Tag Archives: fun

Nudged: Create a chalk message/drawing on the sidewalk

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Backstory: This is so funny: I was actually thinking about pulling out my basket of chalks a few days ago and making something fun, and now I “have” to do it!

If you’re a long-time Nudger, you know that this Nudge has appeared in every round. It checks all the boxes: cheap, fun, creative, outside my comfort zone (I am so not a visual artist), and it 100% lifts my spirits every time.

The message will go on our front sidewalk, so it will be addressed to our neighbors. However, I am fully aware that I am sending this message to myself. What do I need to hear/read? What do you need?

As always, make this Nudge your own. Maybe use paints, markers, or crayons to make an uplifting sign and hang it in your front window. Maybe create something on Canva and post it on your social media. Have fun with it!

What Happened: Oh, how I love this Nudge. I’ve been going out of the house a lot lately (puppy), about every hour on the hour (pee breaks), and every time my messages made me smile.

About an hour after I finished, I noticed one of the neighbor kids was out front, busy making her own chalk messages. She drew some flowers in front of our house with “You are awesome blossom!” #fullheart

The Ah-Hahs: My spirit needed this boost. I needed to do something fun. Sometimes it really is the simplest things that do the heavy lifting.

Nudging: Create a chalk message/drawing on the sidewalk

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Backstory: This is so funny: I was actually thinking about pulling out my basket of chalks a few days ago and making something fun, and now I “have” to do it!

If you’re a long-time Nudger, you know that this Nudge has appeared in every round. It checks all the boxes: cheap, fun, creative, outside my comfort zone (I am so not a visual artist), and it 100% lifts my spirits every time.

The message will go on our front sidewalk, so it will be addressed to our neighbors. However, I am fully aware that I am sending this message to myself. What do I need to hear/read? What do you need?

As always, make this Nudge your own. Maybe use paints, markers, or crayons to make an uplifting sign and hang it in your front window. Maybe create something on Canva and post it on your social media. Have fun with it!

Nudging: Full Pass #1

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Dear Nudgers,

You may recall that I allow myself to “Pass” on a Nudge four times during the year. Usually that means I have pulled something I don’t feel like doing at the moment, or the timing isn’t right, or whatever. I don’t really have to have an excuse. I simply put the original Nudge back in the bowl and draw a new one.

Today I am taking advantage of this rule by taking a Full Pass for the week. Everything’s fine. In fact, everything is better than fine. I’m just exhausted because this happened last weekend:

Meet Bear, the newest member of Pack Woods. Bear is sweet, smart, fun, curious, and challenging. Come to think of it, he is kind of a cuddly and furry embodiment of a Nudge.

So while I rest…hahahahaha…I mean while I devote every drop of my time, energy, and attention to taking care of our little* dude, you can do whatever you wish this week. Pull a Nudge of your own and see it through, or take a breather. Listen to your heart, and do what you need and want to do.

I’ll see you back here next Sunday.

With virtual hugs and wet puppy kisses,

Kathleen

*”Little.” LOL! At four months, Bear weighed in at 32 lbs. Who needs the gym? 😉

Ready, set…

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√ Create List of Nudges

√ Cut Nudges into strips and wad them into balls

√ Put all Nudges into a special bowl

As I get ready to embark on 52Nudges 3.0 this coming Sunday, December 12, I find myself feeling giddy with excitement. There are so many fun tasks on my List! Some will delight me, some will challenge me in unexpected ways, all have the potential to Change My Life.

I mean…wow.

I’m also excited to have you as my companion on this journey of self-awareness, self-discovery, and self-care. You may have your own list, you may be doing the Nudges I draw, or you may simply be reading my posts and taking inspiration when it comes. All paths are worthy!

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I’ll see you back here on Sunday!

 

*For long-time Nudgers, please note we discovered a glitch in our tech and previous subscribe requests were not all captured. Even if you’re pretty sure you’re good to go, I’d appreciate your re-entering your info in the SUBSCRIBE box.

 

Nudged: Take 1 photo/day of something that makes me happy

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Backstory: I see this campaign, or something like it, on Facebook all the time: Post something that makes you smile! Share the 27th photo on your phone!

