Just saw this on CNN.com... talking about happiness and stuff, thought it was kinda relavent.
By the time she was 29, Liz was a successful banking executive on Wall Street. She made vice president in her division and earned a healthy salary. She says she had "a traditional definition of success that had a lot to do with material things," but after eight grueling years in business, Liz says she knew she was not on the road to happiness. "I felt proud, but the work was not inspiring me. I didn't have passion for that work. I felt like I had to stifle parts of myself in order to be what Wall Street wanted from me. I felt like I was playing a corporate character, like it wasn't coming from inside of me, who I really am," she says.
Liz knew that making a big change meant taking an even bigger risk. "I was about to turn 30, and I realized it was time for me to live the life I wanted for myself, not the life that other people wanted for me," she says. "It's not making me happy to sit here at this desk anymore. I cannot blame anyone else for my unhappiness. I completely believe life is short. You do not get a second chance. I was standing at an edge, and for me it was time to jump."
Liz took a 90 percent pay cut and traded the high-wire act of finance for a career as a trapeze artist!
Following her dream is "like laughter in my heart," she says. "It's hard to quantify that fulfillment that comes with it, but it greatly exceeds the compensation that I sacrificed."
Dr. Holden says the key to being happy is overcoming "destination addiction," which he defines as "living in the not-now."
"It's always about tomorrow, so you're chasing 'more,' 'next' and 'there,'" he says. "You promise yourself that when you get there, you'll be happy. And I promise you, you won't, because you'll always set another destination to go for."
Instead, Dr. Holden says if you are unhappy with your life or looking to improve your score on the satisfaction test, there are two things you can do. "We have to learn to let go of our past, we have to give up all hopes for a perfect past. Let the past go, it's gone." After that, he says, "Take a vow of kindness. Be kinder to yourself and to others.
"It's never too late to be happy," he says.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
1 Year 5 Months!
Just wanted to give a shout out to my homies! Just kidding, but no really, how is everybody doing? I am soooo still sober, and loving it! Over the last few months, I have really started to open up. I have made so many new friends.. you know, not the "I see you ever now and then at starbucks and say hello" variety, but the ones where they call you ever day and ask you how your doing. Well, not every day, but close to it.
We have been having so much fun hanging out at the local coffee houses that it's not even funny. Staying out till 1:00am on a Saturday, just laughing away like it's nobodies business! ;)
At one point, I think the conversation turned to jesus and sex... if that tells you anything about us, our thoughts go straight to the gutter!
So yea, that's that, really been busy lately. I got a job at Starbucks and am back in school full time at the University of Tampa! I have decided to go for nursing, and see how that goes. As far as the starbucks thing goes, I absolutely love it
School and work both keep me very busy, and we have totally fixed the sleeping in problem! Lol, I have to wake up at 3:30 am for my Monday and Wednesday shifts! Ouch!
Still single... that kinda sucks, but I am focused on my self now anyways, trying to get passionate about life and all that. So that's my update!
Enjoy the light of the Day!
Jonathan
We have been having so much fun hanging out at the local coffee houses that it's not even funny. Staying out till 1:00am on a Saturday, just laughing away like it's nobodies business! ;)
At one point, I think the conversation turned to jesus and sex... if that tells you anything about us, our thoughts go straight to the gutter!
So yea, that's that, really been busy lately. I got a job at Starbucks and am back in school full time at the University of Tampa! I have decided to go for nursing, and see how that goes. As far as the starbucks thing goes, I absolutely love it
School and work both keep me very busy, and we have totally fixed the sleeping in problem! Lol, I have to wake up at 3:30 am for my Monday and Wednesday shifts! Ouch!
Still single... that kinda sucks, but I am focused on my self now anyways, trying to get passionate about life and all that. So that's my update!
Enjoy the light of the Day!
Jonathan
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Friends and things
Was reading a book and came across this qoute... I think it is good advice for folks like me with certain character defects:
"If you are miserly by nature, associate with the generous, and they will infect you, opening up everything that is tight and restricted in you. If you are gloomy, gravitate to the cheerful. If you are prone to isolation, force yourself to befriend the gregarious. Never associate with those who share your defects-- they will reinforce everything that holds you back. Only create associations with positive affinities. Make this a rule of life and you will benefit more than from all the therapy in the world."
Now on the "never associate with those who share your defects" part, I am not sure I agree with that statement entirely, but I do see how if I am say... angry all the time, and hang out with my best bud who is also angry all the time, and neither of us want to change, then that is a bad combo... So wait, maybe I do agree with the qoute.
Basically what I like about it and what I should remember, is that if I associate with more people who have positive attitudes and have traits I look up to, then maybe they will rub off on me!
Jonathan
"If you are miserly by nature, associate with the generous, and they will infect you, opening up everything that is tight and restricted in you. If you are gloomy, gravitate to the cheerful. If you are prone to isolation, force yourself to befriend the gregarious. Never associate with those who share your defects-- they will reinforce everything that holds you back. Only create associations with positive affinities. Make this a rule of life and you will benefit more than from all the therapy in the world."
Now on the "never associate with those who share your defects" part, I am not sure I agree with that statement entirely, but I do see how if I am say... angry all the time, and hang out with my best bud who is also angry all the time, and neither of us want to change, then that is a bad combo... So wait, maybe I do agree with the qoute.
Basically what I like about it and what I should remember, is that if I associate with more people who have positive attitudes and have traits I look up to, then maybe they will rub off on me!
Jonathan
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
New groups!
I am so grateful for this program!
