My project!

I am reading a new book. I am not recommending it yet, because I am only on the first chapter. Believe it or not, I read about this book in an old magazine that I inherited from my mother-in-law and kept around for when I need "anna's in the bathtub" reading. Anyway what I have read so far really fits me.

Here is a quick quote:
"It was time to expect more of myself. Yet as I thought about happiness, I kept running up against paradoxes. I wanted to change myself but accept myself.....I wanted to use my time well, but I also wanted to wander, to play and to read at a whim....I wanted to let go of envy and anxiety about the future, yet keep my energy and ambition."

I hope to have a goal each month, like the author discusses, although I haven't decided what goals. The author talks about having a check list for your goals to help keep what you want to accomplish in the front of your mind. I do know that for November, my goal will be to increase organization. (YES - this will make me very happy.) I have bought a planner that should get here today and that will be one way. I also hope to make a list of all the important phone numbers I need to have in one place. I also want have all my usernames and passwords together on a neat and typed paper! Small pleasures.

I started my organizing early, by completely finishing the great summer to winter clothes transition. Additionally, I now have separate boxes for each kid and each season, so the sort will be less hectic next time. FYI, I will not be shopping for clothes for the kids in the next year - yippee! Anna is starting to grow into clothes I saved from Carolyn! I love seeing her in them. Carolyn has some cute clothes from J., Nina's daughter. Joel has Matthew's and his 2nd cousin's hand-me-downs. Matthew even has clothes to grow into, but these were just fantastic bargains.

Another way I am "organizing" is by putting my pictures into their correct albums. It feels great to start to get that area under control. (how is that for taking a fun-hobby and making it an organization accomplishment :)

I also just decided to encourage my kids to have their own happiness goals!