Author: Terri

Getting Rid of My Debt, Part 14

Terri
"Oh boy, it's a box! It's two boxes!" (My crazy Sebastian and Max)
“Oh boy, it’s a box! It’s two boxes!” (My crazy Sebastian and Max)

My guys above are invaluable in helping me to keep my spirits up. It always amazes me how they can find such amusement in something so simple as a box. 🙂 “Oh boy, it’s a box!”

I mentioned last week that I would talk about how I keep from letting myself feel down about my debt. I try to not think about it in overall, total sums, but rather what I can work on at the moment. This does not mean I am in denial, by any means, but as my grandmother used to say when I would stress out about my debt or other matters, that I shouldn’t make a mountain out of a molehill. Or, I guess in this case, not turn a 20,000 foot tall molehill into Mt. Everest. As weather such as wind and rain gradually wear away at such massive structures as mountains or the Grand Canyon, so will I do so with making extra payments over time. (I just thought of that analogy, what do you think of it?) Read more →

Little Things for Which I am Thankful

Terri
#5 on my list for today. Sebastian. My Doofus.
#5 on my list for today. Sebastian. My Doofus.

Woohoo, Friday!!!

Yes, the day I look forward to every week. Seriously.  Even though this weekend I am working at my full time job on Sunday, it’s ok because it’s the end of spring break for our students. It will either be really dead (allowing me to catch up on that stuff you never to otherwise) or really busy and the time can fly by. That’s the way I choose to look at it.

So anyway…. Read more →

Humane Lobby Day in Massachusetts, 2014

Terri

One thing I have to say about my employer is that we do have really good benefits, including 3 personal days per year. So, yesterday, I used one of them, and went to the Massachusetts State House to take part in Massachusetts’ Humane Lobby Day (i.e. we were there to lobby on behalf of animals.) I am very glad I went. I admit, I usually feel pretty jaded about the whole political process, especially when it comes to the federal level of our government, but still, yesterday was inspiring. I’ve been trying to figure out how to live a more authentic life and to be true to my heart and to passions of mine, and today helped to partly fill a need I have to help animals.

First, I want you to see a video of a beautiful pit bull named Turtle, who was at the state house yesterday and literally everyone that saw her smiled. She just had the sweetest demeanor and was so patient with everyone all day. So many hands were reaching out to her over and over.

Here is what Turtle used to look like (by the way, the lady who is sitting with her at the beginning of the video is Debby Vogel, the volunteer coordinator and person responsible for educational programs, and so much more. She is really loved by all the volunteers, myself included.) As you can see, Turtle suffered and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of light in her eyes.

Please click here to see what Turtle looks like today!! Seriously, she had that smile on her face every time I saw her yesterday! And look into her eyes!!! They are so alive now!  Read more →

Things That Make Me Smile

Terri

Just a short post this morning but one that I feel like I need to make.  When I write a post, it’s because an idea has been gnawing at me for a bit.  Either that, or I start writing in my journal and the need to write about it here overtakes me. Read more →

Getting Rid of My Debt, Part 13 (Catching Up)

Terri
Don't we all wish we could stay in bed some mornings?
Don’t we all wish we could stay in bed some mornings?

Been a few weeks and I haven’t reported in on my progress. Well, not much has changed since the past two weeks, but that is about to change this week. I should have been able to pay my extra $430 to my private loans, as usual out of my regular paycheck, but this month that didn’t work out. I am now taking an e-course called Dreaming of Mortgage-Freedom that is run by Hari of the Tiny House Family blog and one of our first assignments is to start tracking our spending.  (To get to where you’re going, you need to know where you are right now.) She suggested an app and I know others who do the same thing. (By the way, she was on the Today Show this morning! But for me, sometimes, it’s literally the writing down of everything with pen and paper that helps me to see things clearly. And here’s what happened this month: Read more →

