Thursday, February 10, 2011

Giving is a drug

There's a good post on The Simple Dollar discussing the difference between feeling there's an abundance in life versus a world lacking all we need. What's interesting is it seems the more people see the world as lacking the more they hoard—not share. I guess it's part of nature to ensure survival, but when people hoard, it actually causes a lack in the world. If everyone shared, we'd have plenty for everyone! What a crazy world we live in.
I bring this up not because I'm so giving, but for the opposite reason. I gave to someone homeless for the first time in a long time today and have started trying to give people small gifts on their birthdays once again (not just family) and I like the feeling. I know some people say being nice is selfish if you get something out of it, but if that's the case I want to be more selfish! It's a win-win situation if someone gets something they need and I feel better! Who needs prescriptive drugs (or any other kind, for that matter?). Not givers!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

One for one

The Every Day Minimalist is giving away one copy of The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Living Guide by Francine Jay. While I may not need yet another book, I think one may be OK if I vow now to give another away if I win it, so that's what I'm going to do. If I win, I will get rid of a book. I've been doing much better with my personal library for the past, say six months anyway by using the public library—That glorious place with free books, CDs and videos.

Bucket List

WiseBread has posed the question, "What's on Your Bucket List?" to its readers.
While I've already done quite a few; visited Italy, went scuba diving in Cozumel, went parasailing at Catalina Island and visited NYC, there are still quite a few things I'd like to do in this lifetime.

Here are a few I still want to fit in:

Visit Australia

Go paintballing—scheduled for this weekend

Teach English in another country

Live in Cali

Live on the East Coast

Visit Boston

Go skydiving?

Cruise in Alaska

Fly in a helicopter

Visit Asia

Sew an entire outfit

Write a book

Visit London and Paris

There's a lot more for sure, but I'd like to keep it manageable for now and add on when I can. I also have a list of smaller things that I can do in a weekend or a day in my notebook, so I can do them and scratch them off as the opportunity arises. I've found that writing things down does make it more likely that you'll do them. Before when someone would mention a trip I'd think I will never have the money to do that, but now when they mention it I ask when are you leaving, so I can calculate whether or not I have the time to save up. Usually I do.

Make your own bucket list and share it. I'd love to hear some of your ideas!