I'm doing 15 things
Untitled
4 days ago
Such a beautiful goal. Simple and elegant. I love it.
Tristan's Life List
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1. Dare to dream bigger
1 entry . 6 cheers1 person -
2. Stray into uncomfortable
1 entry . 6 cheers1 person -
3. Celebrate every try, every step forward, each and every day
2 cheers2 people -
4. Embrace easy
8 cheers1 person -
5. Receive
3 cheers6 people -
6. Admit who I really am, what I want, and what I want to do
4 cheers2 people -
7. Always trust and follow my intuition
1 entry . 19 cheers2 people -
8. Say "YES!" to life
1 entry . 12 cheers7 people -
9. Explore the world
7 cheers179 people -
10. Have fun and enjoy my life
3 entries . 5 cheers4 people -
11. Live with a compassionate heart
4 entries . 16 cheers1 person -
12. Daily: Reflect on at least 5 things for which I'm grateful (Happiness Manifesto #2)
172 entries . 13 cheers138 people -
13.
3 entries . 3 cheers0 people -
14. Love.
1 entry . 1 cheer2,469 people -
15. Complete my personal Lent by giving up the need for appreciation, recognition and love
1 entry1 person
Recent entries
Into Fluid
1 week ago
There’s a beautifully written article in this month’s Oprah magazine about Lent. I’m not a religious person and only knew Lent as a time of year when people gave up something and endured it until it was over. But this article showed me that it’s something much more elegant.
Traditionally, Lent was about taking less so that one can give out more to others who needed it, say food. And if chosen right, it would be something that we would want to give up beyond the 40 days. In this spirit, the author decided to give up something that she thought she needed but could give out more of. She gave up her need for love.
I read this article a few weeks ago on a sunny afternoon in the park. Something about it touched me and I reread parts of it over and over again, savouring each sentence that held meaning for me. I realized later that I too needed to give up my need for love. Like the author, I was constantly trying to get the people in my life to show me appreciation and recognition – in other words, I needed to know that they loved me. But it wasn’t bringing out the best in me. When the ultimate goal of all that I do is to gain recognition, it diminishes the spirit of the doing, and it made everything about me.
I decided the very next day to start me own Lent. Forty days of giving up the need for love, recognition and appreciation. In place of this need, I give it out to others freely, without any expectation of receiving it back. My smiles are bigger and I’m the first to ask others how they are doing. It’s freeing to just give without expecting. It makes things easier because all the second guessing is gone.
It’s now my 12th day and I’m doing okay. I could do better and bigger. It’s not always easy and there’s lots of moments where I fall back into the “Is he going to notice what I just did for him?” and “Is she going to say thank you?” These moments embarrass me, but I notice them and bring myself back to this goal.
Oddly, everyone seems friendlier and my exchanges are more fluid. One step at a time, and each day I let go more.
Daily: Reflect on at least 5 things for which I'm grateful (Happiness Manifesto #2)
(read all 172 entries…)
Kindness
1 week ago
I’m grateful for the bliss and lightness that comes from letting go of expectations and simply being with the moment.
I’m grateful for options.
That smiles and laughter are coming easier to me.
Seeing my life with new eyes.
Weaning myself off of an ‘addiction’ that I didn’t even know I had. I’m slowly beginning to walk down a different road.
Kindness from strangers.
