All I Really Need

Christmas Lovin'

Every Sunday when I leave for church, I look up the street to see if my neighbor went to church that day. He has some health issues, and I rarely see him even though our families are in the same ward and I nanny for his sister. Nine times out of ten, his car is in his driveway. It makes me sad that he doesn't really get out much, but I never really know how to help (I'm not exactly the most gifted socially), and bringing cookies just doesn't seem like enough.

The other day, I Stumbled Upon a list of creative date ideas. I liked many of the ideas on the list (and hopefully I'll get to try them out one day!), but one in particular stood out to me:

Buy flowers and give them to random people on the street who look like they need a “pick-me-up”

Now, I'm not saying I'm going to buy the guy flowers - he doesn't seem the flower type. This just really made me think about random acts of kindness I could do to brighten his, or anyone else's day.

So far, I'm just going to try and get him to come to church with a common friend of mine next week, and I am definitely going to try go give out flowers at Southlands sometime this week, but those are just a few things ideas.

What are some creative random service ideas you know of to brighten someone's day?

P.S.: This is my 100th post! Just had to let you know :)

Vaycay!

A few days ago, I was answering some questions on Hunch when one came up asking if I had a vacation planned that's more than a year and a half in a future. I don't, unless you count going to Montana every year for the 4th of July. It makes me think of how in While You Were Sleeping, Sandra Bullock has been planning a trip to Florence since childhood.
There are a few places I want to go: ComiCon, Frankfurt during Christmastime again. It's habit for me not to plan that far ahead, since I always seem to move and change everything frequently. I just don't really have any specific trips planned.
Well, I didn't.
The question inspired me to plan a trip! Yay! In the spring of 2014, I want to go (with a few people) to Europe, and hike in the Alps. I was looking up flights to Frankfurt, and the cheapest was on Icelandair. Those flights have a long layover in Iceland! That would be cool. Other stops on the trip would include my childhood home in Eppstein, the mountain city of Bern, Milan (which I didn't realize was so far north in Italy), Lichtenstein, Austria, and Muich. It will take a fair bit of money saving, and someone to come with me, but it will be awesome. I'm not sure I've completely convinced myself to make it a full reality though, I'd best work on that.

[desktopart.com]

Schule!

Is it bad that I have mixed feelings about going to school?
Don't get me wrong, I love BYU. Really. It's a great place to be, and I have superbly awesome friends there (even if one of them is going on a mission *cough* *cough* Emily *cough* *cough*). I've been wanting to go back since the day I left. Well, I didn't want to leave in the first place. I was happy in Provo, and had no close friends or connections in Colorado outside my family.
Then I somehow ended up in the singles ward, where I've been the pianist for a year and a half now. In that year and a half, I've made some major changes in my life - changes I didn't think were there to be made. But the thing is, while I was typing the paragraph about BYU, I wanted to say I was happy there, but I wasn't. Sure, I enjoyed myself and was comfortable, but I wasn't really happy. In Parker, I found happiness.
So even though I'm looking forward to going back to the wonderful place that is Happy Valley, it'll be hard to leave the life I've made here. It's just another one of many moves, but this time it's a little bit different.

In other news...I get to go to see the family I nanny for adopt one of their kids! So excited :)

One

one

 

[wuhn]

adjective

being or amounting to a single unit or individual or entirething, item, or object rather than two or more

sin·gle

 [sing-guhl]

adjective

only one in number; one only; unique; sole

The two words essentially mean the same thing, but have somewhat different connotations.

[Photo by Aethiopica]

When I picture "one" flower, I see just a flower. No particular background, no significant detail beyond the flower - one flower, beautiful in its simplicity. 

[art.com]

When I picture a "single" flower, I see one flower, but a flower in a field with no end in sight, all grass, rocks, and sky - and the one, solitary, single flower. 

One is just one, but single is alone. It's a rather depressing word to use to describe oneself when you think about it.

But then, it's better than being lone.

lone

 

[lohn]

adjective

         being alone; without company or accompaniment; solitary; 

         unaccompanied; standing by itself or apart; isolated

When there is a "single" or "lone" flower, it is alone - but it is rarely seen this way. Instead, that lone flower growing in the desolate valley is a symbol of strength, the single rose elegant in its simplicity.

