lostlo

I just gave up on this goal, because it’s not realistic or all that important to me right now. I did quit caffeine entirely for a while, but desperate morning sleepiness drove me back as always. However, now that I’ve given it a few months I’ve found that I’m comfortable with my current level of consumption. I’m not fibrocystic anymore, and I don’t have trouble sleeping.

I try not to have more than one caffeinated beverage per day, and I gave up coffee about a year ago. I can occasionally have coffee now (maybe once a month or less), but it feels more like crystal meth than coffee these days. I’m really careful to never have caffeine after 5pm – and usually not after noon – which seems to help with the adverse sleep effects.

Ultimately, the benefit I get from being fully awake in the mornings (which sometimes, but not always, requires caffeine, unfortunately) seems greater than the benefit of cutting back entirely. I have other goals that are more important right now.

I live in the CA bay area, along with a lot of my college friends. There’s another huge cluster of our buddies in the Boston area, and I’ve been swearing I’d visit for years.

Thanks to making it a 43 things goal, it was finally a priority. I managed to convince several others from area to come; we’re all going mid-April. Hopefully it will be warm by then! I’m looking forward to knocking out another goal and having an excellent time.

I read 52 books in 2007, and it feels awesome. I will not make the same goal for 2008, as I found the pressure led me to choose quantity over quality sometimes. During the first half the year, I read non-fiction (Barack Obama’s books) and decent literature, but the last half was full of Dirk Pitt novels!

The main reason I made this goal, though, was to get back in the habit of reading a lot (I used to be a readaholic, what happened? stupid adulthood!) and watching less TV. I completely succeeded at that, and the writer’s strike should help. I look forward to reading more complex books this year. I’m sure I’ll read fewer than 50, but the important thing is… I’ll be reading instead of watching Grey’s Anatomy re-runs. Woohoo!

I mailed in my CA absentee ballot this week with my vote for Barack Obama. Yay! My boyfriend and I are also attending one of the house parties on Sunday afternoon. If you’re interested and live in CA, there’s probably a party near you – you can search for one on this page

Anywhere in the US, you can find an event near you with the event search

This is the first time I’ve felt excited and positive about the political process. I have always cared, but usually I just felt angry and cynical. Because of this, I really hope that I get the opportunity to see Barack in action as our next president.

I can’t wait to see what happens next. This time what happens next might not be another Republican, another war, and more economic woes for the poor and middle class. Obama in 2008!

I’m so stoked that Barack won in Iowa! I bet my boss that he would, making the moment even sweeter. I should be getting my ballot for the California primary any day now, making this goal a reality.

I’m not a writer, but the strike is still rough on me – I miss the Daily Show more than I thought possible!

I think this disagreement is ludicrous – the WGA is so clearly in the right, I don’t understand how anyone could see it differently. I support the writers 100%, and I hope they stay strong and continue the strike as long as it takes. Even if I may die of late-night deprivation in the meantime!

I walk over a mile every day, sometimes much more. I love walking so much, I wish I could walk everywhere. You can see so much more on foot, listen to music, and never have to worry about traffic. What I really love is how it provides a sense of scale. Cars (and worse, airplanes) cover distance so quickly, you really have no idea how big the world really is. I love to feel small, it reminds me just how important I am to the world (i.e. not very!).

A friend and I have discussed the logistics of a cross-country walk. Hopefully someday it’ll happen!

Honestly, I only wanted to get married for the insurance benefits, but the tax penalty is too stiff. I really wish I could register with the state of CA as a domestic partner, but only same-sex couples and those over 65 are eligible. It doesn’t seem fair to get married when so many of my friends cannot. I think it’s a violation of their civil rights.

Until gay marriage is legal in California at least, I won’t do it.

I recommend finding some “emergency pick-me-ups.” Some books or movies are always reassuring. You can’t use them every day to make your life happy, but they can be helpful in a state of extreme crisis.

For me, the movie Wayne’s World and the book The Princess Bride always make me feel better. TPB especially gives a realistic but somehow life-affirming boost.

The 3rd (and last!) time I was committed under the Baker Act (involuntary 72-hour stay in acute psychiatric ward for speaking of or attempting to kill yourself), I read the Princess Bride. My life was total crap, but it let me believe just a little that things could be better. It probably saved my life.

Think about things that consistently and reliably make you feel better, and make sure you always have them around. Find a way to remember to use your emergency kit in a crisis – remembering to use it is the hardest part.

I’ve never had my depression under control like this before. I still have my freak-outs, but I’m overall happier than I think I’ve ever been (in the long term sense).

Important to note is that I am not on any antidepressant medication. I was once warned that I should stay on SSRIs for the rest of my life or I would probably die.

Looking at the medical research, though, the benefits don’t seem very significant. I wish I could give advice, but it’s such a personal thing. Don’t give up and keep making changes if you’re still unhappy.

The biggest thing that has helped me is giving to others. Give time, money, or possessions. Bill Clinton’s book “Giving” is a great inspiration and pick-me-up. If you don’t have much money but want to help someone you can see, check out kiva.org!

I moved from Florida to California in 2005 and decided to “experiment” with not having a car anymore. It’s not easy. Yes, it takes planning and adjustment.

It is, hands down, the second greatest thing I have ever done (after quitting drinking, which was so much harder). I can’t post my list of things I love about not having a car here because it’s way too long. The money I’ve saved, the people I’ve met, the polluting I’ve avoided, the exercise I get, the things I’ve discovered, the friendships I’ve made… all of these things are wonderful gifts of my car-free lifestyle. If I knew it would be like this, I would have done it much sooner.

Very few people really need a car. You need it to support your current lifestyle. Take a look at the convience a car provides, and weigh it against the financial, physical, emotional, and environmental costs. You can’t fairly say it’s not worth it if you’ve never tried. Not driving for two days while your car is in the shop doesn’t count!

Or don’t you want an extra $7000+ a year to spend on whatever you want?

There are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint, especially where I am in California. There are many resources for learning about how to do this.

What I suggest, however, may seem drastic: stop driving. Don’t cut back. Stop entirely. It takes getting used to, and the lifestyle is NOT for everyone, but there are people (like me) who love it. You’ll never know if you’re one of us until you give it a try.

I don’t just tolerate not having a car – I enjoy it. There are many, many benefits to this lifestyle. I can’t post my list of advantages because it’s currently 137 items long. The biggest consideration is financial. Even if you don’t care about the environment, you can save an incredible amount of money not owning a car.

And just think, when living car-less becomes a more widespread practice (as it will be, look at Europe), you’ll be way ahead of the curve!

If you’re interested in other benefits of not having a car, or want tips on how to make it practial, I’m willing to help :)

I’m moving back to LA next year, where people insist “you HAVE to have a car.” I’m going to give it a try with no car. I hope more than anything that I never have to go back to vehicle ownership for the rest of my life.

My boyfriend (at the time) wrote me a song. He turned out to be a jerk, but the song is still good.

I just celebrated three years sober (on my 26th birthday). The sober life is not always fun – like any life – but there is no doubt that it is much more beautiful than I could have imagined. I am such a stronger and better person today than I ever was growing up. I never could have imagined that I’d be honest and have integrity, but that’s a happy side effect of the process of getting clean. I hope to stay sober for the rest of my life. For everyone trying to get clean, keep up the good work. Even if you don’t make it on the first try (I didn’t), you can eventually.