Actually, though, it was Carrie at Me & My Quite Contrary Life who inspired me to “capture my joy” for this nudge.

One week, seven photos. Starting with…a perfectly relaxed and civilized breakfast.

What Happened: I almost cheated! How easy it would have been to snap seven quick shots on Sunday and be done with this. But I’m so glad I resisted that temptation, because this nudge (as usual) turned out to be more than a simple task.

Here are my other six, one per day:

Great books.

Scharffenberger dark chocolate. No nuts!

Louie, my cuddle bug.

My beautiful old home (with circa 1928 tiles).

My Thor, my everything.

Healthy plants that feed my body…

…and my soul. These were both gifts from friends, and I think of them whenever I see these plants.

The Ah-Hahs: This nudge was super fun. It totally lifted my spirits this week, and it taught me about noticing and appreciating in the moment. I found myself searching for things that make me happy all week long, and I easily could have posted 100+ photos. I slowed down, I paid attention, I looked at the details.

The bathroom tile came late in the week and kind of blew me away. I love our old house, her character, her strength. We’ve resisted doing any serious remodeling in the bathroom because we don’t want to lose the great tiles. In fact, I love showing it off — even with some of its signs of age — when we have guests, but usually I just point out the pink tiles on the walls, the checkered floor. It wasn’t until I went in close to take the photo for this nudge that I really appreciated the designs within the design. What a gift!

Over the past couple of months I’ve struggled to find joy amidst the challenges. So often I told myself I’d get through it all by looking at the Big Picture. I’m now recognizing how looking at the small picture, appreciating the delightful “little” things in life, can really help too.

Wow. 🙂

Nudging: Bake cookies

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Backstory: This nudge came from some brainstorming I did as I thought about what to include on The List. I devoted some time to recall “Things I loved doing when I was a kid.” I loved baking! I loved being creative in the kitchen! In elementary school, my best pal (Hi, Krista!) and I did a lot of experimenting and even had our own sort of “signature” chocolate chip cookie recipe.

So this is my nudge to get back to doing things that feed my soul. The “uncomfortable” part? Well, I don’t really like eating most baked goods. (I know, crazy.) I’ll give them a taste, then I’ll give the rest away in care packages. Feels like a win-win!

As always, you can do this week’s nudge with me or pick something that speaks to you. What did you love doing when you were eight years old? Here’s your excuse to do it again.

Nudged: Go to a park, do nothing for 30 minutes

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Backstory: This is a repeat of a successful Nudge I did in round one, and I’m looking forward to doing it again. The intention is to go to a park and not exercise, not fill the silence with conversation, to resist the urge to do anything.

Here’s the original post to inspire you–and me. 🙂

What Happened: I should have taken a pass on this one. It was much too cold this week to sit still and do nothing, so I fudged: I walked through a park while out running errands.

However, this wasn’t a total loss. After my errands were done, I found I had some free time, so I wandered. I stepped into some shops I hadn’t ever explored. I re-visted a gift shop that once was my go-to place for special hostess and birthday gifts–such pretty things. In an antiques shop, I discovered treasures, including crystal wine glasses, “hidden” among some items that could be really fun gag gifts, i.e., a life-size cutout of Elvis.

“I’m all shook up…Mm mm oh, oh, yeah, yeah!”

I wasn’t shopping for anything specific, I didn’t have an agenda. I slowed my walk and my breathing. I took in my surroundings and allowed myself time to be delighted.

The Ah-Hahs: Although I didn’t complete this Nudge as originally intended, just having the seed planted was enough to get me to stop the treadmill of my mind and open myself up to an alternate possibility. I cleared my head and had some fun. Ultimate mission accomplished.

 

Nudged: Thank a writer, artist, or musician

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Backstory: I’ve been doing this for a while, reaching out to writers I love and thanking them for sharing their stories, their gifts with me. What’s been really fun is every single one of the people I wrote to–even people with big names and intimidating presences–replied to thank me for writing to them! I know what it’s like to be a lone woman with a computer, who works hard to create something beautiful and hopes–but rarely finds out–if her work has made any kind of difference. It feels good to feel appreciated.