[cafleurebon.com]

Perhaps the lone flower isn't so terrible after all.

[definitions from dictionary.com]

A wind rose

The past six months have been the fastest six months of my life. I feel like I just started dating Jason yesterday, and yet somehow May has turned into (almost) November. Such a short time, yet an eternity by Mormon dating standards. But then, we weren't even in an official "Facebook" relationship until a month ago. Huh. Crazy. I'm not the type to air out my dirty laundry online (well, usually), so I'm not going to. I'll just give you an update, if I can.
Every time someone asks "what's new?" the answer is always the same: not much. Still dating Jason, still working, still at home. I have been getting ready to go back to school though, which I'm psyched about. Am I looking at it as a chance to escape? I registered for classes the other day, changing my major for the nth and last time to Communication Disorders. Funny how my current job would lead me to something I'd never even considered before. I've been working on getting housing, loans, a job, everything I need to FINALLY go back. It's time. I can't wait. Many of the girls I started with as a freshman are graduating this year, many others are on missions, some (but not as many as expected) are married. The guys are all back, which is strange, especially with some of them engaged already. I feel so old sometimes. It'll be weird, going back and having my sister there. She isn't old enough to be in college!
I think the weirdest part for me about going back to school will be the experience of going back to a place and a lifestyle I've had before. It's not the same as going home...it'd be more like going back to one of the places I've lived before and just jumping back in. Except as a completely different person. A stronger happier person. But a person ready to take the plunge back into student life?
I sure hope so.

One More Thing...

We, as Young Single Adults, in general do not like to admit that we would like to get married. The usual fear is that that would make us appear "desperate," which is bad.
And so, I would like to ask, shouldn't we all be desperate? Desperately searching for that eternal love and friendship that will bring us so much happiness? Desperate for the joy that can only come from having a family of our own? Desperate for, oh, Exaltation?
Why is our present pride more important than eternal happiness?
I wish I didn't have that same fear of admitting it; if I was unafraid, I'd share this on Facebook. I'm working on it though, so I'll take the first step:
Hi. My name is Rachael. I am 21 years old, and I want to get married!

THE LIST

A few weeks ago, I started attending a special Sunday School class taught by my old Bishop and his wife: marriage prep. I figured, why not. Sounds alright. I might as well stop hiding the fact that I do, in fact, want to get married. I'm in a Single's Ward, that's what we're all really there for anyway.
Well, this past week, the class was assigned to follow the time-honored tradition of Mia Maids and missionaries in making a list of traits we're looking for in a future spouse. I actually made that list my freshman year on this blog, so I decided just to update it.

• Virtuous
• confident
• intelligent
• spiritual
• wants kids
• good with kids
• loves his family
• courteous
• supports me in my goals
• willing to work together to make exaltation with our eternal family our main priority
• generally happy
• sensitive, but not overly emotional
• likes to read
• loves to learn
• funny
• will be silly with me
• polite
• has a geeky side
• congenial
• treats me well
• knows his limits, financially and personally
• thinks for himself, doesn't always require approval
• strong
• optimistic, but realistic
• understanding
• slow to anger
• makes me feel beautiful & delicate with actions and words
• appreciates the arts & beauty in nature

We were also supposed to make a list of what we want to be like when we get married, and, well, that list is pretty much the same for me. A few things aren't exactly strengths for me (yet!), but it really is me in general. If this was true for everyone, or they made two lists of their own, can you imagine the possibilities? All we'd have to do is exchange lists with people, and if it's a pretty good match, then awesome! A match made in heaven. You know, I think that's the idea behind eHarmony...although their way is a bit more complicated and overbearing. They make it an ordeal. This is a simple Sunday School lesson!
Perhaps I should start taking my list with me to Church functions and on dates...just hand it out and anyone that doesn't fit the list at least pretty well need not apply. Easy enough, right?

Embarrassing Moments

This memory was on my mind for some reason today, so I thought I'd share.
One night during my freshman year at BYU, I was walking home from the testing center - I think it was around finals time. It was dark, and I was heading East towards my dorm in Heritage. As I was lost in thought looking at the mountains, I saw a small glow appear in Provo Canyon. When I registered what I was seeing, I kind of freaked out a little bit. There was a glow growing in the canyon - I was thinking it was an alien or a fire or some dramatic light show. I walked a bit more quickly as I neared home, confused as to what one Earth (or otherwise!) It could be. I rushed into my apartment, finding only one of my roommates home: Jana. I quickly explained to her what I had seen, taking her outside to show her.
Then, with a bit of a disbelieving tone, she said, "that's the moon, Rachael."

