The Happiness Project 2015

Ellsbel

Well done on the cinema tickets, pd that film looks intriguing.
Good going with the exercise too:)
vw do you mind me asking which IT course you're doing? Feel free to ignore me if I'm being too nosey, it's just that I would really love to return to work after an overly long time as a "stay at homer" but not really overly optimistic about getting hired anywhere (age!/no up to date skills/experience) - an office/computer skills course and volunteering to get some experience was something I was considering, too, but I'm a bit bewildered as to what kind of course I should go for!
I've nothing new to report at this end, I'm afraid but am finding all your posts really inspiring, Pd and VW

vw_campervan_mum

Hi Ellsbel. Its a course run at my local Women's Centre. They have lots of helpful stuff which is free if you get any benefits - I get tax credits as work part-time. Im going to do a short course to update wordprocessing/spread sheets etc for office work. Its not programming or anything too technical

If there's a Womens Ctr in your area they are a great resource!

Ellsbel

Thanks very much vw, off to have a root around online to see if I can find one near me:)

Paper_Doll

Happy Sunday Everyone! It is super sunny today so blue skies ahoy!

Did you find any online courses Ellsbel and VW, how is the journal going?

I have had a couple of rough days. Cried at work as my boss was quite rude, but I am quite sensitive so am trying to be tougher and resilient and think, whilst I work on creating my dream life, I need to just think that this is for the money to get to where I want to be.

Also, I had to hire a van yesterday to take some items from my flat which finished yesterday back to my new place. I stupidly didn't notice I put a dent in the front bumper. Had to drive to a garage in which they got the majority out and did it for free, but there is a small dent still visible. Pray they don't take my deposit waaah! Anyone else done this on a rental?

Apart from that, I have continued with the squats, haven't eaten any cakes or biccies and have made everything from scratch. Today I am going to start looking into my long term goals and do a more thorough step by step of what I need to do to accomplish them.

I feel already happy with what I have done this year and we are only two weeks in haha! Small things really do add up! Can't wait to see what the year has in store for all of you x

vw_campervan_mum

You're doing well PD - coping with a lot of stuff.

Crying isn't always a weakness. Your emotions show something is wrong. we need to work out what, accept it, decide what we are going to do and release the emotion in some way. Hopefully a way which leaves us better off not worse.

Good luck with working out the baby steps to reach your future goals. We have all year to work on this

My second week went to plan. Read Marcus Brigstock God Collar as I wanted something lighter/funnier. Still lots to think about. Watched more Ted talks including The Lethality of Loneliness by John Cacioppo and a documentary: Children Full of Life about a Japanese teacher helping his pupils to bond and empathise as life skills.

So far in week 3, I have watched Dirty Dancing, drunk too much fri/sat/sun whoops, but also read, meditated, walked a lot, met up with friends and been increasingly happy :T

Ellsbel

Sorry you've had a trying week, PD, but well done for staying positive.
I've not found a computer skills course yet, and if I'm honest I think it's because I don't know that I'm very interested in the subject! It's just that all the jobs I look at want Microsoft skills or similar!
I'm having a rethink to see if I can come up with a different idea for working part time.
But still quite slow progress from me - loving reading your posts though, and yours, VW - I find them very inspiring.

vw_campervan_mum

Ellsbel maybe we are in a similar situation? I came out of teaching a year ago and don't know what I want to do next. I am cleaning part time while I make that decision. Mostly I think "I don't fancy that." The most important thing is no stress. Let me know if you get a brain wave

Ellsbel

I will let you know if I find something, VW, and look forward to following your progress, too.
Have to confess to a slight (actually large) confidence crisis, too - I feel like age might count against me when it comes to training for something new, plus the amount of time away from the workplace; in an ideal world I'd hit on an idea I could follow on a freelance/self employed basis, but not really sure where my talents lie - or if I have any!!!!
Enjoy the rest of week, everyone

vw_campervan_mum

Well at the end of week 3 I have stuck to the goals but had mixed success.

The IT course was a depressing and probably unhelpful experience. Maybe better trying to learn spreadsheets at home.

Going in to see about volunteering in a small community cooperative shop next Tuesday.

Community gardening group Im in came and helped get my garden area cleared with tree cutting and digging over. That was definitely the highlight of the week!

Watched more TED talks. Read a bit about being assertive but didnt like the book much. Starting "59 seconds" by Richard Wiseman which looks a useful summarising of research on many topics starting with happiness. From this I am going to renew attempts at journalling, making more friends, doing more things I love. Ha ha all that sounds soooo American.Its all true though

Paper_Doll

VW everything seems to going fab! That community gardening group sounds like fun and something really worthwhile! Maybe you should teach gardening glasses to primary kids and they can learn about composting and get involved with some urban gardening! When I was 18...I used to work at an after school club and they had an awesome gardening club!

Ellsbel...it's difficult to get excited about something that you have no interest in but I think anything can be learnt. If you think it will help you in the long term then I say go for it, but what do you deep down in your soul fancy doing? I am sure you have lots of skills and talents that people would defo pay you for lovely

I have had a rather strange week in terms of, wait for it, I am extremely happy! I was smiling like a loon whilst cooking dinner today and punching the air whilst saying affirmations. Sounds cringey but I feel happy and excited to be creating my life!

This week I got my deposit back on the van I hired, phew, got a refund from the TV license, sold a vintage item on a site I forgot I belonged to and I have woken up each morning at 5am to do 30 mins of exercise and the time I have before work now has made me even more positive. It's really dawned on me that I have to do something everyday to see results.

I am nearing the end of a book called the Miracle Morning and it has really inspired me in my goals and there was one quote in there that really startled me to kick my butt into gear....

'One of the saddest things in life is to get to the end and look back in regret, knowing that you could have been, done and had so much more'

So that's it..I will work my hardest to be debt free in the next year, I will achieve my goals, get my beach body and create the results I want to see in my life! Who's with me!? Fist pump!!!! xxx