Lists are very helpful for keeping us on track.

When I was working I liked to make a list of what I wanted to accomplish that day and I’d also write down what I actually accomplished at the end of the day in my weekly calendar book. It was helpful for preparing the quarterly reports for my boss explaining what I achieved.

Now that I’m in school, I find it helpful to make a list of what I need to accomplish that week even though the work is listed on the syllabus. It feels good to cross items off when they are accomplished. Even though I bought an assignment book, I end up using index cards which is fine for as long as it works.

I recently started using the Reminder App on the iPhone regularly. I set the reminders with a particular time to help me remember recurring things I need to do daily (like take my vitamins -which I never remember to do) or weekly (like clean my dog’s ears since he’s prone to ear infections). In the beginning I procrastinated but often times now I complete things before the alert comes up. It took some time to train myself but eventually the desire to procrastinate went away and I just do what I set out to do.

Another app that is helpful for keeping track of lists is Evernote. You can set up different “notebooks” to organize your information and create numbered lists and even lists with little checkboxes. This free app will sync to all of your devices and can be used on a computer as well.

What kinds of lists do you keep and how do you organize them?

Kites take off with wind, listen to the little voice in your head when it tells you to do something instead of procrastinating. Doesn’t it seem like it takes more energy to keep thinking about having to do a particular thing than just to do it and get it over with?

Kites have a string to keep it attached to where it came from. No matter how far you go, remember where you came from and who helped you get to your new place. Family, friends, teachers, jobs, maybe even a particular place. 

Kites soar way up high above the ground and take in the big picture. Don’t get weighed down by the rocks and dirt on the earth. Like things people say that go against what you believe in or situations  when people annoy you on the road or in restaurants. Keep your mind on what is important and don’t get distracted. 

When kites come down for a rest, the kite line gets rolled up nicely on the spool so it’s ready to go next time. Put everything in its place to keep your possessions and your mind in order. This way you don’t waste time and energy and end up delaying yourself next time. 

When we go on a trip we make plans (sometimes) and we get to experience something new. We might even change a little as we experience new places, events, or people.

Sometimes only one of those elements has to be different to experience something interesting. We can experience a new place with an old friend, or old place with a new friend and it can be an adventure.

I went to a new place with old friends this weekend and though we don’t spend a lot of time together in our current daily lives, being with them always feels comfortable and refreshing. It’s nice that we can travel together and enjoy it so much.  I’ve gone on trips in the past few years with newer friends who at the time I didn’t know as well and the trips helped us get to know each other and I would daresay ourselves in different ways.

It’s interesting to see how everyone’s personalities and travel styles blend on a trip. For example, I like to wander off on my own for a bit and explore and take pictures and my friends just know that about me now.  On the other hand, I use the same list over and over to pack when I travel. So unless I make the painful decision to pack light, I rarely forget important items and usually have everything we need when we’re away from home.

We can go on journeys on our own, in which case everything may be new and exciting. We don’t have someone else to rely on on if something goes wrong or push us to do something out of our comfort zone. On the other hand, we’re free to completely absorb the new place.

Either way-alone or with companions, when we return from a journey, we may feel refreshed mentally [and tired physically :)] and it may give us a new perspective on our lives.

Have you gone on a journey recently?

Inspiration is valuable in all aspects of our life. Sometimes we are bummed and a song or movie can pick us up. Sometimes we’re working on something and need a little boost to keep us going when we’re stuck.

Friends can motivate me to do thing things they know are important to me when I’m procrastinating. Fitbit alerts can remind me to get up and move.

Facebook posts can be inspirational too.

Here are two others that I like that can be sent to you as daily emails. Notes from the Universe and Art to Self.

Keeping it short today, it’s a busy day.

Gretchen Rubin started her website called the Happiness Project to research happiness but she has since branched out to studying habits.

Check it out!

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In my poetry class this week the instructor wanted to inspire us for our final poem of the semester which is about a journey. We packed up our stuff left the classroom and took a walk across campus.

There is a beautiful little medicinal garden at my university which consists of a variety of plants, a reflexology footpath, tables, and a gazebo. I walk through it occasionally. One day I encountered on a gray sparrow that happily drinking water from a fountain. I wanted to take a picture but knew he would probably fly away if I did so I just admired him for a moment and continued on.

There is also a gazebo hidden in our garden. Students have write things so there are all kinds of messages, some inspirational, some silly, some mean. One of the nicer ones was “the closer you get to the light, the greater your shadow becomes”.

Although it didn’t seem that dark in the garden, once we stepped out of it the sun shone brightly and we were greeted by a butterfly. There was a noticeable change.

Even though I walked through the garden in the past and have paid attention to the foliage, I looked at everything a little closer this time. Go outside, visit a park, notice something you don’t usually direct your attention to.