Lately I found my self going to the same meetings every day... not once changing it up. My sponsor thinks I should be out there looking for new comers to help out and possibly sponsor, so he suggested I start going to some new comer meetings! (Most of the meetings I was going to do not have high volumes of new comers coming in)
At first I was in fear and stuborn, but then I realized that I wasn't stepping out of my comfort zone by going to the same ol' meetings every week. At that point, I suddenly became the one who wanted to seek out these new meetings! My sponsor pointed out a character defect, which I my self could not see... but with the help of others I now see it and very much want to take some action!
So yea, that's AA working in my life today!
Jonathan
Lately I found my self going to the same meetings every day... not once changing it up. My sponsor thinks I should be out there looking for new comers to help out and possibly sponsor, so he suggested I start going to some new comer meetings! (Most of the meetings I was going to do not have high volumes of new comers coming in)
At first I was in fear and stuborn, but then I realized that I wasn't stepping out of my comfort zone by going to the same ol' meetings every week. At that point, I suddenly became the one who wanted to seek out these new meetings! My sponsor pointed out a character defect, which I my self could not see... but with the help of others I now see it and very much want to take some action!
So yea, that's AA working in my life today!
Jonathan
Sunday, December 9, 2007
The weekend
What an eventful weekend!
I am slowly getting use to this socializing thing... We had this drunk, totally plastered guy come up to starbucks and make a huge scene on Saturday evening. At first we were all amused, but he was being hostile and rude to people, and a fight almost broke out as he touched a few nervese.
I must admit that at one point I thought I was going to hit him myself... but my friend Mark seemed calm and collected... so I quickly toned it down a notch. Better to just let it go and get the store owner involved rather than do something rash.
On another note, I did quite a bit this weekend with different folks in the program, and boy, what a blessing that is!
Today I am grateful!
I am slowly getting use to this socializing thing... We had this drunk, totally plastered guy come up to starbucks and make a huge scene on Saturday evening. At first we were all amused, but he was being hostile and rude to people, and a fight almost broke out as he touched a few nervese.
I must admit that at one point I thought I was going to hit him myself... but my friend Mark seemed calm and collected... so I quickly toned it down a notch. Better to just let it go and get the store owner involved rather than do something rash.
On another note, I did quite a bit this weekend with different folks in the program, and boy, what a blessing that is!
Today I am grateful!
Saturday, December 1, 2007
"You are looking at the face of the only one responsible for your happiness today."
Just wanted to say thank you to DG for the cool qoute:
"You are looking at the face of the only one responsible for your happiness today."
Very nice, made me smile. And as for the cold, I feel better today... I called my sponsor and shit all over him like a good pigeon and then flew away, leaving him with all my crap! Lol, that is funny... the pigeon thing, is that why my sponsor calls me his pigeon? Ah, I just figured that out! Ha!
Funny... learned something new!
Today I am grateful for:
Our Saturday Night Meeting!
Starbucks
Chris for hanging out
Matt for the same
and Heidi
and Carry
and John
and Maura
AA
And of course my sobriety
And my HP! He is the bomb dig-it-ty!
Jonathan
"You are looking at the face of the only one responsible for your happiness today."
Very nice, made me smile. And as for the cold, I feel better today... I called my sponsor and shit all over him like a good pigeon and then flew away, leaving him with all my crap! Lol, that is funny... the pigeon thing, is that why my sponsor calls me his pigeon? Ah, I just figured that out! Ha!
Funny... learned something new!
Today I am grateful for:
Our Saturday Night Meeting!
Starbucks
Chris for hanging out
Matt for the same
and Heidi
and Carry
and John
and Maura
AA
And of course my sobriety
And my HP! He is the bomb dig-it-ty!
Jonathan
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Second Cousin!
Interesting 12 step work yesterday...
My Aunt called me from Baltimore Maryland, and shared with me that my Second Cousin called his mom, (my Aunt's Cousin), and said that he couldn't stop doing the drugs and needed help!
He is 20 years old and in College right now.
So yea, this is the first time that someone else in my family, has come out with their disease and admitted they needed help! I was so happy, yet sad too, cause I didn't know he had a problem. But doesn't that sound familiar to some of us?!
So I called him up and encouraged him to go to some meetings, and shared with him what works for me. I also said that I'd love to hit a few meetings with him when I get up there in a few weeks for Christmas!
On another note, I am sick... not flu sick, more like cold sick. And that sucks, but I think I am almost through it. It has me down though, kinda depressed, cause I just feel sick, and that is no fun! So I am trying to stay positive, but it is hard, cause I just feel like sleeping all day.
That's what people told me I should do to get better, but it makes me feel lazy and worthless!! Just sharing how I feel... any how, I think I should probably call my sponsor and complain to him, I am sure he will put me in my place! ;)
Today I am grateful!
J
My Aunt called me from Baltimore Maryland, and shared with me that my Second Cousin called his mom, (my Aunt's Cousin), and said that he couldn't stop doing the drugs and needed help!
He is 20 years old and in College right now.
So yea, this is the first time that someone else in my family, has come out with their disease and admitted they needed help! I was so happy, yet sad too, cause I didn't know he had a problem. But doesn't that sound familiar to some of us?!
So I called him up and encouraged him to go to some meetings, and shared with him what works for me. I also said that I'd love to hit a few meetings with him when I get up there in a few weeks for Christmas!
On another note, I am sick... not flu sick, more like cold sick. And that sucks, but I think I am almost through it. It has me down though, kinda depressed, cause I just feel sick, and that is no fun! So I am trying to stay positive, but it is hard, cause I just feel like sleeping all day.
That's what people told me I should do to get better, but it makes me feel lazy and worthless!! Just sharing how I feel... any how, I think I should probably call my sponsor and complain to him, I am sure he will put me in my place! ;)
Today I am grateful!
J
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