For Once I Didn't Procrastinate, and I'm Glad!

Between the NaBloPoMo writing challenge and Katie Oskin's Polymer Clay Challenge for 2015, I'm glad I didn't procrastinate! 

I am a terrible procrastinator in some areas.  I wait until the last possible minute to pay bills, and I mean the last possible minute.  Emphasis on MINUTE.

I wait until the last possible day to pay my taxes.  I've even had my accountant file and extension.  Do you see a trend here?


When I have to travel, I wait until the time has come to leave the house to pack.  Yikes!

However, I didn't procrastinate for these two challenges, and I'm glad!  I think these will be interesting challenges. 

Now, I have to tell you a little bit about these crosses.  I sort of cheated.  I have tendinitis of my thumb, and it's been bothering me for about a month or so now.  Leaning more towards the or so.  Ouch!  I have another doctor appointment today.  We'll see what he says.  Anyway, I made these crosses before this tendinitis had fully kicked in, so I added the finish instead.  I hope that's okay.  I'm working more towards a slow recovery, and I hope very, very soon! 

So, more later. 

I Heart Macro - The Last of the Ornaments

I Heart Macro!

Three Beautiful Things This Week

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that Three Beautiful Things. Everyday, Clare writes about 3 Beautiful Things that happen each day in her life. It's a wonderful blog! I can only hope to imitate her in a very small way.


1) Sometimes change is good.  Change wakes up your spirit and stirs your soul.


2) Being home at 9 PM on New Year's Eve, good.  Having fun with friends, good.  Girl child sick, not so good, but she's better now.  That's good.

3) Fred, the cat, quit hissing at Pixie.  Good.  A good time was had by all.

My words for this year

 It is my habit, each New Year, to choose a new word for the year.  These words, each year, becomes my "mantra'" so to speak.  Because I have chosen them, they work, in my mind to help me change.

In 2014 and 2013 my word was the same:: HOPE.  I decided this year, that a change was needed.  I know you see the candy on the right, but, my word is not CANDY, although, that would be a fun word, wouldn't it?

In spite of the fact that the practice is to choose one word, this year, I have chosen two words::

Saturate and Absorb

Both words are both nouns and verbs.  I like that. Both words elate to art.  I like that, too.  So, why, saturate and absorb.

Let's begin with ABSORB.  Our days can become very tense. Although 24 hours in length, the time flies.  It is difficult with so much stimulation to absorb what happens in our days and make memories.

This year, 2015, I want to ABSORB as much as I can about each day.  I want to think and remember.
One of the ways I will do this is to, literally count and record my blessings each day.  I will absorb, more efficiently, the precious gift of life.

My other word is SATURATE.
When I make things, when I make art or simply craft around, I want to SATURATE my work with color and with me.  I want my work to stand out from others simply because of the saturation of colors, shapes, and sizes.  I want my mind to be saturated with kind thoughts and words.  I want to live my life to its fullest!

ABSORB AND SATURATE

What is your word or words for 2015?

Resolutions! Smesolutions!

Resolutions!  Smesolutions!

THEY

DON'T 

WORK!

Neuroscientists have found that in order to develop a new habit or change and existing habit,

the time frame in which you must work is 

6

weeks.

This is what resolutions are about::

Changing or developing 

NEW HABITS!

Listen to what you hear this New Year's Eve or New Year's Day.

"I'm making a resolution to loose weight this year."

"I'm making a resolution to run a marathon."

"I resolve to read more."

"I'm going to save money."

By day two or three, these types of statements are usually forgotten.

In order to change a behavior and develop a new one to replace the old one,

you must 

ENGAGE

that which you want to change and replace it with a different behavior.

Anyone can say, "I want to loose weight this year."

In order to succeed, you must develop a plan to loose that unwanted weight.

In developing your plan, you must hold yourself accountable.

Here's how you do it.

State your goal giving your self a reasonable time frame in which to work, a reasonable goal to achieve, and a means to achieve your goal.

This is your basic goal.

By the end of January, 2015, I will loose 8 pounds. 

The next question to ask yourself is:: How will you achieve your goal?

I will loose 8 pounds by::

logging the food I eat in a notebook,

calculating the calories I ingest,

and

eating the recommended amount of calories per day.

Again, this is reasonable.

You've set a basic goal.  Now you are telling yourself how you will achieve that goal.  That's accountability.

I will weigh myself once a week and log my weight, weekly.

I will calculate the number of pounds I lost.

I will add walking to my daily exercise plan.

I will walk for 20 minutes per day.

Now, you have a plan!

This plan can be developed more definitively.

I have only given you a framework in which to develop your plan.

Resolutions are only words.

Goals are actions!

Through developing and planning our goals, we hold ourselves responsible for our actions.

Change might take longer than six weeks.

I don't know, but as soon as we see progress being made, 

we are reinforced and able to work harder towards our goals.

Resolutions!  Smesolutions!

Goals change habits.

Words are just words.