The Friday list (nice things you did for yourself this week)
I did something really, really kind for myself yesterday: I gave myself permission to stop reading a book that was boring me to sleep every night.
I really tried. Someone recommended it, and it looked like it had promise, and it probably does if that’s the kind of book you want to read.
But after a week of force-feeding it to myself, yesterday I declared enough was enough.
I am allowed to like what I like. I am allowed to read what I like. And I don’t have to finish every book I begin, even if that feels somehow morally wrong, like not eating everything on my plate. But in the same way that eating every last scrap does nothing to help anyone, and instead hurts me, I hereby declare that reading a book just because I “should” is a very bad idea.
So I took myself to the bookstore, used the gift certificate the librarian and kids in Fort Worth so generously gave me last week on top of that fabulous memento, and bought myself two books I really want to read.
So now instead of dreading my reading time, I can go back to craving it. Hip-hip-hooray!
And you? Tell me at least one nice thing you did for yourself this week.
And don’t forget to stop by Jules’ and Eisha’s place on Sunday to list all the good things this week brought, aside from the nice things you brought yourself.
Technorati Tags: The Friday List, Happiness, Success, Pampering, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, Books, Reading
I need to give myself permission to do that about books-I’ve been reading the same one now for 2 weeks and just can’t into it or through it. I did a nice thing for myself and my kids this week, but don’t want to talk about it yet-hopefully next Friday.
Oo–intrigue!
I have said that from now on, I’m NOT going to allow people with colds to come into my house. Especially if they can’t bother to call first…. Friend dropped by a few days ago – and left her head cold, which I now am dealing with.
This is the same “friend” who gave us the stomach gremlins right at the end of the year….
No more!
I went out for a walk by myself. No kids. No hubby. Just me and my thoughts. And loved every sacred minute of it.
Vc, way to take a stand. I’m with you.
Vivian, how nice! Nothing like some fresh air and silence to let the mind refill with all sorts of creative thoughts.
I tend to beat myself up about my writing. I start thinking that if it’s hard, it’s because I’m NO GOOD AT IT. This week, I rephrased that in my journal to say: I’m working hard because it IS hard. And I also wrote: I get to play with words!!
That and some graham crackers dunked in milk did the trick.
Well, as I said over on my blog, I went a-gamblin’ this week.
Oh, Sara, how sweet! I like it when writers give themselves a break.
Patrick, I liked your gambling story. People should check it out by clicking your name. Hint: Patrick wins at everything. We don’t know why.
I downloaded bunches of new YA books from Audible.com, which in turn is going to make me go for lots more walks, because I’m going to want to listen to them.
Thanks for celebrating doing something nice for oneself!
Jen, I love that idea. Thanks for sharing it. And welcome!
I went to visit a friend who just lost her husband to cancer. We had a great time re-connecting and getting on top of her to-do list. Yesterday we took ourselves to Niagra-on-the-Lake for a little retail therapy.
Tomorrow I buy another book case for those keeper books-going to get rid of those paperbags somehow.;)
I sang. A lot. In Japanese. Something therapeutic about that.
And I let myself work on my not-nearly-as-serious paranormal project after three days of beating myself up over the fantasy that just. Wasn’t. Coming.
I need to keep better track of what I do with my time, because I had to think for awhile to remember anything. Eek!
Readerdiane, what an excellent use of time, don’t you think? Sometimes it’s so ridiculously hard to get together with friends, but then once you’re there, time stands still.
Miri, in Japanese? Yow. I’m impressed. (Unless, of course, Japanese is your first language, in which case it’s slightly less impressive. But then if that were the case, and your English is this great, then it’s back to being impressive. Know what I mean? I’m impressed.)
I’ve been getting out in the garden a bit at least once a day, as part of my lunch stretch. Not as much as I’d like (that’ll come next month) but it feels good to be outside in the fresh air and talking to my friends, The Ravens, who live in that humongous fir tree out back, and have for years. They are really amazing, they imitate noises. Not as well as a mockingbird does, but it’s still quite amazing. One day I thought my cat got out and was in the tree. He didn’t. It was Mr. Raven, teasing me. They also make clicking noises every time I come outside. Kind of a Crow Hello.
I’ve taken up a dance stretch routine for 15-20 minutes a day. I need it. This winter has made me . . . soft. And that’s not something that’s ever happened before, a sad result of my age, I think, but I will be damned if I let it get out of hand. So I’m doing something about it. And hiking season is starting, so things will get better.
took a young couple (our son’s best friend and what will hopefully be his very long time s.o.) to dinner, along with, of course, our “never say no to a free meal” children. the couple in whose honor the dinner was had are both medical students and such full-on fine people (as are our own “never say no to a free meal especially when drinks are also on mom and dad” children) i can’t help but feel optomistic about the future. it was just so nice and then the next day the father of the young man half of the couple in question called and we talked about how much we “really, really liked ‘her’” and agreed that they made a great couple and how proud we are of them and how much fun we had at dinner–and that was also just so nice.
Heh, nope, I’m English through and through. (Well, technically, I’m the equivalent of European alphabet soup. A quarter of my blood comes from England.) I understand a good bit of what I’m singing at any given time, but that’s just through repetition and looking up translations. Hooray for memorization!
Thanks, though!
BJ, your list is so Spring. Love your relationship with the ravens. I had no idea they could imitate sounds. Especially like them imitating your cat.
Annette, It’s so sweet of you to indulge all the freeloading children, but I’m sure they hang out with you because you’re nice and fun, not just because it’s free eats. And I like to hear your assessment of the upcoming generation. I agree with you–there are so many fine young people out there right now, the future looks bright.
Miri, thanks for clearing that up. It’s so cool you’re learning that.
I bought myself clothes to fit my thinner self (having just hit the 50 pound mark in my weight loss). Also bought new makeup.
Allowed myself to eat a wonderful steak dinner and get dessert because the only way I can keep up with the whole weight loss thing is by letting myself eat when I really want to.
Slept in late on Friday and worked from home, saving myself 2 hours of stressful commute time.
Saw friends on the spur of the moment last weekend, and then made plans to see them again this weekend. They have promised to get me drunk and help me with my life plan. I didn’t know I had a life plan, but apparently it will be getting a makeover this weekend!
It took me a while to learn to give up on a book. I felt like I was wasting my money if I didn’t finish it. (Besides, I might suddenly get better and I would miss it.) I’ve since realized that my time is more valuable than the few dollars I spent on the book. It is time that could be better spent writing or reading a “better” book.
Now I just need to learn to leave those last scraps of food.
Nancy, congratulations on your weight loss! That’s fantastic! And it sounds like you’re treating yourself right–eating well, getting enough sleep, playing. Bravo.
Betty, you’re right–a part of the resistance to giving up on a book is the feeling like you’ve wasted your money. But it really is the same as with food. Once it’s on your plate it’s already wasted, since no one else can eat it, but it still doesn’t mean you have to wolf it all down yourself.
Besides, you can always donate the book to the library, which is more that you can say for that leftover fettucine.
I spent a good part of yesterday’s lovely afternoon out in the sun first reading, then weeding.
I wrote a post once about dumping a book. Maybe I’ll repost it.
Mother Reader, I’m with you up until the weeding part. Eww. And please do repost your book-dumping blog. I always enjoy seeing other people’s takes on that.
Good for you! Ever read The Readers’ Bill of Rights? You have the right to not finish!
{Incidentally, you’d probably love Daniel Pennac’s Better Than Life from which those bill of rights come} . . .