Day 75

This lesson is from Tuesday March 16th.

I recommend that everyone spends some time in nature. Getting fresh air, and letting the sun embrace you is so good for our health. The sun gives us a lot of vitamins that helps improve our immune system. It also helps lift our spirits, and helps us feel better. I love spending time outside. I am so happy that warmer weather is almost here. I enjoy reading on our front porch with a cup of tea. I feel like it calms me down, and helps me feel better.

The best part is if you are busy, and don’t have a lot of spare time, that’s okay, because you don’t need to spend a lot of time outside in order to gain all of the benefits. In fact, spending too much in the sun, especially without sunscreen, can increase your risk of developing skin cancer. So if you plan on spending a lot of time outside, I suggest that you wear a hat, and that you continue to reapply sunscreen that way you are protected from the sun rays.

Today, I will ensure that I spend some time outside to allow the sun to give me many healthy vitamins. Spending a bit of time outside will help me feel better and healthy.

Advertisement

Body Lotion

On this edition of Feel Good Fridays, I am going to talk about how amazing body lotion is. Every Friday (usually, Fridays, but as of lately I have been really busy), I talk about small habits that we can in a matter of minutes to help make us feel better. Some days we find it difficult to do some of the easiest tasks, and we spend all of this energy on avoiding the task. Or maybe we have just ran out of energy, or didn’t have any at all. I have come up with simple solutions to help you feel good, and feel better about whatever your situation may be.

Never underestimate the power of applying body lotion. Not only does it hydrate your skin, but the beautiful scents and the ability to relax you.

I love applying body lotion after my shower, and before bed. It really makes me feel good about myself. It’s important that we take care of our skin, especially since the skin is the biggest organ in our body.

Day Two

Let’s about engaging in healthy exercise habits. We should go out for walks, eat healthy, and continuing to move our bodies. Studies say; “Sitting is the new smoking.”, which means sitting is nearly as bad as smoking. It is important to start the day with being active.

Let’s start small, and continue to build ourselves up. Learn to spend 15, 20 minutes just focusing on moving our body, and continue to be active. If you aren’t someone who has made a lot of time in the past to exercise, it will take a bit of time to get into the habit of exercising. But there is no reason to be hard on yourself, and give up.

We just got to put in some time and energy. Which is important to start small, because you don’t want to over do it and hurt yourself in the process. It also becomes less stressful if you don’t think about the results, instead of you just do it, to better yourself, so you can reap the benefits of exercising. There are many benefits to exercising. And there are a variety of ways that count towards exercising like stretching, taking a walk, lifting weights, riding a bike, swimming, etc. Some of these benefits of exercising include a healthy of way to destress, improve cognitive thinking, increased immune system, better sleep, and so many other benefits.

Although I would recommend not exercising too close to bedtime, since it might recharge you, where you become too alert to fall asleep.

Today, I will put some effort and energy into exercising. In the process I will not compare myself to others, instead I will just focus on my abilities. I will show up every day to better myself. I will think of the benefits, instead of the pain.

January Resolutions 2021

This is the first chapter of my My Happiness Project. It is where I discuss small habits that can add so much value and happiness in my every day life. I was inspired by Gretchen Rubin’s book, The Happiness Project. Every month, I focus on a new aspect of my life. This month’s theme is Boosting Energy. Every first day of the month, I will write about my resolutions, and why I think they will help. On the last day I will report back on how I did, and if it actually helped me increase my happiness. To see all of the other upcoming months, check them out here,

http://threeyellowdaisies.ca/category/my-happiness-project/

My Resolutions

1. Get more sleep
2. Exercise More
3. Organize
4. Tackle a nagging task

Get More Sleep

The past few years, we have been known to work more hours, more than ever before. Working longer at work can negatively impact our happiness, because we often have less time for the things that matter to us, like our relationships, hobbies, and properly taking care of ourselves. I know that everyone is in a different situation than others, so I can understand where you are coming from if some nights may be more difficult than other nights. I just wished there was a way that we didn’t have to put our bodies through so much.

So because we are working a lot more than we have compared to the previous decades, we need to take proper care of our bodies. And one way to do that is ensure that we are getting enough sleep each night. Some nights may be more challenging than others, but it is still important to try.

