And Confusion Reigns Again

Booms and busts, ebbs and flows, ups and downs. How comforting it is to return to that feeling of confusion and enfeebling inferiority, and to know that it will go away again, some time. *sarcasm* Sometimes it changes from day to day; sometimes the funk or the lift of energy will last for weeks at a time. It is just one of those things. We wish we had more control over how we feel; we resent the mystery of the source of our 'bad' emotions, even as we let the positive side wash over us without question. That's a society judgement, since I believe other societies have honored the mysterious origins of both good and bad...
Anyway. Thank you to Nina for turning me from a basketcase into a functioning human bean, as I told her today (yes, I said 'bean' on purpose, relax). And thank you to Brian, who tells me I am his world and that he cherishes my encouraging words. I want to move forward; I want to claim my life. But sometimes a great notion lands on my motivation and I can not push it off. The battle of today is a draw. The momentum forward? must be constantly tended, and I really hope I can at least move on to the next stepping stone to take a rest before continuing (read: find a job)!

Apple Pie Victory

This deserves a post all its own. I made an apple pie from scratch (well, except for the crusts- but they actually stayed together this time because of some advice taken ;o). And it was yum-o!

October Victory Update

We've all felt it, the ups and downs of confused life. Even confused life with set goals has its ups and downs apparently. I am reporting back to my "public" *ahem* about my Goals- my 5-a-days, you will recall, and here are the polling numbers (from Oct only, since my 2 weeks of Sept have already been rolled up and filed in the closet file:

Exercise: 38% - obviously room for improvement
Cooking: 62% - woo-hoo! and on a tightening budget, no less!
Job search: 46% - part of the up-and-down process of motivation...
Socializing: 69% - another woo-hoo for a recognized introvert
De-clutter: 54% - a good way to spend time when nothing else appeals...

So I think that's pretty good. Especially for depending on my own lights for kicking my butt into action. I think I need to get more systematic about exercise and more inventive in my job search- as in, more face-to-face encounters. But I'm loving the social activities, and the apartment is starting to look pretty schnazz. Before pictures:

Bedroom


Bathroom and Mini-hallway


Living Room (where I spend the most time, on the COMPUTADORA)


And my kitchen! where I also spend a substantial amount of time, and not just raiding the chocolate stash (although it does happen from time to time)...

October Victory

So when I realized that I hadn't made my steel-cut oatmeal happiness since last year, which meant that I couldn't remember the right proportions, or the right timing, or whether I used milk before... I was aghast.
Thankfully, my second attempt was this morning, and it all came back. Delicious victory for wholesome, healthy food in the morning. Shout out to Melia! :-)

Oy, how time flies!

October already?? Goodness, me. Well, I have been busy, after all. Even though I don't have a job (situation for 2 weeks), I am fairly content. I spend days job searching, following up leads, shopping for new recipes, brightening up the new apartment, and hanging out with friends. This is a direct result of my "5-a-day Plan" or what could be called my Anti-Depression Plan. Because I have been busy and not as attentive to the blog, Melia has beat me to the punch on my snappy title! Ah well. May all who endeavor to live by their values each day succeed!

So here are my 5:
1) Exercise.
2) Job search.
3) Cooking/ healthy eating.
4) Social activity.
5) De-clutter!

Whaddya think? Like the compulsive researcher and team player I am, I have assembled my own little library of articles and books about these topics to keep me company and give me some inspiration for how to diversify the activities. I would love to hear your input. :o)