things i've learned

I have really enjoyed working on doing good the last 30 days. I learned several things about myself.

I learned that I am not, and am not sure I will ever be, that person who takes brownies to her neighbor just because. I do not walk up to a stranger and strike up a conversation, become best friends, and offer to watch her kids while she goes to a doctor's appointment. I AM a person who is intimately connected to the few, very good friends that I have and am always serving them through time, sewing (a lot of sewing), and small things. I do have to remind myself that those stories I hear in Relief Society are great, but that is not how I serve.

I've learned that I have to work HARD to continually serve. Being an introvert, it is easy to stay in my little cocoon and do nothing. It has been a challenge to look outside myself every. single. day. It is easy to do something once in a while but do to something every single day really pushes me. I will readily admit I didn't make it this last month. I didn't do something good for someone else every day. I made it most days but not every day. I need to work harder on that.

I learned that I am surrounded by amazing people. People I know really well and people I am just meeting. In general, the world is not as degenerate as news and other outlets will have you believe. People are good. People are kind. And, with a few exceptions, people love me! :)

I have never been obsessed with possessions. To me life is an experience. I want to experience as much as possible and not be tied down by possessions. A house is somewhere to sleep, the people inside are important. A boat is fun but can only go so far, a plane takes you across the globe. :) This past month reaffirmed that experiences are far more important than things. I've been able to connect with others more fully through service. I want more of that.

I also realized just how much of a procrastinator I really am. I knew I was one, readily admitted it if asked, but this month, trying to find time to do everything I needed and wanted, I realized how much time I really do waste on the unimportant. I did get better -- started using a timer, no joke! -- but I know I have a long way to go.

I learned that my bad days are just an excuse. At one time, especially in the past year, I would have said I had a legitimate reason to have a bad day (or several in a row). But that is just not the case anymore. I only have bad days when I am unmotivated, lazy, or otherwise inclined to do anything except what I should be doing. We all have things we don't want to do. I, instead of just doing them and getting on to something much more pleasant, have a tendency to stew and stew and stew and stew until the stew is mush and not palatable anymore. Then I force myself through whatever task I need to do. What should have taken a couple of hours, turned into days (DAYS) of torture. This is something I need to work on.

I learned that having a challenge to work on and feeling obligated to report on said challenge every day really helped me. So, I want to do it again! What is my challenge for October? Well, I have three of the five do good projects remaining and will focus on them in the next week or so, but I really want to focus on making each day count. Like REALLY count. So, each day will be different. I might force my way through a grueling project, do some good, focus on health, etc. I just don't know. But I will tell you how each day really mattered to me. I will learn to live each day fully.



I have a few goals for this month. I'm not sure how it will all play out but voicing my goals is an important step to achieving them.

1. Finish do good projects.
2. Fully rediscover the Savior's love for me.
3. Make health and exercise a priority.
4. Meet someone new and find a way to regularly connect.
5. Attend Single's Conference and BE FRIENDLY!! (see #4)

And, that's it! Live each day fully with a few concrete goals in mind. That is my challenge for Oct.