To Boldly Go Where No (wo)Man Has Gone Before

When I was in sixth grade, I got my first C in a class - Life Science. This was surprising not only in its novelty, but also because, well, I read the textbook. Cover to cover. In one night. At twelve years old, I thought it fascinating! I honestly have no idea how I managed to bomb the final, but I did. Regardless of my scholarly failure, I got it into my head that I was going to become a microbiologist/botanist and terraform Mars. I don't really know where I even heard of terraforming at that age, but then, the internet was and is a goldmine of random information.
I eventually moved onto bigger and greater dreams, such as fashion design and choir directing, but I still think that would be a fascinating career. I love space, but I struggled with mitosis and meiosis a little more than I should have.
Now. I also have had another dream. This one, if given the chance, I would leap at.
Wait for it...
For many years, I have wanted to be a colonist. This may seem strange to you. "Colonist?" you say; "like...a pilgrim?" And to you I say nay!
Sorry...I got a little carried away.
Anyway, in the episode I was watching of Star Trek: the Next Generation today, Captain Picard explained to an alien that the Federation places colonists on planets in order to found new societies. This is the colonization I mean: traveling to an unknown, remote land to found a new society.
I would need a lot more preparation; one doesn't exactly become like the founding fathers overnight. But just imagine the opportunities! To build one's own home, town, and society. To start over from scratch in the unknown, and experience the kind of challenges one doesn't exactly see while sitting in Parker, Colorado. A hard life, but so incredibly fulfilling. Just thinking about it makes me excited!
Sadly, there aren't very many opportunities for that sort of thing on Earth anymore - but that's where it ties back into my original dream. I would give almost anything to be a colonist to another planet, so long as I get to take my loved ones with me.
Until then, I suppose I just keep finding happiness here on Earth...unless you know of a way to major in colonization in college?

Wild Geese

I ran across this poem and it made me think...especially with my current not-going-back-to-BYU-in-the-fall situation.

Wild Geese 
by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.


I struggle with this concept. It's hard to internalize the fact that I don't need to be what the world wants me to be, what my friends want me to be, or even what my family wants me to be. All I need to be is who I want to be and who God wants me to be. Those are hard enough to figure out and be as it is, so I don't need the pressure to be anyone else. I can just be me.

My life, past and present (and maybe even future)

When I was in middle school and high school, I had a blog. I didn't know it as a blog then; simply as "Xanga." Check it out here. I had forgotten about it until today, randomly, so I've been reading the teenage moaning called my life. One entry made me laugh:

Sunday, February 26, 2006

so I actually only messed up once during the 2 verses of A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief that the bishop made me play... better than usual. couldn't sing along though, I haven't quite reached Ellen's level. and I don't think I can ever play the organ in sacrement. but, I'm guessing that will not be the case. tomorrow we're going to the church and "playing with balls", as sister Bahr put it, with the Bahrs. nothing very interesting happened today... I got chocolate  for my birthday (which was a few weeks ago...). Brother Prestwich said that sharing chocolate is above the celestial kingdom, and he hadn't quite reached that point. I shared most of my 1/2 lb, so does that mean I'm like above the celestial kingdom? yay... later.

Yes, I am above the Celestial Kingdom. I also sing along while playing the piano every Sunday in Sacrament Meeting, and I could probably play the organ alright if they really wanted me to. Take that former self! I've actually have proof that I've accomplished something in my life! Can't beat that feeling.

In other news, I've been kind of sort of dating a man 11 years older than me for about a month now. I like him. :)

[title]

One of the secrets from this week on PostSecret that really struck me was this one:

(postsecret.com)

I've always wondered if there are men that actually think that. After all, although I find Taylor Lautner extremely attractive, in real life, I tend to gravitate more towards this:

Does that make me odd? I just like my men a little bigger than me :)

True Story

Every single girl my age from my stake in Georgia besides myself and one other girl (who moved in a few months before I moved, so does she even count?) is either engaged or married.
Every single girl my age from my stake in Colorado is single besides two girls. Nope, make that three.
It's still kind of odd.

