New Mini-Challenge starts TODAY, January 1, 2012

[Bucky]

~~~~  HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!  ~~~~

As promised . . . TODAY, January 1st, 2012 begins our new 10 minute, one week * mini challenge.

A whole new day, a new year . . . . . a clean slate.

Some challenges are worth repeating . . . this is one of them!   

This mini challenge is all about "ME-TIME".  When your day is devoted to taking care of your kids, your spouse, your job and the many other important things on your agenda, it can seem impossible to schedule time for ourselves.  But setting aside "me-time" is to the key to maintaining your physical and mental health.

If you don't take care of yourself - put your self at the top of the list instead of the bottom (if you are EVEN on the list at all) you can't take care of others.  It is NOT selfish to take time for yourself.  It's a must!!

This is a no excuse allowed challenge . . . no saying, "I just don't have an extra 10 minutes for myself".  Make 10 minutes!  Whether you have to get up 10 minutes earlier in the morning or stay up 10 minutes longer in the evening . . . make the time!

What you do with your 10 minutes of ME-TIME is up to you.  If you want to go outside and get some fresh air, read a book, look through a photo album, polish your nails, meditate, take a quick nap, exercise, write a quick note to someone or phone a friend - anything you want to do for YOURSELF . . . not what you do for someone else (unless of course, that brings you true joy and makes you feel good - then, by all means, that counts).

If you are a person that sits all day - get up, go for a walk.  If you are a person that stands all day - sit down, put your feet up, and do some deep breathing exercises.  If you are tired all the time . . get outside for some fresh air, do some gentle exercises to get the blood flowing - going for a short walk is an excellent way to help get you motivated. 

OK - the challenge has been issued . . . it's up to YOU now to either join in this challenge . . . or skip it.  I hope you choose to join in. 

Let us know what it is you did for your 10 minutes of ME-TIME - it will be interesting to hear.

As a side note - since today is the first day of the New Year - today would be an excellent time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms.  Also, change the furnace filter too.

Just for fun - look up Toby Keith's song, "I wanna talk about ME" and give it a listen.  (It will probably stay in your head all day . . . hehe  )

Have fun . . .
Bucky

"Yesterday ended last night.  Every day is a new beginning.  Learn the skill of forgetting, and move on."                                                                                               Norman Vincent Peale

* Modified length of challenge

[Meld256]

I guess I'm different that some, but I take more than 10 minutes of "me-time"   

I know so many people are working, have kids and are busy, busy, so I hope they take time for just them.  We really need that!  Now that I'm retired on disability, I have more "me-time" than I want some days.   

[Carebear]

I'm the same as Melinda.  Most of the time "it's all about me" now.  And I'm okay with that.

I guess after raising a family and caring for my elderly dad, I'm overdue and making up for lost time.    But I do think you've hit on an important challenge, Bucky.  Where were you a few years ago?   

[Pisces24]

I was an only child and caretaker to my folks. My last parent passed in 2001 and I am STILL working on taking care of me. I am doing better but it is still a work in progress. It ain't easy doing a full 180 turn.

I am resolving this year to go through more of the junk aah stuff that I have that has gotten to the point that it owns me!

As to what I am looking forward to this year --- SUMMER. 

[Bucky]

Day 2 of our Mini Challenge "ME TIME".

Yesterday, I spent my ME TIME taking a Sunday afternoon nap.     I needed it, and it felt good!  (OK, I confess, it was longer than 10 minutes - but I am sooooo worth it!!  ).

That's one thing we need to keep reminding ourselves . . . we're worth it! 

Hope everyone makes a real effort to MAKE the time for themselves.  I know our days can be filled with so many other things - but, making time for ourselves has got to be at the top of the list. 

I've got to work today, so I better keep moving along.

Have a great day - "see" ya tomorrow.   

Bucky

Fear less, hope more, eat less, chew more, whine less, breathe more, talk less, say more, hate less, love more, and good things will be yours.        Swedish Proverb     

[Bucky]

Day 3 of our Mini Challenge "ME TIME".

Good morning everyone. 

Yay, after having "my boys" home for the holiday season - today they have both returned to school and work and I can get back to my "normal" (whatever that is  ) routine. 

Yesterday, I spent my ME TIME gazing out the bedroom window into the evening sky.  I got the binoculars out and looked at the moon and a few stars that were shining in the darkness.  It just amazes me that we can see with our naked eyes an object that is 238,857 miles away (give or take, depends on where the moon is on it's elliptical journey)!!

My favorite night time activity is star gazing.  Unfortunately, last night it was too cloudy and I could only see two shining in the night.

Right now, as the bright sunshine is filtering in our kitchen window it amazes me that something 93 million miles away can shine this brightly so far away!!   

The whole purpose behind "ME TIME" is to take care of US.  If we don't take care of us, then it can translate into more aches and pains and sickness for ourselves.  Like a battery that is in constant use - it too loses juice and has to be recharged.  For those who might think "ME TIME" is selfish and serves no purpose, I disagree . . . I think it's essential.  For most people - and usually the women - we give, give, give to everyone else except ourselves.  At some point, we will crash and run out of steam if we never stop to take care of ourselves.

Last night as I was passing through the living room - I stopped for a second to see what my husband was watching on TV.  Well, just as I entered the room, whatever show he was watching, this guy was in some sort of machine and another person hit a button and the man slid out of the machine.  The man then said, "it's ME TIME" and hit the button to go back into this machine!!  I had to chuckle to myself.   

