-the sunshine and gorgeous fall weather we’ve had the past few days
-raking leaves, getting exercise at the same time, and breathing in fresh autumn air
-my new art-minded friends in the neighbourhood, who make me feel happier in suburbia and make me realize not all suburbanites only care about what new curtains will match their sofa
-G’s smart mind and hot body…what an enticing combination! wicked grin
-good novels to gobble up
-the luscious time I’ve had off until my next contract begins at the end of the month
-a cool new screen divider (made in India) I bought at half price to close off the view of my messy studio from the living room
HavanaCat's Life List
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1. practice 'Happiness Manifesto' periodically
31 team members . 193 entries . 34 cheers45 people -
2. take a class at every yoga centre in the city with TippyToes to find out which ones we like the most
2 entries . 2 cheers1 person -
3. practice yoga at least three times a week
1 entry . 17 cheers4 people -
4. find a job that gives me a sense of purpose, decent time off for travel, and daily laughs with co-workers
10 entries . 51 cheers3 people -
5. Contact some local art galleries about exhibiting my work
9 entries . 32 cheers1 person -
6. Leave the smallest footprint possible
2 entries . 9 cheers1 person -
7. rant on occasion to get it off my chest
3 entries . 1 cheer1 person -
8. love myself and realize that no one is responsible for my happiness, no one can "rescue" me, and I have to tend my own garden
5 entries . 71 cheers6 people -
10. exercise regularly
1 entry . 16 cheers10,558 people -
11. Improve my posture
1 entry . 9 cheers2,659 people -
12. Leave my city once a month, leave my country once a year, leave my baggage behind me
18 entries . 46 cheers5 people -
13. share quotes, poetry...anything I come across that other 43Thingers might enjoy or find of interest
3 entries . 2 cheers1 person -
14. control my jealousy
6 entries . 52 cheers87 people -
15. Learn to trust again, or just learn to stop worrying so much, realize I can't control others, and focus on myself instead
8 entries . 64 cheers12 people -
16. Be happy without being in love, because it's true...you only have you, and there are no guarantees otherwise.
5 entries . 81 cheers6 people -
17. Get a crossword puzzle published, if not in the New York Times, then in some other newspaper
1 entry . 17 cheers2 people -
18. share more books via www.bookcrossing.com
21 team members . 20 entries . 21 cheers106 people -
19. never, EVER grow up
2 team members . 13 entries . 31 cheers795 people -
20. do naughty things and revel in lasciviousness
12 entries . 41 cheers4 people -
21. Collect tacky snowglobes from everywhere I travel, or a friend travels
8 entries . 20 cheers1 person -
22. Start a Buddy Check 12 team here on 43things, in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. Do your self-exam the 12th of every month.
201 team members . 3 cheers163 people -
23. plant a garden next spring with my favourite flowers: cosmos, irises, peonies, to name a few
2 cheers1 person -
24. volunteer in my community
2 cheers51 people -
25. call my friends who live out of town more often instead of emailing them
1 entry . 3 cheers1 person
I’m in 1999 at the moment, after leaving Singapore where I wasn’t happy. And, the thread through my journals back then is all about being alone in a strange city, trying to fit in, meet new friends, feeling lost and unsettled. It’s interesting that sometimes I wish I had that life back again. But I forget how hard it was to keep moving from country to country. I wouldn’t change those 7 years overseas, and I wonder now, given who I am, if I’d be stronger and more self-determined if I was to try it all over again. Not that I want to…I’m very happy where I am. I can see how insecure I was…but the circumstances were difficult. It’s hard for anyone to move to a different country and culture, and get settled into a new life.
Tomorrow is the opening reception at an exhibition that will have two of my paintings. It’s a group landscape exhibition in a city two hours away, and a good artist friend of mine is coming to the opening with me. If my work is sold, the owner of the gallery told me that he’ll be wanting more. My prices are lower than the established artists’s work, so hoping this will not look strange, but encourage a sale. Also, I’m going to be in another exhibition in a gallery here in Ottawa next month. Things are moving along in the right direction, and I’m really excited. I just wish more people (who can afford it) were interested in buying original art instead of buying prints from IKEA.
