52 Lists Project- Week 4

Week 4 ~Your Current & Future Goals & Dreams~

Current Goals Increase Job Skills Be Working Full Time Have My Own Car Have My Own Place Get A Dog

Future Goals Graduate College Get a Master's Degree Get My Biblio/Poetry Facilitation Certification Get My Journal Therapy Facilitation Certification Start a Biblio/Poetry/Journal Therapy Facilitation Business Get Married Raise a Child Write a Sonnet

I honestly can't believe that I am putting "Get Married" and "Raise a Child" on this list! Just a couple of months ago I would have said that neither were things that I wanted. Anyways, the current goals are the things I am working on so that I can get back on my feet. Most of the future goals can't happen until I am working full time and saving money. As for writing a sonnet, that is my ultimate writing goal. I want to do it right but I have such a hard time with iambic pentameter, or any meter really.

Quote: Louis L'Amour

"Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on."

-Louis L'Amour

Now if only I would start taking this advice.

52 Lists Project- Week 3

Week 3 ~Things You Should Be Proud Of~

Achieving Dean's List Status
Every Poem I've Written
Continuing To Pursue My Education Against All Odds
Moving To Atlanta
Making It Through Multiple Abusive Relationships
Taking The Journey To Reclaim Myself

Now this might seem like a very short list, but they are all huge obstacles I've overcome or am working to overcome.

The Story of a HSP

The Story of a HSP (Highly Sensitive Person)

Check out this great artwork about highly sensitive people. Every time I see something about highly sensitive people, so much of it describes me. I don't know if there is an actual diagnosis for this or if it's all anecdotal but it is certainly something I want to look into. Besides what is on this canvas, I've also read that highly sensitive people can be really sensitive to some foods as well. I can feel the caffeine in decaf coffee and I react very strongly when my blood sugar drops (I'm not diabetic or any other medical condition that explains that). Maybe it's because I'm just highly sensitive.

No Time For My Creative Self

Let me start this off by saying that I am so grateful to be working again. I feel like I'm actually doing something worthwhile again plus it is allowing me to finally work on some things that I have been wanting for a very long time.

It has been detrimental to my creative self though. My creative self begins waking up at around 10 pm. I can feel her start to stir. The problem is, that's when I need to head to bed so that I get enough sleep for work. I have to wake up by 7 am and it usually takes me awhile to fall asleep. Stifling my creative self has been hugely damaging in the past and I don't see how that isn't true now. Fortunately, I was working on creating my life organizer for quite some time which was enough to sustain her. Now that all that is left is a few finishing touches, she is screaming for more.

I can't figure out how to remedy this. If she doesn't want to write until nighttime and I don't have another project to work on yet, I'm stuck. I have plans for a creative outlet journal but it is going to cost me money that I don't have to get the supplies together. So, I'm wondering, those of you who are night owls like me, who's creative selves don't wake up until late, how do you balance that with a day job?

My Experimental Budgeting System

I thought I would show you what I came up with for my budgeting system. First I made a monthly budgeting spreadsheet on Excel where I broke down my spending into categories and subcategories. I give myself a budget for each subcategory that I think I will need that month. I also put in what I actually spent and keep track of the difference. Here's a picture of last months spreadsheet.

It's hard to see so I'll try to explain. The top left is my projected and actual income. The top right is projected and actual balance (income minus expenses). The tables underneath are the categories and subcategories with projected cost, actual cost, and the difference. The red is where actual cost was higher than the projected cost (oops!). The table on the right second from the bottom is the total projected cost, total actual cost, and the difference. The bottom two are my checking and savings accounts balances at the beginning and end of the month. I want to make sure that both balances are going up instead of down.

Now to keep track of it when I'm actually shopping, I came up with this.

Since I am using the transaction register that came with my checkbook, I'm debating whether I need the top section of this. It seems redundant. But I'm keeping it for now because I don't carry my check book with me. It might be good to have that information with me. The second section is what I'm focused on though. These are the subcategories that I will likely be out shopping for. The middle is where I put my budgeted amount for each subcategory. I don't shop for each subcategory every month. Then the last column is where I can track how much I've spent. I don't go shopping a whole bunch so I figure that three spaces is more than enough. I usually shop only a couple of times a month if I can help it.

My whole planner system except for the Goals section is done and printed. I printed two months worth and will be testing it starting in April. I wanted to use the whole month the way it was intended to be used. If I am satisfied then I will print 3 or 4 months at a time on much better paper. I hate how you can see through this paper. I'm really excited to finally have it done and ready for a trial run!

52 Lists Project- Week 2

Week 2 ~Your Greatest Comforts~

Hugging Cuddling Tea Puppies The Sound of Water The Sun on My Face

Big Sweaters Knee High Socks Good Books Journaling Men’s Cologne Sandalwood Candles

This is the second time I've mentioned cuddling. Touch is incredibly important to me. I imagine it will be brought up frequently as I make these lists.

52 Lists Project- Week 1

Week 1 ~Words That Touch Your Soul~

Love Respect Honor Loyalty Desire Touch Kiss Cuddle

Writing Poetry Friendship Passion Adventure Nature Expression Safe

Seems like a short list but these days I'm pretty focused. Besides, really how many words have such meaning to you that they touch your soul?

52 Lists Project

Last year I did the March 2013 NaBloPoMo challenge. It led to some revelations about myself and what direction my life should be going and was the beginning of some major changes in my life. The theme had been "Risk". Since my word of the year last year had been action, it seemed like a great way to access what actions I should take and how much I was willing to risk. It worked big time! This year I wanted to do another challenge that might help me with my word of the year which is growth. I found the 52 Lists Project and thought it would be great to try. If nothing else, I will learn more about myself and, if I download each list sheet, end up with a lovely momento of this time in my life.