I hope today is a good day for each of you.  I hope I have others on this journey with me - post and let us know what you do with your "ME TIME".

Bucky

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us."          Helen Keller

[Duchess]

I am adjusting to taking my "me time", and doing it without feeling guilty about it.

Now that I am not working, I have a lot of time on my hands. I am learning how to utilize that time differently. On the days that I feel good, instead of focusing on my diagnosis, I say go to that museum, library or theatre that I've been wanting to go to and enjoy!

We should learn to have some with ourselves too.


Duchess

[Bucky]

Day 4 of our Mini Challenge "ME TIME".

On the days that I feel good, instead of focusing on my diagnosis, I say go to that museum, library or theatre that I've been wanting to go to and enjoy!

Exactly, Duchess!!

I'm late on posting this morning - I was waiting for a delivery.  Yay, my new mattress is here - I've got my work cut out for me now to get the bedroom ready for it.

Yesterday, I spent my ME TIME looking at some pictures from our wedding.  Sigh!     It sure doesn't seem possible that almost 20 yrs. has passed since then.  I can still fit into my wedding dress . . . OK, "maybe" I can't zip it all the way up in the back, but it still fits!!     I love to look at pictures from that special day.

I hope there are other members who are participating in this mini challenge - if there are, post what you did during your ME TIME.

Have a good day . . . the sun is shining here today.   

Bucky

"Men spend their lives in anticipations, -- in determining to be vastly happy at some period when they have time.  But the present time has one advantage over every other -- it is our own.  Past opportunities are gone, future have not come.  We may lay in a stock of pleasures, as we would lay in a stock of wine; but if we defer the tasting of them too long, we shall find that both are soured by age."       Charles Caleb Colton

[Bucky]

Day 5 of our Mini Challenge "ME TIME".

Good morning - this is gonna be a fast post as I have to be out the door heading to work in less than 10 minutes.

How's it going with everyone's ME TIME?

Yesterday, I was listening to the stereo in the living room and bebopping along to Footloose!     I can really get my groove on when no one else is around to see me!   

Today, we're suppose to have unseasonably warm temperatures (50's) - so I hope to get outside and get a walk in at some point today.

Have a great day . . . "see" you tomorrow.

Bucky

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out."       Robert Collier

[Bucky]

Day 6 of our Mini Challenge "ME TIME".

Good morning - Happy Friday to y'all.   

How's the ME TIME Challenge coming along for you?

Yesterday, I spent my ME TIME browsing through the Christmas clearance isles at the store.  Nothing real exciting there.     The stores don't seem to have the volume of leftovers like in years past.  That's OK, I don't NEED anything anyhow - but, it's fun to look.

As is a woman's prerogative, I have chosen to modify the length of this challenge from two weeks to just one.  So, that means tomorrow (Jan. 7th) is the final day of this Mini Challenge.

Today is a brand new day - make the most of it - and don't forget to allow time for yourself.   

Bucky

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."       Martin Luther King, Jr.

[Bucky]

Day 7, and final day of our Mini Challenge " ME TIME".

Good Morning . . . ahhh, Saturday.   

For some reason, this time around the Mini Challenge didn't work for our members.  Maybe everyone is too busy with things . . . I don't know.

Yesterday, I took a walk for my ME TIME.  Whenever I am outside and the cats are around - they walk with me.  They are so funny.  I start off walking and before long I look back and trot, trot, trot either one - or both of them - are following me. If I could just get them to quit weaving in and out of my feet . . . grrrrr.  They are going to make me fall yet!

We had a really nice spring like day here yesterday in the mid 50's.  If this is our winter for this year, I have no problem with that!!   

I don't have any great final words of wisdom for you, but I will say this:  We each need to take, or make, 10 minutes each day for "me time".   Think of it this way . . . if you have a baby, plants or animals and you didn't take care of them . . feed them, water them, tend to them - they would die.  A short, simple break can go a long way toward refreshing you - to recharge your batteries . . . if you don't take care of yourself, no one else will!  It's NOT being selfish to take care of yourself.

Here are just some quick ideas on how to spend some "me" time:

   *  Keep a gratitude journal
   *  Take a walk
   *  Exercise
   *  Write a handwritten note to brighten someones day
   *  Close your eyes and practice some deep breathing exercises
   *  Listen to music
   *  Watch something that makes you laugh
   *  Blow bubbles 
   *  Look through photo albums
   *  Read a book / flip through a magazine
   *  Sit outside
   *  Take a short nap
   *  Make a healthy snack
   *  Dance like nobody is watching you 
   *  Take a relaxing shower/bath

Thanks for coming along on this journey.   

Bucky

"The fact is that in order to do any thing in this world worth doing, we must not stand shivering on the bank thinking of the cold and the danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can."       Sydney Smith

[Meld256]

Bucky, those are great ideas to just take time to enjoy the small things in life. 

Duchess,
Just want to go back to your post.  For those of us dealing with time on our hands when we are not able to do many things we used to, such as going to a job, it's a real adjustment to "reinvent" our time and our lives.

I struggled with that for about a year; I've not worked since Feb. 2010 after working for 35 years. You have a great outlook, and I want to encourage you.  It's very important for us to enjoy things we might not have had time for in the past.

It's really a blessing to me to have time to come here, to go to the library, to just drive somewhere I've never seen before when I feel like it and not think about the things I can no longer do. It's the "new me" and I kinda like her.    I hope you enjoy your "new self" too.