Oh Sandy, Ba-ay-bee...

I think the last thing I thought I would be doing after moving to Philadelphia from the east coast of Florida is prepping for a hurricane. I think I might be losing my touch--In college, I was like an evacuation guru. "Everyone unplug your electronics and pull them away from the window. Fill up the bath tubs and elevate your valuables. Eat all those frozen tater-tots, they will not make it through the night." Now, I find myself scavenging for cases of water, fighting the storm lines at Target, and lugging my cornhole set upstairs last minute. At least I have you, blog and blog-readers.

I think my chapter on Mindfulness has been my favorite and most effective segment yet. It is the first one that I actually felt significantly happier practicing. Sure, I had some bad weeks (last week) and some bad days (*ahem* I'm looking at you, Wednesday). Still, while practicing mindfulness, I truly was more relaxed, less irritable, and just plain happier.

With such as successful third segment, choosing my fourth has proven to be a challenge. There are so many more avenues of happiness I want to explore and am not sure which one to explore next. Here are some possibilities: family, friends, passions, relationship, body image, spirituality, money, career, self-confidence, giving back...

While I have some trepidation, I'm thinking the next segment will be on passions. While I am worried that my current school and work schedule leaves very time for extracurricular activities, part of the goal of this project was to find happiness WITHIN a crazy schedule and WITHIN my normal life (whatever that means). So, what are some of my passions? Here's a list

1. Theatre
2. Singing
3. Writing
4. Drawing
5. Baking
6. Running

I feel lucky to be passionate about so many things and sometimes I always want to add something more. However, the important thing with this project is to be honest with myself. Sorry, but I'm not passionate about Mozart, I'm not passionate about Warhol, and I'll never be passionate about any TV show where two men go antiquing together.My three goals for my segment on passions will be:

1. Make time for the things you love.
2. Do not apologize for the things you love.
3. Enjoy your hobbies, even if you are not so good at them.

Simplicity :/
Energy :)
Mindfulness :/

"Cows are my passion. What I have ever sighed for has been to retreat to a Swiss farm, and live entirely surrounded by cows - and china." Charles Dickens