Let's be friends

I just deleted about 100 of my "friends" on Facebook.
It's not that I disliked these people, or even that I didn't know these people at some point (it's a firm rule of mine that I never accept the friend request of someone I've never met).
No...these were mostly the vague friends from high school, people I talked to in class but never hung out with. Some are the younger people in the wards I've lived in that, well, are five years younger than me and have never spoken with me in my life. I do hope they don't get offended or anything.
It's oddly freeing to delete all of these people from my friends list...their lives are completely separate from mine. I haven't seen or spoken to them in years, so why am I "friends" with them? It's like their lives become a source of minimal entertainment when I'm bored.
Their are a few more people that I could probably delete, but I'll save them for my next Great Facebook Purge. It never hurts to have a few extra friends lying around...

Team Sports

I'm not a very athletic person...I realized just how dumb I sound when talking about the team sports that are a bit less popular in America. So here's a random list of how well I understand the most popular team sports, from the best knowledge to the worst.

1. Baseball - it's pretty darn basic as far as rules and strategy go.
2. Soccer - I grew up playing it, but I'm the first to admit my knowledge isn't perfect.
3. Basketball - also pretty basic; NBA Jam anyone?
4. Volleyball - I know much of the rules...it's an application thing.
5. Football - I've got the basic premise down, as well as most of the positions and rules. Don't ask me about the plays though.
6. Hockey - again, I know the basics, but I have no idea about strategy or anything.
7. Rugby - basic idea...like football, but without pads, more contact, and throwing people into the air.
8. Lacrosse - I know that you throw the ball to each other with sticks, hit people, and try to throw the ball into the goal. Yay!
9. Cricket - Something with hitting the ball and running back and forth between two posts...I think.
10. Polo - It's on horses. With sticks and a ball.

All in all, I will never be a sports expert. In a perfect world, no one would ask me about them, but this isn't my world to control. So...ask me how to play baseball, or about college football teams. I know more than your average 6-year-old girl!

Time and All Eternity

I was never one to get homesick.
Girls' Camp, EFY, various overnight field trips...I didn't really miss my family. Not because I didn't love them or anything, it just wasn't a big deal to be gone for a week.
The first time I ever really missed my family was my first night in my apartment freshman year, all alone (I moved in a week earlier than everyone else).
Recently though...I fear for their safety when they're sleeping upstairs. My parents are in Utah and my sister is at a choir retreat in the mountains, but I miss them so much. It's weird, since I never really felt this before. I don't want to leave them.
Lately, I've been talking to some people that aren't very close to various members of their families. For whatever reason, those friendships were never formed. I wish I could share what I have with them; I couldn't imagine not being close to my family, both immediate and extended. Life would be a miserable place without family.
It'll be good to have my sister out at BYU with me, but I'm grateful for the fact that we're sealed for time and all eternity. Together forever; what more could you want?

Purpose

In March's issue of Wired, there is an article about a factory in China that manufactures Apple products. The workers work, eat, and sleep all on factory property. The article discusses the 17 factory worker suicides in the past few years, and whether or not part of the fault lies with the consumers of Apple products.
Each day, a worker wakes up in his dorm, works for ten hours, eats in the cafeteria, and goes back "home" to his dorm. From this description, I'm not too surprised about the suicides.
These workers lead a meaningless life. The workers are living for the sake of being alive, working almost like slaves simply to be fed and sheltered. Their only purpose is to survive. They have no family other than the occasional girlfriend or boyfriend within the factory. Most Chinese are atheists. Honestly, if I lived that life, I probably would have killed myself. I need purpose in my life, and making an iPhone for a rich American would not fulfill that need. I don't think I ever quite understood existentialism as well as I do after reading that article.
We that are a bit more well off than those factory workers, even though we have more to live for other than survival itself, frequently feel the same void. What are we living for? What is the point of mindlessly working for food, shelter, and pleasure? Are our lives much more meaningful than those workers?
I think most of the world would like to be living for a higher purpose. Many find this purpose in worldly things, whether for selfish gain or through providing comfort for others. But in the end, the question can still be asked: why? Why get money? Why be happy now, when it's all going to end in a few more years? Why help others when they're just going to die anyway? What's the point?
Many turn to religion for answers, although I think a lot of the answers most religions provide aren't very satisfactory. What the Catholics believe is pretty good: "So we can find truth in knowing God, happiness in loving Him, and real meaning in serving Him." It doesn't really give us long-term purpose though; are we just going to laze around Heaven when we die? That kind of sounds boring.
This is one of the things I love about my religion. To quote from mormon.org:

