Happy Things

So there are not multiple happy things today, just one happy little story. I didn't do anything at all today. And it was really hard for me to accept, but in the end the day turned out really nice. I just stayed in and got some really wonderful quality time in with my family. I played baseball with my little brother, I helped my mom out and did a bunch of favors for her, I cleaned my grandmas car so that I can start driving it. I didn't get anything major checked off my to-do list, but I suppose thats okay because I got to spend time with my family and they are seriously so incredible. I always forget this but I am always reminded; friend and boyfriends are incredibly flakey, but my family has literally been there for me whenever I have needed them. I love them so much for that. I was never really a family person, but recently I have realized how incredibly important and beautiful these folks are. And that is indeed quite a happy thing.

One habit at a time

I just read a really interesting post by a blogger called No Meat Athlete. It was about how after struggling for a really long time with developing healthy habits, he was able to by tackling one habit at a time each month. I find that concept really interesting because like the blogger, I often spontaneously decide that tomorrow my life will be forever changed and I often end up failing miserably. The problem, as this blogger mentions, is that often people decide to tackel too many habits at ones; eating healthier, working out more, waking up earlier, reading every day .... and all of this becomes incredibly overwhelming. Rather, we should devote a few minutes every day for an extended period of time to just one habit. Then, this blogger explains, at the end of the years we will have successfully developed 36 new habits which is pretty freaking awesome. So I am going to give this a go!

The first habit I want to develop is one that this blogger (named Matt; I just found his name on his blog!) worked on. Matt is a runner, but he explained how he would go days without running sometimes and so to develop the habit he started running everyday for just 20 minutes. I am pretty sure I can take 20 minutes out of my day to go for a jog. I really want to start working daily exercise into my life. Hopefully daily exercise will motivate me to eat better and accomplish my goal of losing some lbs this summer. 

Heres a list of habits I'd like to develop, one at a time.

1. Running every day

2. Meditating every morning

3. Practicing piano for 5 minutes every day

4. Drinking a cup of tea every day

5. Taking my vitamins

6. Making sure to get my 5 serving of fruits and vegetables

7. Replacing my constant chocolate cravings with something healthier

8. Planning outfits the night before

9. Sunday grooming

10. Waking up earlier every day

11. Reading every night before bed. 

Some of these are super simple such as taking my vitamins or drinking tea every day so I know I can accomplish more than one goal at a time. But for now, I am just going to focus on running. I obviously still want to try and take my vitamins and drink tea, but I'll put more energy into those later. 20 minutes of running tomorrow will be so lovely!

The exciting this is, I know this is possible. While I was away at school I started developing quite a few healthy habits such as making my bed, making sure my room is clean before I go out and washing my face and brushing my teeth everynight. These are habits that took time and daily practice to develop, but now I seriously can't leave if my bed isn't made and I always make sure my room is tidy before I go out. Its kinda cool how these things start to become second nature and I am excited to start developing a few more heathy habits!

Music Mondays

Just another tradition I am thinking of starting on this blog of mine, although Music Mondays is incredibly cliche so I am going to have to think of a better name for it! Anyhoo, Monday will be over in 2 minutes so I have to make this quick! I went to Bamboozle this weekend. Here are two songs from new bands I really enjoyed! (Okay, I have to admit. I made a really short post while it was still Monday, and now its 12:05 am on Tuesday and I am simply adding to the post)

The first is by a band called The Bouncing Souls. They're a really fun punk band with catchy lyrics. They're songs are super short and rather to the point, but they just have this really nice up beat energy to them. One of the songs that I found particularly entertaining by them is this one:

And heres another super fun band; they're called Catch 22. They're a ska band and they have lots of instruments going on and they are also incredibly up beat! During their set, this enormous dance pit opened up and everyone was just having such an incredible time while they played. Ska bands seriously have incredible crowds! Also, their trumpet player kept doing this amazing little dance. It was wonderful; you could tell they were having a blast playing for us.

Anyone going to any good music festivals this summer?

"I can't wait for the next workout"

So I am pretty sure I mentioned on here that one of my goals this summer is to get into better shape. Well, I have been working on it, and its quite exciting! Yesterday I didn't do as well as I would have liked; to work out I only did a simple relaxing yoga workout, and I had this enormous slice of pizza for dinner. Thats okay though, mistakes are going to happen and I can't change that. Anyways, today has only just begun, but I had a nice protein filled breakfast and I did this workout video: 

The people who make these videos are incredible. Its only a 30 minute workout, but it takes me like 45 minutes because I have to constantly stop and take water breaks or catch my breath or just sit and watch in awe. I really like these workouts though; they're nice and quick, and I really feel it while I am working out and the next day! With a combination of these and other workout videos, running twice a week and a good diet, I hope I can reach my goal by the end of the summer!

Back into the swing of things (Happy Things)

I could really use a good reminder of some happy things, so good thing that its Wednesday! I skipped out on a few weeks my happy things posts, but I am back to it now, so here it goes!

1. This weekend I am going to be volunteering with my lovely friends from Habitat for Humanity. We are going to be running a table at the Bamboozle Festival. That means, not only will I be hanging out with lovely people, I'll be around live music! 

2. I have been going to Brooklyn a lot recently, which is always nice. I love that place.

3. This beautiful young lady, my best friend Michelle (who blogs over here) is coming home soon! Can't wait to see her!

4. I tried this chocolate on Monday. Oh my goodness; it is absolutely delicious!

5. Lets be real, how can you not get happy when you see a bunny with its tongue sticking out?!

Any other happy things I should know about to make my week a little better? 

Its really odd. I was ridiculously excited to finally come home and have freedom and be able to do whatever the heck I want. Now that I am home however, I can't figure out what the heck I want to do. I have the overwhelmingly endless amount of free time and I just don't know where to begin. Today, I am going to try and bake some peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. I am really excited for that. I guess now its just the small things that count; walks with friends, lunch with mom, good books, simple recipes; that kinda stuff. I want to make a list of bigger goals I have for the summer, but I'll save that for my next post.

Classes are almost over. I am ready for some change! Hopefully some new blogging idea to come as well.


Edit:
Gah, I just have so many wonderful ideas as far as blogging and life in general and I hate how my life has to be put on hold because of exams. However, I have decided to be realistic and right now I am just going to have to live an average life, and on Wednesday I will be able to make changes. Theres no way I can re-do my blog or start waking up at 6am or eat healthier when I need to stay up till midnight every night studying which causes me to eat 4 meals a day and wake up at 9am with a headache because of lack of sleep. However once May 10th comes, I will be more in control of my life and I will be able to make all of these changes that I am so eager to make! I need to be understanding and compassionate towards myself, and so for now this is the way I must be, and that is okay.