Alas, I thought this one would be easy.....assignment #2

Good afternoon Boys and Girls!

Your homework for this week is:    dun dun duhnnnn.......SURPASS YOURSELF!   I guess that's a step further than being beside yourself :)

So here's the description - straight from the card - so don't blame me for any part of it you don't like:

Do more and do it better this week.
Really extend yourself, more than ever before, to do the best possible in everything you undertake. You'll see, it's an extraordinary way to make yourself feel good, to feel stronger and happier as you review your day while lying in bed waiting to fall asleep.  It's also an excellent way to feel eager to get up in the morning, knowing that you have the challenge to give your best all day long.  Also pay attention to how others react to you.  You'll probably notice that they appreciate you more than usual.

Whew.  And I thought this one was going to be easy!  A few thoughts came to mind as I typed that....

*  I wish it hadn't said "more than ever before" because quite honestly, given my recent state of being, surpassing myself for the week had a very low bar - one that I thought would be attainable.  But this poses quite a challenge.  Although I can probably be successful in the "more than ever before" qualification if I stick to things like housework.  But no!  It says "in everything you undertake".  well I guess challenges are for .....being challenging.  Ok. next thought I had...

*  "lying in bed waiting to fall asleep".....not sure I have ever had that experience.  it's more like I fall asleep and the bed waits for me to make my way to it.  What the heck- I will try to stay awake long enough to review my all surpassing days this week. Or maybe this means I can surpass myself in sleeping, too? Hmmmm now we're talking!

* "eager to get up in the morning"   Who are they trying to kid???  Obviously the creator of this little game doesn't know me very well.  Eager and morning cannot peacefully coexist in my world. Except at the beach.  Or on Christmas morning.  And neither of those things will be happening this week.  sigh

It's only week 2 on the way to a better me and I'm already questioning the wisdom of making myself accountable in such a public venue as Blogspot.  Geez I'm glad I'm not really published yet.  But what have you and I got to lose?   Let's get crackin - stop being beside yourself and surpass yourself - in every way, every day, this week!  and don't forget to send me your stories! 

Ready, Set, Go!!!

Ok class, please turn in your homework....

Well, it's time to report in on how well you accomplished Task #1 this week - Consoling Someone.  As for me, I would say I failed.  Mark a big old F on this week's assignment for me. This card will have to go back in the pile and be picked out another week on my calendar.  Not that I didn't try - and in fact, I suppose there's an outside chance that someone somewhere was helped by something I did.  But more often this week, I found myself being the consolee - numerous times throughout the week....even ending up sobbing on the shoulder of a co-volunteer at Tides.  And a thought struck me this week that in our efforts to console someone else, we may not always be able to measure the outcome of this assignment.  We may have impacted a life without knowing it.  Or as in my case this week, sometimes our efforts are misconstrued as having deleterious intent - and for that there seems to be no self-consolation.  So I would love to hear how you fared - comment here if blogspot will stop being temperamental and allow that, or drop me a line on Facebook or in an email......and stay tuned for the coming week's assignment - to be posted tomorrow. 

A New Kind of Workout

I have a box of cards containing activities to help one become a better person all around by improving emotional intelligence.  They are entitled "Psychological Workout Junior" and were purchased to use with my students as a schoolwide and individual intervention for a host of issues.  Since I don't have the anticipated audience with whom to challenge and carry out these "exercises", I've decided to use this blog space instead.  So I invite you to join me.....yes, I said join me, because I need these as much as anybody - to "make the next year the year that will change your life!"....or so says the back of the box.  Who doesn't need some change in their life? 

Here are the rules -

On Monday I will post the activity for the week (I will attempt to be consistent to the best of my ability) which we are to complete during the whole week. I will copy the text from the card to this site.

Drop me a line - post on Facebook, or comment here, about your attempts, successes and failures at the end of the week on the given activity. 

Now, if you were holding the box, you would be allowed to return a card to the pile if  in a given week you were unable to complete the task.  But since I am holding the box, I will just recommend that you retain the assignment along with the new one for the week.

You are probably thinking, why does this woman think that anyone is going to jump into yet another form of workout when we all struggle so much to hit the gym, or the books, or the housecleaning or anything else that endlessly haunts our to do lists?  Well, I guess I don't expect a huge following in this.  But if nothing else, it will make me accountable to get my own rear in gear and turn the lights out on my pity party, which also sometimes becomes a petty party. 

I really do aspire to be something better than what I have been.  And I am hoping this will help me in that endeavor as well as become a tool in my work with others.  So, are you ready?  Get set........

Our first activity is.......drum roll please............

CONSOLE SOMEONE
You know how it feels to be consoled by someone?  Have you ever been comforted by your parents, a friend, a brother or a sister?  Offer someone who needs it you support and your presence while they're going through a tough time.  It's good exercise that will make your heart grow stronger and kinder!

GO! 

Can't wait to hear your stories!  I can think of many many people who have done just this for me in the past weeks and months.  I am  hoping to be given opportunities of my own to pay that kindness forward.......