Little Things for Which I am Thankful

Terri

Sorry for the lateness in publishing this. I started writing it yesterday but then something happened. I lost my phone on the bus. Yes, I really did. It sounds weird to say this but I almost feel naked without my phone. Yes, I used the word “naked.” Can’t wait to see what search terms might lead people to my blog after this, LOL. Read more →

Massachusetts Lobby Day for Animals: March 18, 2014; PETA Lawyer Talks about Orcas in Captivity

Terri

Next week, I am taking a day off from work to go to the State House here in Boston, to lobby on behalf of animals. I’m not sure exactly what all of it entails, but I will be there as part of a group of volunteers from the Animal Rescue League of Boston.  We are set to have some training tomorrow evening at the ARL location in the South End.  I’m glad to be able to go and give a voice to those who can’t speak (in our version of English anyway) for themselves. Maybe someday, just maybe, animals won’t be considered to be mere property in the eyes of the law. Read more →

Opening Our Eyes: Change-Makers in this World

Terri

don't just think about making changeI was able to see a movie last week which was $7.99 to download but which I found to be priceless. It’s called Opening Our Eyes and it’s about change-makers.  Change-makers are ordinary people like you and me that are making a change in this world. This film has changed the way I think about why I’m here on this earth. I definitely WANT to make a change in this world. I don’t want to just simply occupy space here, you know?  (By the way, if you want to see an interview with the mother and daughter team who created the film, see the Good Life Project here.)

Addendum as of 3/12/14 – the price of the download has gone down to $6.99!

Read more →

Little Things for Which I am Thankful

Terri
My beautiful Sebastian, lost in "Cat thought."
My beautiful Sebastian, lost in “Cat thought.”

Observations. That’s the theme behind what I’m thankful for this week. Read more →

I’m Fine, Thanks

Terri

The title of this post is also the title of a movie that I just downloaded and watched earlier today, for the small sum of $5.  It was $5 so well spent. Here’s the link that you want to click on for sure:  I’m Fine, Thanks.

It’s a movie about people who have realized that maybe what most people think is the American dream really isn’t their dream. Some of them had already attained the things you’re supposed to want and work to get. Some had a nice house or condo, a good salary that they brought home, but a job which gave them no sense of fulfillment.  One woman, Victoria, breaks down in tears talking about how she made the choice to go to law school and how sometimes you make a decision and then other decisions get made, sometimes by your choice and sometimes just as inevitable result.  God, I really identified with her.

One man in the movie talks about how he had a really good corporate consulting career. It was a job that he said many of his friends would kill for. Unfortunately for him, he needed to drink coffee all day long. Then, he finally turned to Red Bull.  And that was literally just to get through the day.  That’s not healthy.

One of the persons that they interviewed is Jonathan Fields of the Good Life Project. He was a lawyer that worked so much in his first career that he literally ended up with a hole in his gut (abscess on his intestines.)  If you haven’t checked out his website, you should. He posts so many good videos and they are all so inspiring, even when the story that’s being told is one of great sadness at times.

I should say that the movie came about because the narrator realized that he had wanted to make movies and act as a child, but as he got older, he realized that wasn’t safe.   He finally got to the point in life where he had the beautiful wife, two kids and house in the suburbs.   All that stuff we are supposed to want, and should feel happy having. But he didn’t. He said he felt like he was living his life through someone else’s script.  How many of us have felt like that? But then felt too afraid to do something about it??  He did it – for three months, he traveled over 10,000 miles with some friends who helped with the production in many ways, and they put the movie together. And it’s great. I think it can even be life-changing.

Please PLEASE go watch this movie – you can download it and watch it over and over again on all of your devices.  And please know, I am not being paid anything or being compensated in any way to say these things about the movie. I’m telling you about it because I sense a lot of us out there wish our life was different but we just don’t do anything about it. And this blog is about changing that, or at the very least, my changing that where I’m concerned.

And after having seen this movie and being so inspired to write about it, I’m going to find more movies like it that I can watch and then tell you about.  Sound good??

Until tomorrow’s post…….

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Follow your heart, people.