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
I 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!
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Little Things for Which I am Thankful
Observations. That’s the theme behind what I’m thankful for this week. Read more
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I’m Fine, Thanks
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.
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Little Things for Which I am Thankful
Hi folks, sorry to not have published this on Friday like I normally do. I was then going to publish it over the weekend but to be honest, I was in one of those “bleck bleh blah” moods yesterday and I like to publish posts that reflect my mood at the time. So, I’m a few days late. But I hope you can enjoy the picture of my little Osito above. Everyone remarks on her eyes being blue. That’s because she’s blind. But she is a gorgeous almost 13 year old girl, isn’t she??
I found out last week I have been approved to attend a conference again this year in the Caribbean! In St. Lucia, to be exact!!
1. I’m going to St. Lucia in July, baby!!
2. I’m going to St. Lucia in July, baby!!
3. I’m going to St. Lucia in July, baby!!
4. Anyone noticing a theme here yet? Ok, another thing I am thankful for is that I had a gum graft done last week. While I’m not happy for the pain and discomfort it caused when the novacaine wore off, and the Percocet hadn’t yet had time to kick in, at least I have really good insurance and a flexible spending plan, so when it’s all said and done, it doesn’t cost me as much as it would cost others to get the same procedure done.
5. Last weekend we had spring-like weather. We’re talking temps in the high 40s. For us this winter, that’s like tropical weather. I wish I could say I was kidding.
6. I saw a doctor for my back last week (I’ve been dealing with back pain for over a year now; the first doctor said it was just a “Strain”…yeah, right) and some days it really hurts to bend over, etc. I’m going to have xrays taken this week and am also setting up an appointment with a chiropractor. The doctor that I saw last week also suggested some trigger point injections to manage the pain. Unfortunately, I didn’t get one last week because of the fact that I had literally had gum work done, oh, 3 hours before and was under the influence of the aforementioned Percocet. (Yes, I’m a wimp when it comes to pain. You offer me painkillers – I’ll take them. I feel no shame in doing that.)
7. I took the day off on which I had both the dentist and back doctor appointments. So grateful to have as much sick time as I do, because honestly, I couldn’t have imagined going into work that day.
8. Over the weekend I read through my Muscle and Fitness Hers magazine and felt inspired. Granted, the fitness models pictured in it are at their peaks, but it just got me thinking of when I had six pack abs just two years ago, and I really want them back. I’m working on it – right now, it’s about a 3-4ish pack? When I suck it in, that is. 🙂
9. Following up on number 8 above, I’ve decided to get one of the multiple meal cooler bags packs so that I can start measuring out my servings better and get more into eating 5-6 small meals per day rather than 3 decent sized ones and then occasionally snacking in between. I’m deciding between the 6-pack bags and those made by Isobag. If anyone has any thoughts on either, good or bad, please let me know. (And yes, I know it’s a lot of money for a cooler. The key for me is the organization it will help me to have, and organization is key when you start riding your bike to work and everything needs to be in its own special place.)
10. Got an email from the author with whom I’m working over the weekend and she was “delighted” with the work I had done and sent to her most recently. I LOVE working with this woman!
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A Little Bit Stronger
I thought that the first three years after my divorce were really hard. Especially the first one, when at first I tried to fight depression completely on my own without medication. Then, I met someone and fell in love and felt my heart open up a little bit again, and thought, hey maybe I can be happy with someone again. Then, it ended. Read more
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Little Things (or not so little) That I am Thankful For
This has been a really unique week. While everyone else had a three day weekend last weekend, I worked Sunday and Monday, but the end result is that I have Friday off and the weather this weekend is supposed to be on the warmer side. Dare I say, even “tropical?” because it may even hit 50 degrees here in the Boston area. Woohoo! So you know what that means ?? That’s right, RAIN! Read more
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Getting Rid of My Debt, Part 12: Recap, and WOWWWW
I’ve noticed that people tend to really like these posts on my blog, and I hope it’s because my progress inspires people. This has been a really tough winter in the northeast – ridiculously “butt cold” temperatures and when it does warm up, it’s just to snow. (See my evidence in the pictures above.) So, I needed a pick-me-up to make me feel good. I have been meaning to chart my progress on my wall, so I gathered up the numbers.