God wants all of His children to progress and become more like Him. This time on Earth provides opportunities for you to grow and progress. Coming here allows you to:

• Receive a physical body.
• Exercise agency and learn to choose between good and evil.
• Learn and gain experience that will help you become more like your Heavenly Father.
• Form family relationships that may become eternal.

By following our Heavenly Father’s plan, you—like all of His children—can someday return to live with Him and with your loved ones. You can have greater peace in this life and eternal joy in the life to come.

We believe that after we die, we can continue to progress. We don't live simply to please ourselves, but instead to be with our family and friends forever. We believe that life doesn't end with death.
My faith bring me so much peace and joy, in knowing that my purpose is not to find comfort and food like an animal. It gives me something to look forward to, and a foundation for everything I do. It's truly wonderful.

Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day. It is my second favorite holiday (nothing is as wonderful as Christmas), which can be partly attributed to the fact that it's so close to my birthday (did I mention I'm 21 now?), but I believe that a holiday that centers around love is wonderful.
I just love love. I love loving friends, family, and lovers (not that I've ever had a Valentine). I love making and sending Valentines. I love bringing smiles to peoples' faces, preferably anonymously, as I tend to be pretty awkward when receiving compliments/thanks. Love brings joy to our lives, a light in the darkness. The love of God is the best love of all, and it surrounds us constantly. The more we express love, whether it be to God or those around us, the happier we are!
In the spirit of love, happiness, and simple pleasures (as those all go hand in hand in my mind), you should check out the most recent post on Marc and Angel Hack Life, 365 Simple Pleasures to Brighten a Year, as well as this Ted talk by Neil Pasricha, the author of 1000 Awesome Things, another wonderful blog.

Plumbers are red
Hedgehogs are blue
Press start to join
and be my player 2

Happy Valentine's Day!
I love you.

Dreamy Dreams

Remember that meadow I wanted to escape to?
I've found the perfect solution.
(I love stumbleupon)
A woman named Sandra Foster was featured on the New York Times website with the tiny Victorian cottage she created.

I would post pictures here, but the Times is clever in their copyright protection. The link above is to the slideshow with the pictures, which I would completely recommend going to.
Ms. Foster lives on 14 acres of land in the Catskills with her husband in a trailer. She created a place to escape to (I don't blame her - I'm not sure I could live in a tiny trailer with someone all day), only accessible by crossing a stream on the property. The cottage started out as an old hunting cabin, which she restored herself into a beautiful little Victorian cottage for one. Much of the decor and furniture is handmade or from the flea market, and she did all of the carpentry herself. There's even a loft with a gorgeous bed area.
I wish I had her house. Well, not hers exactly. Part of what I love about it is that she did it herself. Not many people know this about me, but I really like woodworking. I had a shop class in middle school, and I loved it. I love that she did all of the decor herself, all of the painting. And all of the space!
I'm not saying that I'd copy it exactly...
but it sounds like heaven.

Thoughts

Do I wish I had been asked to the ward date tonight?
yes.
Does that matter?
not really.
Why does it make me feel a little worse about myself when I don't get asked? It's still my fault, as I don't talk to many people in my ward very often. I still don't like it.
On the bright side, I get to eat chocolate pudding! I do enjoy chocolate pudding. :)

