Out on a Limb

In reality, I should feel no different today, but 

 I am embarking on a new adventure and I do feel different!

It really is amazing what this idea has done for my outlook on this year. 

With the exception of turning 25, I never had an issue with my age until now. 

This year the number is daunting.  I think because I have considered myself '39 again'

for so long, I am in shock that I can be so old! lol  

Tonight I was at Book Club and I reveled my actual age. One might think that it lightened my load, but in reality I felt sick to my stomach (it doesnt help that I am 10+ yrs older than lots of the women there and I only know a hand full of them well. )  I guess I feel exposed and different. Its been a while since I have felt a minority.  Tonight I was.  My religion, age and lifestyle all different.  Its not bad, and no one made any negative comments, they were lovely and interested... its all in my head I am sure... but it is still difficult to be out on a limb.  I need to live my life and forget my age... though this adventure I am on begs for a rationale. Perhaps I should come up with a good story instead of the truth! lol 

I Love Halloween

With my kids all at university this Halloween, I have decided it would be funny to put their heads in jars like this! haha  A bit on the morbid side and I am sure that there will be plenty of people talking behind my back about how inappropriate that was... but pfttt if you cant take a joke... dont come knocking on my door at Halloween!  Just Sayin! =]]] #halloweenideas

5 Days and Counting/Circus Tickets

Its been my experience that birthdays can be a disappointment, unless you set yourself up for success.  I wish I was one of those people that was happy with anything, anywhere... but I am not.  That being said, I dont need anything more than something fun to do on my birthday.  Gifts dont really matter to me.  I am not a material girl really.  Its actions and memories that count in my book.  (Not to say a meaningful thoughtful gift isnt appreciated! haha I am human! =] )

Soooo I have just bought 8 tickets to a circus on Groupon and will ask some friends to come with me! It happens to be on my actual birthday!  I havent been to a circus since I was a child so this counts as a 'first' (my rule is that I cant have done it in 20+ yrs).  This one isnt your normal circus I fear, but it will be an adventure! lol  #circus #notin20years

More Ideas Needed

Only 6 days until I begin my weekly 'firsts' challenge! I need more Ideas! I have 53 listed on the right side of this blog but most of them would be so difficult to achieve!  I need some easy ones too.

Help!

Tonight I am having another first (too bad its not a week later!)

I am hosting our neighborhoods ladies poker game.  Guessing I will have 10 ladies to play and a few just for the social portion before the game.  I might pass out paper and ask them to each come up with some ideas!

I am also thinking I need to get people to do things with me... so I better start to keep a list of who and what! Otherwise it will be a lonely year! haha 

Thoughts on Blogging and Gaming

Its been years since I first started to blog. At least 10 probably closer to 12.  I began blogging when my mother was diagnosed with cancer.  It was a creative outlet and really therapeutic to put into writing what was clouding my brain.   I began with an alias of 'Kate' because I had no idea of who would be reading, what the social implications were and how it all worked.  The name stuck.  Funny, for a girl who never had a nickname growing up, as an adult I have been Kate and DJ (for my gaming name DenimJeans). To this day there are people who still call me Kate and DJ.

In both arenas I found life long friends.  I have met bloggers and also Runescape gamers, their friends and family, in real life.  It has literally given me the window to touch and see the world.
To me, its been priceless.  I understand that to others it's just flat out weird, but that is why there is vanilla and chocolate!  Its my shtic.

I gave up Blogging for a while and now I am back.  I have also given up RS for a while but go back now and then and always think about going back...  Facebook seems to have replaced blogging for many people.  Its a community of mostly known people though.  There is something appealing about online forums where it is about what you write and what you think/feel that connects you with people.  Sure there are nuts out there, but my view is that there are nuts everywhere.  You can generally tell in real life as you can virtually. #blogginggaming #fblink

Anyone use https://ifttt.com to link stuff? I tried to set it up but its not triggering =/

Crunch Time/ Excel

2 weeks until my firsts begin! I am equal amounts excited as I am nervous!

Organization and this blog are going to be key to a successful year of firsts!  I have begun to set up monthly Excel Calendars to keep track of potential and executed firsts!  Its funny how when you aren't even trying, there are so many firsts that just occur in your life.   I have been long believed that at my age there aren't many 'firsts' that occur naturally anymore. You have to go in search of them.  What I am finding already, without my year of trying, is that they come if you are open to them!  Instead of saying no, say yes!  ( #notetoself I need a place on my blog for lessons learned this year.)

So after looking into Oct and Nov, I have only 2 weeks to look for a first to do!  That being said, I also have some pending business travel abroad with my spouse and to Arizona to make. Unfortunately the weeks might not aline.  I might have 10 firsts in one week but none in another and that doesn't count!  I will keep track of the total number of firsts I achieve this year as well. Just for the heck of it. =] Happy Tuesday! =]

Adding to the List

Be in a Flash Mob!  How fun would that be!
This made me think of it!  How does one go about finding where Flash Mobs are going to be located? hummmm  well Google came up with a few options and I am on the list to participate now!  Bring on another first! =] (How cool would this be... flash mob for a special 10 yr old... http://www.flashmobamerica.com/videos/) :)

Paddle Boarding A First! =]

  I actually felt guilty doing trying paddle boarding Weds, and not waiting until Oct.  In the end, it was just too tempting to pass up the opportunity.  Perfect weather, location and company.  Sarasota, FL.  Fabulous place and The sunsets were amazing every night! #paddleboarding  #fblink

Outlander Sweepstakes

I figure I have nothing to lose by trying and that would definitely be a 'first'!! haha  Plus phew 

Sam Heughan who plays Jamie 
 is a cutie... #goingtoscotland 

http://sweepspage.com/entryform.aspx

Living Fully

The idea of living life fully is extremely personal.  I read a book by His Eminence Shyalpa Tenzin Rinpoche which, " reveals timeless wisdom that can help us fulfill this deepest aspiration. Each succinct teaching is a luminous jewel, an invaluable guide to actualizing our innate potential and breathing with joy and ease."   Interesting but it didnt touch me the way I had hoped.  This website however, livinglifefully.com did.  It is full of quotations and biographical information from impressive people.  People like the Dalai Lama, Anne Frank, Albert Einstein, Maya Angelou and even Andy Rooney. People from different walks of life with some solid advice and thoughts.

"The worst curse to befall anyone is stagnation, a banal existence,

the quiet desperation that comes out of a need for conformity. "Deepak Chopra


"Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have
no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively;unless you can choose a challenge instead of competence." &

"In the long run we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. 
The process never ends until we die.And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility." Eleanor Roosevelt

I understand that the journey I am embarking on is selfish. ' I ' centric and all that.  The thing is, its my life and from what I know, I only get one go around.  I can wait around for something to happen or I can move forth and conquer. I have a need to see the world, do as many things as I am able and touch as many lives as I can.  Not everyone has this burning need that I do but that doesn't make it wrong.  It's just different.  Or maybe its not even all that different... I am just talking about it. 

Comfortable Routine vs New, Fresh Stimulating

I found this interview with Judith Sills, Ph.d.  
She’s a contributor on the Today Show, she writes a column for “Psychology Today” and she’s written six books, (one of them a New York Times best seller).  

She speaks about the importance of doing new things when you aren't satisfied with the comfortable routine.  Sills suggests there is an invisible anxiety that you have to push through to branch out of your comfortable routine.  The way to make it happen is by having a schedule (list of firsts- big or small) and a set of action steps (what exactly you will do and when it will happen).  

Another interesting point she makes is that its fine to have other people motivate or participate with you but there is real value in finding the energy within yourself to take that first step.