My Dream Board

Bucket list. Dream. Planning.

I was introduced to the term "Dream Board" by Kirk Duncan of 3 Key Elements. He is a Body Language Master and teaches classes and shares presentations on how to grasp life, to achieve things, and to learn yourself better.

I attended one of his sessions about 2-3 years ago, and he talked about his dream board. Some put it in a binder, or maybe a bulletin board. It is a collection of everything you want to achieve, visit, own, experience, have, eat, and so on! And you put up physical pictures of everything you want. Write up your own diploma, picture of the lobster you want to try some day, a picture of your dream house, everything! 

If you ever go listen to him, you will learn that he has a few extra strategies to follow it. But today, I just wanted to put together a basic dream board. The steps after putting it together include looking it over daily and shouting at it, but we'll just take the first step!

Travel

Because this is important to me. I have had a recent obsession with Alaska for the last 2.5 years, and with Ireland for at least 8 years. My family mostly all comes from Europe, and I want to visit all of it someday. Here are several pictures that make me drool, whine, and wonder if I can go everywhere on the little I have in my bank right now: 

Eat

Because eating is important and after China, I can't get over the thrill of trying foreign foods. Seriously. I can't. 

Left: Gyros

Right: Lobster roll

Left: Vegemite

Right: Real Italian Cannolis

Own

Because I'm still human and desire a few things! But I promise, for everything I buy, I also get rid of something. Size might not be the same... but still!

Left: Chevy Impala '67, Black

Right: Record Player

Left: A HUGE BOOKCASE OF

MY FAVORITE BOOKS

Right: A nice working phone that doesn't freeze up on me ten times a day. That sounds dreamy.

Family:

Not only am I a part of a religion that finds family vital, but hey, it would nice to grow old with someone, someone who helps me make sense of taxes, builds forts to watch movies and read under, who reminds me to work out and I remind him to study and we make stupid jokes. That's ideal, right?

Enough said.

House:

Because who doesn't want a house? I adore the city, but I don't want to be in an apartment or condo for my entire life, even if I can afford living on Main or something weird. I want a gorgeous house, preferably antique-looking, even if everything else is specially modern (totally okay with that, because I don't want the house falling apart, even though house projects can be very fun).

Life activities:

I want to learn, achieve, grow and experience! For example, graduate with a Bachelor's (maybe go for a Master's? We'll see...), travel, write (and publish) my books, have a paint fight, a mud fight, participate in a color run, and more!

 

And here we have it, a large form of my Dream Board. And according to The Secret, this should be helping me out, right? Get me out there? Win, love, experience, attempt and learn! Here's to the future and everything I can do!

Now, what about you?

So You Want To Be A Minimalist

Growing up, I began wondering if I would become a hoarder. I hated getting rid of anything. I still remember one of my family's first garage sales. My parents wanted me to get rid of some things that I didn't use, and I figured "hey, yeah, sure, I have a ton of stuff anyways."

And I got rid of this yellow kitty beanie baby. It was that, and about two other things, really.

But that beanie baby. I watched a girl about my age pick it up, pet it, and ask her mom if she could get it. I watched my mom give them a cheap price. I remember thinking it wasn't enough. But the girl smiled and within minutes, she was walking away with my toy.

As you can see, that sort of tore a hole in me for a while. After that, I didn't really get rid of anything. 

I didn't want that feeling again, being ripped apart from something that I had once used and played with. Even if, you know, I played with it twice.

So I kept everything I could. My parents of course, knew I didn't need old report cards and tests and projects, so every now and then, they would encourage me to get rid of things. About twice a year, we went through room after room and had to get rid of at least three things. THAT WAS HARD.

Then, I met Katie. She had half the stuff I did, and she thought she had too much stuff. And as most friends are, she became quite an influence. At first, I was taking all the clothes she didn't want. But as time progressed and our friendship grew, she pointed out I didn't wear a majority of my closet. So why did I have it?

Because I'm emotionally invested, of course!

Which is BAD.

So, this is a work in progress. As things continue to change in my busy life, I'll let you know how this goes. Though I'm not quite there yet, I'm working my way there, step by step!

First step: is tossing out anything broken, or too used up. Cute shirts with stains you can't get out and won't wear, broken pencils and crayons, shoes with too many holes. 