Our adult bodies should be getting at least 7.5 hours, although some people say that they can function on less, others need more. Perhaps it takes you awhile to fall asleep. Here are my tips for you!

1. If you can, refrain yourself from screens (phone, TV) at least one hour before bed
2. Drink sleepy time tea
3. Write in a journal (your thoughts, some chores and errands for the next day)
4. Read a book (preferably one that doesn’t deal with stressful topics like money, business, cookbooks, these just don’t seem like they would be helpful before bed)

My plan is to create an evening and morning routine to help me with this transtition.

Exercise More

I plan on taking more walks in my neighbourhood. My goal is to walk at least 20 minutes, maybe 30 minutes every day. I will start off small, and increase the more I walk. I’m really excited for these new changes in my life. I might even download some Tedtalks, and or some audiobooks for my walks.

I will try to make healthier dietary choices as well. I will limit my intake on take out, sugary foods, and drinks.

Organize

Because I have already gotten rid of some things already, it is time to work on organizing things around my room again. This time is a bit different, because I am enforce my boyfriend to do the one minute rule, which is if takes less than one minute to do, you can’t postpone from the task at hand. Some of these things include hanging up a sweater, or a coat when you come in from outside. Put something back where it belongs. “Do what ought to be done.” – Gretchen Rubin.

Tackle a Nagging Task

Like Gretchen Rubin says in her book, having a long to-do list drains energy, we should slowly work on tackling tasks that we continue to push off, and not do. We probably waste more energy and thought process on ways to avoid this task than if we did this actual task itself.

Conclusion

I cannot wait to get started in this journey. I will keep track of my tasks using a check list. I’m really excited! If anyone else is wanting to partake in this journey, please keep me updated. I would love to see other posts.

Sleep

It’s Friday, so that means it’s time for another post of Feel Good Friday. This post is meant to help us feel better about ourselves in small, easy ways. I’m not asking us to make drastic changes about ourselves. But if we start small, we are able to change so much, and become even more happier.

We must ensure that we give our bodies adequate rest every night. When our phones are about to run out of battery, we don’t expect them to go into overtime, and keep on working past their limits. We simply recharge them, and let them regain their strength. But when it comes to us, we push ourselves into overdrive. We expect so much from ourselves. Even without recharging our batteries.

If you need to continue working on a daunting task, but you are exhausted already, perhaps you can take a 20 minute nap before you jump into the task at a hand. Taking a 20 minute nap will do wonders. It will help you focus again when you wake up. It will allow you to be refreshed, and you won’t feel overtried from taking the 20 minute nap.

Perhaps after your nap, you can make yourself a cup of matcha tea, depending on what time it is, because you don’t want to have that much caffeine that close to bedtime.

Just continue on making sure your body gets enough rest throughout the night. Sleep is really important. It’s one of the most important ways to ensure you work on having a healthy lifestyle.

Pandemic

I can’t believe that we are near the end of 2020. 18 days left. I’ve been trying my hardest to make the best of the situation of what the year has thrown at us.

The whole Covid-19 pandemic has taught me valuable lessons such as, make time for what matters, don’t procrastinate, and always be grateful. Mind you I did have a grasp of these concepts but this reminded me to enforce these ideas even more.

One of the negatives from the viruses, is that they have been many families who have lost loved ones from the virus. My heart goes out to everyone who is hurting. Things might not get easier, but one thing for sure is that we do stronger. I am so thankful for the health workers and everyone who is at the front lines battling this disease.

Although I feel sad, because it seems to me, like a lot of people are divided over this virus. Mostly because there are people who think this is a hoax. And these people are calling the ones that do believe in this virus mean names. I don’t like how people have become divided on the topic. I wished that this would have brought us closer together (well, from six feet apart). We really do need to work together on this to help each other.

This virus has helped others focus on their mental health, which is something that we don’t always talk about enough. But it allowed others to seek help, they might not have if it weren’t for the virus. It allowed us to finally put our mental health as a priority.

It has given me more time to truly wonder what I want to do with my life. I always dreamt of being my own boss, by wanting to be a writer, and blogger. But I also want to be a psychologist to help people as well. I believe that we all have the power to make better choices.

