, but it’s been terribly rewarding.

I’m back to simpleology and I got to admit that the website really is a life force of peace and productivity in my life. It’s really a focus of what can I do today to bring me closer to my dreams. I’m getting more done again and feeling less flustered slowly, but surely. Right now I’m in a panic because of a 5 day weekend I want to make the most of.

It’ll all be worth it though. I’m sure I’ll get more than what I want done. :)

Christian helped me put together a really amazing work area in my dining room complete with a 6 and half foot long 40 inch high sculpting/makeup/drawing table that’s made my productivity sky rocket. Now when Christian comes over we still watch movies and tv some, but in much greater moderation. Now we spend most of our time here working. Which has made us so much happier.

It’s funny how when we both did things to make our own and each others own personal goals happen, we’re so much happier as a couple. It’s nice to be in a relationship with someone who encourages me and pushes me up, helps me get more done instead of vice versa. I love the shit out of that boy.

I’m hating driving on snowy icy hills, but since this is my very last winter I ever plan on having, I’m feeling alright about it. Next year Christian and I will be in California.

How has everyone else been doing? I haven’t heard from anyone in awhile and I’ve been so busy that I’ve sucked reading everyone’s goals. Sorry all!

This was the best choice I’ve made in my entire life. I seem to be full of amazing choices. The makeup effects program that I’m in and moving out of Fargo, staying away from bars and even deciding to risk dating my closest friend up here when I realized how much he liked me.

I can’t even tell you how much joy I have in my heart right now. It’s waking up and realizing that I’m exactly where I want to be. This is where I’m supposed to be. Every damn moment here is a miracle of joy and celebration. The harder I work the more this becomes true, too. I can feel my life transform into exactly what it could be with all the possibility and joy that it really should have.

Seriously, I’ve never been this happy. Everything I’ve ever suffered in my entire life was to bring me here and I’m 100% certain of it. I can’t help but thank God for this blessing.

My dad used to always say, “It’s only work if you’d rather be doing something else.” and I can officially say that I finally know exactly what he’s talking about from direct experience. I feel like all I do here is play. All day long and night, too. I’m giddy and surrounding by amazing people who are just as serious about all this as I am.

I’m doing everything right and I will end up where I want to be. I’m really learning and I’m proud of myself.

So, I’m sorry that I’ve not been around much, but just know it’s because I’m out making all of my amazing dreams come true. One day at a time. And loving it.

So yeah, I’ve not been following everyone else’s lives as much as I’d like…. I’d love to see this goal get a little revived and have some posts about how everyone is doing!!!

Time to go work on homework!! Love you all!!

I got to admit that I love it here, but I also have to admit that I’m really missing home as well. I think once I get settled and school starts and stuff it’ll get better. I’m kind of already all kinds of in love with my apartment and the area I’m in. I just wish Aaron was here. And Aubray, etc.

It’s weird, but I totally feel less like myself without Aaron around. I think I’m going through withdrawls. I’m sure things will settle out soon. I knew this was coming and all. Whirlwind romances leave you a little knocked on your bum… comes with the territory, right? We’ve been talking 2-3 times a day, but it’s still not the same.

On the plus side, my backyard (the forest) has already proved an amazing place for me to go lose myself in and my place is set up enough already where it feels like home. I’m hoping between tomorrow and this weekend that I’ll have everything where I want it but for maybe one or two things hung.

I already have a few people planning on visiting within the next 4-5 months and so that helps. My mom said she wants to come back after I’m settled to do some shopping for my apartment/new clothing for me.

Next step is just getting everything here in order and then finding a nice karate place to join and start working out hardcore again. I’m ready. I really am ready to have a drill sargent to work my bottom out of this puddy state it’s currently in to something a bit more rock hard. It’s time.

I’m turning in my cable tomorrow morning and taking down my computer pretty quick like here so don’t feel bad when I disappear till next Tuesday or Wednesday. I will see you all from the other side! (Pittsburgh that is)

For now, I’m way too busy to deal with updating here. :(

Getting home this morning and seeing your posts made me feel a lot better. I just had such a rotten day yesterday. Work was awful and the running into that jackass again obviously had put me in a bad mood to begin with.

I feel a lot better now. Aaron invited me over for movies last night which turned into looking at all of his (amazing) art work, cooking and eating pizza, watching movies and then staying up half the night giggling and cuddling and talking. Both of us cursing the fact that we have a hard time wanting to go to bed when we’re together. We just want to talk all night long!! :)

He definitely made me feel worth more than one night, which is really what I needed. He’s so good to listen to me talk about the serious stuff and not make me feel damaged because of it or less of a person or broken. He makes me feel strong, independent and amazing. Last night I was being bashful about how I’m overindulgent in sharing facts about myself… I might be too honest. And he went on about how that’s what he likes so much about me. That I’m so comfortable in my own skin, so sure of who I am through all I’ve been through. And that he knows exactly what he’s getting with me, because I don’t lie to impress…. I just put it all out there.

You ever hear exactly what you need to at the exact moment you need it? Yeah, it was one of those nights. I feel all kinds of amazing all over again.

Thanks again everyone for your concern… sometimes your emotions take over your logic, and I feel blessed to have this support system to remind me who I am. :)

I ran into the guy who date raped me last night. 8 months of flirting with each other and I finally let us hang out alone and he won’t take no for an answer…. after he’s done he says to me “Now that I’ve fucked you, I don’t feel the need to talk to you ever again.”

I ran into him last night. He was drunk. The fucker was bragging about sleeping with me. I should have been strong and said something, but I just couldn’t even look at him for another second and left.

I thought I was over this and now suddenly I feel like it’s hitting me all over again. I feel like I need to remember all over again that I’m worth more than one night.

And there will be many stories, but I figured I’d give you a quick highlight before jumping in the shower:

The school = Amazing
The teachers = Enthusiastic and helpful!!
The town = small town U.S. to the T (everyone was very friendly)
The city = a relaxing train ride away
My Apartment = a haven of peace and nature
My family = super supportive and helped calmed me down when I felt stressed
The money = oh god, so much
The worth = investing in myself? priceless ;)

I so feel like a commercial right now… wonder why? ;)

Love you all and more details tomorrow!! :D