Second step: the 6th month rule. If you haven't worn it in six months, toss it. Being in college calls for a necessary range of clothing, from business casual to a fancy dress to paint-splattered jeans depending on the occasion, really. Because of that, it makes it a little tougher. There are a few necessities you need. But you don't need two pairs of paint splattered jeans, for starters.

Third step: you don't need a second wardrobe/collection "just in case." That caligraphy case you've had for years, just in case. That extra pair of black pants, just in case. That third sequin sweater, just in case. Things change- including yourself. It's mostly unlikely you will need them again. So since you can do without now, you can figure something out in the future.

Fourth step: Projects. It just needs a button sewed on, I just need to go find a new zipper, this just needs some more hemming. If you haven't done it now, whose to say you will do it later? Go out NOW and fix it, or toss it. Seriously.

Fifth step: emotional attachments must be dissolved. It had a good run but you don't need or wear it anymore. This is hard, trust me. I'm still working on it. I have a lot of  things from my grandmother that I never use. I loved the woman, but I don't need to show it by keeping her things I do plan to ever wear. That's not the best tribute to give the good woman, after all. So it's okay to get rid of it.

Tips: 

If you are wavering on something, give it a week. Try it out, wear it around the house or out of the house. If it bothers you at all, toss it. I love my clothes but if it's too much of a hassle- it keeps bunching, it doesn't look good with anything, etc- then it just has to go!

Emotional detachment is tricky. This woman suggests to get rid of five little things a day, and work your way up. You can try that as well!

Keep items that are memorable. Not items of people who were memorable.

Don't get distracted by vaccumming, organizing, reoorganizing, and so on- it will distract you. Purge and get it done! This woman has several other tips in purging. 

Essentially, keep things that you VALUE.

I'll do another post on minimalism soon! Until then, enjoy some of these links on how to get started on the process:

Decluttering Tips and Tricks

15 Minimalist Hacks

The 40 Hanger Closet

21 Actions to Simplify Your Life

2015 Has Arrived!

It's a brand new year! 

And with every new year comes new plans, new ideas, new people and new adventures! There's so much to do and so much to see and so much to eat! I can't help but give into the societal stigma that yeah, it's a new year and things can change. People can change.

So I have my new year resolutions! Most years I have made them fairly... extraordinary. My eyes were bigger than my wallet, my planner, and my heart. And I don't know about you, but I very much dislike not being able to achieve my goals.

That is why I'm working on making better resolutions this year around that are a little more likely to reach.

Here's my list of New Year Resolutions for 2015:

1. Try Lobster. Preferably not in the shell, because though I do enjoy seafood, I cannot eat it if it looks like it was alive. I can't. Animal crackers are cool, but lobster shells are another thing altogether.

2. Travel abroad. Canada at least, would be fun, though apparently it's about a 20 hour drive? Hm. 2013 I went to China and 2014 I went to Mexico, though, and I am hoping to fit something into 2015, even if it's a short trip somewhere!

3. Consider going through the temple. In my LDS religion, most kids my age are on missions, which is not a part of my plan- or they are married. In case you haven't noticed, I am not married. But the doors of the temple are more open now, to going through the inside even if I am not doing one of those two (yet!). I've started praying about it and sometime this next year, things might happen.

4. Summer internship/good job. At the top of my list is a  professional internship with Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. However, it is very competitive and I don't know how good my chances are of getting in. But part of my dream has always been to work with them and do creative writing, and I'd like to try a shot with the big leagues and get my foot in the door! And if I don't get it, I would like to at least find a job outside of Cedar (anywhere but here, please), because I cannot stay here a third summer. Hey, who knows? Maybe I'll head off to Virginia or better yet: Alaska.

5. Be More Social. My family and few friends might laugh and mock this, but I am serious. It's something I am constantly working on, but for other introverts such as myself, it's really difficult! It is time consuming, energy consuming and most of all: emotionally consuming. When I started up school- a year ago!- again, full time, when I was also working= I finished the first day just exhausted of everything and I went to FHE and my energy fell apart within the hour we were there. I was a limp noodle by the time I got home! So this is something I want to work on.

So, here's to 2015 and the adventures to come! And what are YOUR resolutions?