One of the benefits from Covid-19, is that I am a bit scared of germs, so I have always been cautious of germs. I do feel a bit relieved that now I am not the only one that is taking precautions when it comes to germs. I felt like people have always made fun of me, behind my back, and sometimes even to my face. And now it is a nice situation where people are now more cautious. I just hate the circumstances of what held to these events. But there are measures in place to ensure we are all safe, or at least the safest we can be.

I have always been worried about germs since, as long as I can remember. It stemmed from childhood. When I move, I prefer to spend time cleaning my new space before I move my belongings in. When I moved in with my boyfriend, and his family, that was a big adjustment to me. I only felt comfortable washing my dishes. These habits do cause me to feel stress. I do have a lot of struggles adapting to new things and places. All we can do is learn to take things one day at a time.

Another benefit of the pandemic is that it really showed me what I really want to do in my life. I learned that I don’t want to work for someone else’s dream. I want to work on my dream. My dream is to be a writer, and a blogger. I know my chances are making it big, and famous are probably just one percent, but some other famous person had the same thought, and yet they ended up fulfilling their goals. As am I.

“With everything that has happened to you, you can feel sorry for yourself, or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.”

-Dr. Wayne Dyer

One Year Later…

A year ago, today, I was hit by a car walking to work. I haven’t even told many people in my family, I guess I just didn’t want them to worry about me. Not many of my family follows my blog, at least not yet anyway. I was extremely thankful and lucky that I didn’t die, or suffer any life threatening injuries from my accident. I only suffered bruises and a bit of swelling. Not even a broken bone. I think my Guardian Angel was my Great Aunt. I like to think that she was watching over me protecting me that day. I remember the last time, I had visited her, she called me her girl, and hugged me. I knew that I always held a special place in her heart.

If you would like to read the original story of my accident, although it may be a bit graphic for some readers. I tried my best not to be too graphic. You can read the original story here, https://threeyellowdaisies.ca/2020/05/29/second-chance/ The purpose of this post is to provide hope and wisdom to other people, and not so much of the story of the accident.

Now I spend my days trying to cram doing all the things that make me happy throughout my days, because we truly don’t know when our last day may be. I was able to start writing my blog again, five months after my accident. I first started this blog in May of 2015, and managed to write it for a year, and took a break, and nearly forgotten about it for four years. But here I am, back and better than ever. And here to stay.

I know that they are many people who lose their lives due to motor vehicle accidents every year. In Canada there were 1,922 people who died in 2018 from a motor vehicle traffic collision. (1) I am truly sorry for everyone who has lost a loved one from a car accident. My heart goes out to you all.

A year ago today, I am reminded that any one of us can die so suddenly, so let’s not waste a day, or even a second for holding a grudge, or hatred towards someone. Why waste a day, being anything, but happy? We should make every one of our days count for something. We should add joy and happiness in someone else’s day. The best part is that doesn’t take a lot of effort. When we make other people happy, it also makes us happy, too. It’s a win win situation. And sometimes people don’t get so lucky with having a second chance at life. So find something that makes you happy, and brings joy to your life. Life truly does go by pretty fast, faster than we think.

I hope everyone can use this tragedy as a reminder to go out and find your passion. Really start living your life. You don’t know what the future is going to bring you, so don’t let it pass you by.

A year later, I still feel pain from time to time in my right thigh where I got hit. I still get a bit anxious going out for a walk, especially at busy interactions, and busy roads. I have always been cautious crossing the street before my accident. And now, I’m even more cautious, if that’s even possible. I avoided having to do any obligations and errands for today, so I don’t have to go outside. It must sound a bit lame, but I just don’t have the strength to go out on the anniversary of my accident.

Getting hit by a car, really changed my life for the better. It gave me motivation to take over my life, again. I learned that I was too focused of living my life to other people’s standards, and not so much as to my standards. I was doing something that people wanted me to do. I even started studying accounting a few years ago, since people told me that I should be an accountant, because I was organized, had a good memory, and good with numbers. I learned that maybe, that’s what I’m not meant to do. And now I am slowly doing the things I want to do for myself. I found my true passions. In the fifth grade I wanted to be a writer, and right now I have been dedicating time to write. I want to add joy to people’s lives, by helping them see the good in themselves, and helping them realize that things do get better.