Coming Home

It's been over nine months since I came home from school. Most of that time, I was ashamed to tell people why I was home. I told people that I needed money (a true statement), and that I was home just to work. It has been nice to save money this year, though some of the consequences of not being in school (no insurance, student loan payments) have kind of sucked. Money was an easy excuse, a simple explanation. I was afraid of others' judgement.
Recently, however, I've become much more open about the reason I'm home: suspension. I can even find others to blame for that: stressful work, roommates that encouraged slacking, living far away from campus. The thing is, it was my fault. I didn't study, I didn't do my homework, I didn't go to class. I wasted my time. I really did deserve to be kicked out; I'm not sure I even deserved to be admitted in the first place. I've always been a terrible student, it's just that in high school I was too afraid of being disciplined to skip class or not turn in assignments (that being said, my homework average in my upper math classes was below 50%).
So everyone: I was suspended from Brigham Young University at the end of Winter Semester, 2010.
And it's the best thing that's ever happened to me.
I would completely recommend taking a year or two off from school to everyone. Go on a mission, travel or just live at home. I have grown and matured more in the past nine months than I have...well, over quite a few years. With all of my free time, I've found passions I didn't know I had. I've found peace and a love of the outdoors. I've grown much closer to God. My room's been clean!
Before I left school, I don't think I ever completely realized how much a bubble college life, especially at BYU, is. I came home not having spoken with anyone outside of my church in months. It's easy to let student life become a rather selfish existence. My biggest goal for when I go back to school (well, besides getting back into good academic standing) is to be less selfish. There are ways to focus more on others, even at BYU, and I need to find them. Aren't we to be God's hands on Earth?
Anyway.
Love you all!
:)

New Post

I love having a clean bedroom.
I got back into BYU!
It's freaking cold. Like. You don't even know. Apparently, tonight it will be so cold that you can develop frostbite on skin exposed to the cold in under 30 minutes.
I love short hair.
Money is good.
I also adore my piano students.
Talking to a random guy from my freshman ward fairly frequently = weird.

Life is beautiful.

(http://photos.500px.com/73254/4)

Rachael!

This was going to be a post about me wishing people would stop trying to define me, but you know what: that doesn't matter.
I have been fed spiritually so much this weekend by Sister Ann M. Dibb and the speakers from the two Sacrament meetings I heard today. Sister Dibb really made President Monson (her father) and the other General Authorities seem so real, and like normal, imperfect people. She made us laugh with tales of the untapped power of pie that all women have. She challenged us to lighten up someone's life every day, and to act as reflections of God's love. Because, well, it's about love. We should walk were Jesus would walk if He were here. We need to smile!
I hope to be just like her when I grow up.
And scripture study. I think my life would be infinitely better if I studied the scriptures every day. You'd think it'd be easy for someone that loves reading...
I also should really clean out my media library of anything that contains offensive content, both music and movies.
Do you ever feel like perfection is possible, if you just work harder?
I know I do.
Besides, true happiness can only come through God.

I love Sundays!

Ripples

A few weeks ago, I watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button for the first time (it's an odd movie). At one point in the movie, the director explores the fact that every single little decision and action people make has an effect on everyone else. Because of a whole sequence of little events, something crucial happens to one of the characters that would not have happened if just one of those things hadn't happened.
Every day, everyone affects everyone else, in ways both big and small. It's been said that we are a product of our decisions. Instead, I would say that we are not only a product of our own decisions, but of everyone else's as well. Each minute, subconscious choice can change everything. Leaving your apartment on time, making the light then looking up just in time to making eye contact with a random person on the street could change their thought process just enough to prompt them to change something, or take action where they might not have before. You being late could make waves enough to distract someone from the lesson, causing them to do poorly on a test, which lowers their grade enough to lose their scholarship, which goes to someone else that really needed it and could finally get a social life or even graduate from school. Clicking on that one link could lead you to a post that could change your mind, and your life. Each choice, each action makes ripples in the pond that could even affect people on the other side of the world, or those that haven't yet come into the world.
So thank you for doing everything that you do. Thank you for making mistakes, leaving late, smiling at strangers, and going just a couple miles over the speed limit. Thank you for being you, and making me.
Thank you for making ripples in the pond.

2011

This year, I'm going to be a better person! Yay.
Due to a close encounter with a policeman last week, I'm going to go the speed limit from now on. I've been doing pretty well, especially since the weather has made it so that everyone was going under the speed limit for a few days.
I'm also going to do my own version of The Happiness Project. I think it will really help, especially my own "ten commandments:"

1. Get outside your comfort zone
2. Just say Yes
3. Don't give up
4. Trust God
5. Don't impulse buy; save!
6. Don't repeat mistakes
7. Be yourself
8. Do it now
9. No wallowing
10. Consider work pleasure, because it is.

January is my "vitality" month, which is mostly feeling good through myself and my environment. Oh, and I even went to FHE today! Haha. 

May you find joy in the new year.