Here’s how they look since I started really keeping track:
Sept. 2013:
Personal loan: $4,211.42
LAL loan: $20,939.94
Simmons Loan: $23,620.04
Big Daddy (federal) loan: $75,390.94
TOTAL BALANCE: $124,162.34
Today:
Personal loan: $000000000 (gone, gone, gone!!!!)
LAL Loan: $18,871.05
Simmons Loan: $23,620.04
Big Daddy (federal) loan: $75,390.94
TOTAL BALANCE: $117,882.03
DIFFERENCE (DECREASE in DEBT): $6,280.31 🙂 🙂 🙂
Of my last two payments on my LAL Loan ($455 and $171.95, respectively), here’s how much went to principal and how much went to interest:
$455 total payment = $397.46 to principal and $32.54 to interest
$171.95 total payment = $169.12 to principal and $2.83 to interest
I cannot tell you how happy this makes me!!
It’s been 5.5 months and I’ve gotten rid of more than $6K in debt, AND have increased my savings accounts to more than what they have ever been before since I’m on my own. I’ve gotten rid of enough shit in my apartment that I can now keep all of my christmas decorations here instead of taking up space in my brother’s attic. I’ve gotten a job at the gym which has been a goal of mine, and I start this Thursday evening. I’ve taken an additional test with NASM and passed, and am working on test #3 and certification #2. Out of nowhere, “my” author has asked for my help again on her book, and she really respects my work (and sense of humor) and pays me well for my time. I have a positive net worth due to my retirements savings and am continuing to put in more than 6% of my salary into my 403(b) account on top of the 10% that my employer puts in a pension (yes, really, I have one) plan, in which I am fully vested. Things are coming together!!
(To my friends out there reading this, if I ever get down on myself, could you remind me to read this post? Thanks.) As my brother said to me on facebook the other day “Sis, you’re doing it!”
You may have noticed that two of those loans don’t appear to have changed, balance-wise, since I embarked on this course. Today, that changes. You see, when I had more debt, I asked my lenders to allow me to just pay the interest that kept accruing on my loans per month. That equals $558/month. Yes, it’s depressing as hell to think about paying over $6,000/year just to keep a loan from growing. I’m calling my lender today and will be asking them to put me back on the standard repayment plan, so at least some of my payment goes toward cutting down the balance. It may not be much, but as I have learned, every little bit helps.
Good things are happening. I don’t know how or why but as I say to some of my friends when they question why things start going their way, “do not question the wisdom of the gods, just go with it.”
And now, for those of you who love the snow, I leave you with one more image. If I had been standing next to this snowpile (which wasn’t created by plows, etc., it was just there, it would have at least been up to my waist.)
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Little Things for Which I am Thankful
Ah, yes, Valentine’s Day. I have to say, it didn’t bother me as much as this year as it has in the past when I was single. I realize it’s just one of those holidays created to make a lot of money for a lot of people. Even when I was married, we didn’t make a big deal out of it – we preferred to celebrate the anniversary of our first date instead (Feb. 12th) and we would usually just get each other our favorite drug store candy on Valentine’s Day. We didn’t see a need to spend a lot of money to say “I love you” when we knew we already did. Same thing last year when I had a boyfriend – he was overseas at the time. We always made sure to say something to the other person whenever we talked, be it online or on the phone. We didn’t need a special day to do that.
So anyway…I digress but here are my thoughts from the past week! Sorry I am a bit late getting this post out – I started writing it last night and fell asleep – it’s been a long, busy week. Read more
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Getting Rid of My Debt, Part 11
Well, I’m getting there. Been doing really well with the freelance work so I should be receiving a second payment this week. My financial adviser suggested I set aside 30% for taxes, and then it might be good for me to split the remainder between savings and paying off my private law school loan. She thinks that if I do something like that, based on what my invoices have been for, I might be able to bring down the student loan from the roughly $19,485 that it is sitting at today, to around $11K. Imagine that! Read more
Chasing Simple Dreams 