Throughout the year, other areas of my life have changed, my boyfriend and I no longer live with his family, but now we live with his friend and his family. I no longer work at that coffee shop. Not for reasons related to the accident. That’s just how life worked out for us. I couldn’t be more happy. I was working for someone else’s dreams, and not really have a lot of time to focus on my dreams, and what my passions are. Right now, I have been focusing on my blog, and writing some stories. That is what I am passionate about.

I see this day as a reminder to live my life, chase after my dreams, not try to appease what people want me to do, or they say to me when I’ve just been writing some ideas down. Even though the accident didn’t make much sense, like I always asked myself, why did that happen to me? Why did I lived? I really started questioning my purpose. I’m not working at the moment, but I have been using this time to work on what I am passionate about, which is writing. How thankful I am that I only ended up with bruises. Because I know, not everyone is as lucky. I am thankful that I still get to help others, and that I get to be here for my loved ones. The universe saw something greater in me, than I was capable of seeing in myself, and the universe didn’t want my story to end. This accident ignited a fire in me, that I should do something in my life. It reminds me to always find my purpose and happiness, and go in that direction, and not move backwards.

I hope that people can take away that their life doesn’t last forever, only their legacy does. It’s best not to waste your purpose by living someone else’s dreams. Go and chase your passion. Life is limited, so go out there and make something out of your life.

1. https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/motor-vehicle-safety/canadian-motor-vehicle-traffic-collision-statistics-2018

Take a Walk

Today is Friday, which means it is another edition of Feel Good Fridays. It’s where I talk about incorporating a small tip that has healthy outcome on our mental and emotional health. It is really important, more so right now, to focus on our health. Especially with the pandemic still lingering and interfering with our daily lives.

Sometimes learning to take a break from our stressful, and repetitive routines is exactly what we need.

It’s even better when the sun is out, since our bodies are soaking up all of these extra vitamins which is important to have, especially vitamin D, which is known as the Sunshine Vitamin. Vitamin D helps prevent diseases and keep depression at bay.

The best way to give yourself a new perspective is by taking a walk. It doesn’t even need to be a long walk, but as long as you get out of your house, and move. It does wonders for the body. It helps you destress you in a healthy manner. It helps digest your meals. It can help you have a good night’s rest.

You can explore a new area in your neighbourhood. Taking a daily walk helps helps strengthen your bones, and lowers your risk for Alzheimer’s disease. It can help sharpen your mind, too.

You can walk with a family member, or a neighbour, while maintaining social distancing with one another. Or you can listen to your music, or even listen to a Ted Talk, carefully while still obeying traffic rules. Or you can just walk in peace, enjoying the sounds of nature, the sky, and the flowers. Whichever way you do it, there is no wrong way.

Today, I plan on taking a walk to the library. I can’t wait to go. I like to listen to music when I walk. Although this time I was planning on taking a different route there, it’s always fun to mix things up.

Get out and enjoy the day! Your body will thank you.

Walk 20 in 20

Late Tuesday night, I came across this exciting concept. It was originally published in Gretchen Rubin’s Podcast.

The concept is you walk 20 minutes a day, every day in 2020. Although I am quite late, but there are still 63 days left of the year, so it’s not too late to join this trend.

Walking has many great benefits such as lowering stress levels, anxiety, boosts immune system, and promotes better sleep. It helps you remove yourself from being trapped inside, and take a break outdoors. Being out in nature, is really relaxing and helps you be mindful.

Although, some days might be challenging based on how chilly it might get, since where I live we are in the transition to winter. This is something I am going to work towards for the next nine weeks.

I am so excited. And I hope a lot of you can join this trend. Walking 20 minutes is so manageable and beneficial to us. Yesterday I walked for around one hour since it was a really nice day.

Resolutions Check In

Hey everyone! I made a list of all the goals I hope to achieve for my 27th birthday. Since my 26th birthday was 26 days ago, I thought this would be the perfect day to reflect on my goals.