But this nudge not about hoping to get something back. It’s simple gratitude. What was my favorite read of the year? I can look up the author’s website (or maybe find them on goodreads) and send a quick note via email. Which band’s CD has lifted my spirits during long commutes? Did I see some art recently that blew my mind?

Acknowledge. Appreciate. Celebrate! And bonus points to anyone who sends a handwritten note. 🙂

What Happened: It’s a busy week, so I got on this. I thought about who had lifted my spirits recently with their creativity, and the team at the The Great Dickens Christmas Fair came to mind. This is an annual event held in San Francisco where people dress up in Victorian-era costumes and transform a huge warehouse into the streets of London circa 1843. There are shows and shops and meat pies and mulled spice wine! Artisans, actors, musicians, and characters abound and entertain. You can even visit a club dining room and listen to Mr. Dickens himself read excerpts from his latest work, A Christmas Carol. It is delightful, and I am completely de-hum-bugged as soon as I step out of my “real” world and into theirs.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert greet their subjects at The Great Dickens Christmas Fair.

And so, with a short email to the head office, I thanked them.

The Ah-Hahs: No great revelation on this nudge. Just lots of warm fuzzies.

Happy New Year!

 

 

Nudged: Learn something new about my city’s history

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Backstory: It’s embarrassing to admit, but I have now lived in my “new” city for over a decade and there’s still so much I don’t know about her!

So this week, I am nudging my inner history geek to do some research. I might look into a walking tour (something that I do regularly when I travel, but that languishes on my to do list here), pick up a book, watch a documentary movie, visit our library’s photo archives, or search for old maps.

If you and your city are already well acquainted, take this opportunity to research a city you’ve always wanted to visit. Do a little armchair traveling, and maybe it will inspire your next adventure!

What Happened: This nudge completely tickled my curiosity. Monday morning I thought about what I might like to learn, and started by googling “famous writers in San Francisco”. And down the rabbit hole I went! I learned Robert Frost was born here; the wonderful Lemony Snicket (real name Daniel Handler) is a current resident; Isabelle Allende, Anne Lamott, and Amy Tan live in nearby cities; and Mark Twain (who I knew had visited) worked here as a journalist (the first and last time he was ever fired from a job) for 19 months.

As I read more about Twain’s connection, I learned he stayed at the Occidental Hotel, a luxury hotel that was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake+fire. Robert Louis Stevenson was another famous guest.

Occidental Hotel, San Francisco

It’s also where bartender Jerry Thomas claimed to have invented the martini. There’s a huge debate about who shook or stirred the first martini. Thomas, though, is considered the “father of American mixology”. In 1863, he was earning $100 a week, which, I learned, was more than the vice president of the United States made at the time.

But back to Twain. While staying at the Occidental, he made frequent visits to the Turkish baths just down the street. It was there that he reportedly met a man named Tom Sawyer.

Cool!

The Ah-Hahs: As I skipped around from link to link, learning new tidbits about my beloved city, I gasped, I oohed, I laughed. And I planned. I want to walk in some famous footsteps. So, next date night, I’m going to suggest we visit one of the classic old bars downtown and raise a couple of martinis–to writers and innovators and people who make history. Fun!

To my readers who celebrate, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Kwanzaa!

Nudging: Go to coffeehouse with educational book; learn something new

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Backstory: The full title of this Nudge is “Go to a coffeehouse with an educational book and learn something new.” I’m laughing as I type this. It made for a looong strip of paper for my Nudges jar. But I knew when I included it on The List, I wanted it to be more than simply “Learn something new.”

The inspiration for this Nudge came from a client project I worked on early in the year. It involved a topic–an industry, really–I knew nothing about. I requested a couple of suggestions for books from the client and immersed myself in study. For a couple of intense days, I read, took notes, thought deeply, and then applied what I’d learned to the work.

It was…fun.

I’m looking forward to challenging my brain this week. This is also an excuse to get out of my office, and away from the distractions, so that I can again practice focusing on just one topic at a time.