Here’s a list of my goals…

1. Exercise, yoga, meditate every day
2. Read for at least 30 minutes a day
3. Finish writing my book by my 27th birthday
4. Volunteer
5. Turn my passion into a career
6. Don’t fall behind with medical exams and medical health
7. Travel to two new places
8. Read at least 52 books
9. Journal every night
10. Purge my things for once and for all
11. Find a new place to live with my boyfriend
12. Save $10,000 in a year (with help from my boyfriend)
13. Try a new recipe once a week
14. Pay off all of my debt
15. To keep a day planner and keep up with deadlines and goals
16. Get up early
17. Get into the routine of meal prepping again
18. Go to bed at a decent time
19. Make a budget and actually stick to it
20. Have a month no spend on take out or any unnecessary shopping
21. Give myself something relaxing and rewarding (massage, facial, pedicure and manicure).
22. Save at least 10% of my earnings
23. Watch less TV
24. Donate more to others
25. Drink more water
26. Start a new tradition with my boyfriend

1. Yoga and meditation didn’t happen right away, but it’s slowly becoming a habit. I am feeling much better since I have started my day with those two habits.
2. This one has been the easiest one to get into the habit of. It has been helping me read a lot of my books.
3. I haven’t written much of my book, but I have been planning on an idea, and thinking of what can happen next. There is still time to complete this goal.
4. Unfortunately, because of Covid-19, there isn’t many if any opportunities around, so this is one that I haven’t been able to do.
5. My absolute goal is to be my own boss and to not have to work for someone by working towards their goal. I would like to become a full time blogger. I am still in the research process of gathering information for myself and trying to think of the next steps to move forward with my goals.
6. This one is still a work in progress, but I have been heading in the right direction.
7. Where I am living there are still travelling restrictions, so unfortunately this one will have to wait. But I have decided on wanting to travel to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I’ll let my boyfriend brainstorm some places we can travel to. Although this year we are focusing on paying off our debts, so we won’t be travelling anywhere too far.
8. I have been on par with this goal since I have read four books already. My goal is to read one book a week.
9. To be honest, aside from blogging, I haven’t written in my journal at all. I am going to add this in my bedtime routine.
10. I have started a new challenge for myself which is to get rid of one item a day. And once I gain more confidence, I can purge even more. Perhaps I can purge more things a day.
11. My boyfriend and I have discussed that we would like to celebrate my 27th goal in our own place. Although we haven’t narrowed it to a location yet, nor discussed finances or a budget for our new place. That will come in due time.
12. Saving $10,000 is going to be the most challenging but exciting goal so far. I know that a portion of that will be for our emergency fund, but the remaining portion will be for our travelling fund and new apartment fund — which is really exciting.
13. I think I may have to modify for trying a new recipe every two weeks.
14. This way will come in due time. My boyfriend and I are in the process of making and sticking to a budget. So we have been setting aside some money every time to pay down our debts.
15. At the moment, there isn’t much happening, appointments or anything along those lines at the moment, but I have been picking up with daily and weekly routines.
16. I am still learning to get up early, although as of lately things are getting easier.
17. I have been getting back into routine of meal prepping more. I enjoy making crock pot recipes.
18. I prefer to go to bed early, but some nights my boyfriend works late so some days it’s hard to go to bed at a decent time.
19. I have been putting in the final touches of our budget.
20. I was planning on doing this in July. We can still buy food, but we can’t buy any material items or wants.
21. I haven’t been wanting to go a nail salon right now so I haven’t gotten a chance to spoil myself right now, but my boyfriend has been given me foot rubs. So that’s always nice.
22. This is one of the goals we have been doing.
23. Over the weekend, I spent time rearranging our room so now it’s more spacious. That was nice to not spend time watching TV.
24. I am going to be purging and donating my clothes. I also plan on making donations to others for Christmas.
25. I have been drinking a lot of tea, instead of water. But I try to do this more, since water is important.
26. The new tradition with my boyfriend, I am still thinking of something cool to do. So far, I thought we can stock up on our basic necessities (toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, laundry detergent and soaps) for the year in December, instead of having to go out when we’re running out of things. Last December I went a bit crazy with this one sale of shower gels, and I just liked that feeling of being stocked up. I hate running out of things.

Overall, I feel like I am doing a good job with keeping up with resolutions and goals. Some of these have been challenging, other ones are fairly easy. I am proud with all that I have accomplished so far.