Life Tips Daily

So after last week, I blinked and the entire week passed by. It was full of work and other necessary but unexciting things.

I am about to start the long, labourious process of house hunting and next week I will be doing some pre-hunting by going to sites where new homes are being built and taking a look at their model homes. I’m sure I’ll want to buy one on the spot, but reality will hit me and I’ll use the day for the purpose it was meant: to get an idea of what I want versus absolutely need in a house. I will report back with some things learned while poking into model homes.

My adventures putting up my hope notes was pretty fun. Two mornings ago I got on the bus headed to work and quickly stuck one in front of me and managed to snap a picture of it before anyone noticed me. I felt very sneaky and covert and even a bit nervous, because I don’t want to be caught or questioned. I guess I shouldn’t feel like that because my explanation “I’m just trying to spread some hope!” really can’t be taken the wrong way by anyone, can it?

The building I work in has five elevators, and I decided to stick my next hope note in the elevator. The problem is there isn’t really anyplace to stick it to so I had to return to the office and grab some tape. Since the building is 19 floors high, you rarely get an elevator to yourself for the whole ride so I felt very rushed to stick up the message and also take a picture. I only managed a blurry picture before the doors opened so I stayed on the elevator to the bottom floor, but on the bottom floor people were waiting to get on so I had to get off so they didn’t wonder whether I was a vagrant elevator rider who spends her days going up and down.

I tried all day to get on that same elevator but I never did and when I checked that elevator the next day (yesterday), my hope note was gone. I hope a couple of people saw it before the very efficient custodial staff cleaned the elevator.

I had received a suggestion to put one in a library book, and I will definitely do that with one of the books I’ll be returning to the library later today. I did manage to stick one on a bookshelf at the library though:

It’s been fun! I have two more hope notes to post, and then I have to find some time to make more. I think keeping a roll of tape with me will also be quite beneficial.

I made the first five hope notes to distribute and I have some great ideas of where to post them. I’m hoping I can do this somewhat covertly because I don’t want to have to explain what I’m doing (and also it would be more exciting if someone didn’t see me hiding a note and then mosey over to read it immediately: there should be an element of secrecy in the whole thing, don’t you think?)

The particular note pictured above is one that resonates quite deeply with me: you are lovely. This is not something I find easy to believe about myself, and I know I am not alone. Most of us have the tendency to see beauty out there: we’re quick to compliment coworkers and friends on their hairstyle, clothing, scent, accessories, and physical fitness. We’re kind to strangers but when it comes to treating ourselves with that loving eye and caring attitude, it doesn’t happen. We concentrate on one aspect of who we are (our flabby bellies, perhaps?) and berate ourselves about that one small part of who we are as people. All of a sudden all we are is the part of ourselves we hate the most. We can’t seem to accept the same compliments that we dole out; we believe the compliment giver must be lying, exaggerating, or saying the words out of a sense of pity.

If you can relate to this and are interested in reading what triggered me to vow to be kinder to myself, please read this entry. Be kind to yourself this week and the next time someone tells you that you’re lovely, accept it. It’s true.

If you’re a female seeking a man to love and think you may be doing something that prevents you from meeting the right sort of partner and entering into relationships that are meaningful and long-lasting, here are three books you should consider reading.

Not Tonight Mr. Right by Kate Taylor
The purpose of this book is to convince the female reader that she doesn’t have to have sex early in a relationship in order to secure it. In fact, the book suggests that not having sex so soon is a good way to ensure that the relationship that develops is based on something other than sexual compatibility (which is important but not the only thing necessary to have a good relationship). According to the book, it’s possible to wait until marriage before having sex (although the book does not make a statement that one should wait that long if they are not inclined to do so). If you’re curious whether it’s possible to have a fulfilling relationship and not introduce sex into the equation so early, this book’s answer is a resounding “Yes!”.

Ever wondered Why Mr. Right Can’t Find You? Maybe you’re not looking in the right places…literally! This book, written from a male perspective (J.M. Kearns) suggests places where women can meet Mr. Right, and also takes the reader carefully through the world of online dating. If you’re ready to put aside your preconceived notions about where people can meet (and yes, bars and the gym are viable locations) and ready to step outside your comfort zone then you will learn a lot from this book.

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While reading the always inspiring blog of Emma, I came across this Hope Revo project and I was instantly inspired. However going from inspiration to action always takes a decade for me (I have severe procrastination issues) so I still haven’t done much more than the brainstorming that I did on the first day that I saw read the site and found out that the idea of the project is to create notes to hide around your city, notes that people will find and hopefully be encouraged and strengthened by. The notes can be short or long, they can be simply written or be a decorated. Here are some of the messages I’ve come up with:

Thanks to my crafty tendencies, I have a whole bunch of supplies that I could use for this project and I can share how the process goes on Getting Crafty. First I need some dedicated time where I turn OFF the computer and refuse to read other blogs and get messy with my scissors, glue and perhaps even glitter.

If you live somewhere where the snow has been coming down nonstop, and more snow is predicted in the coming days, wouldn’t joining this project be a perfect way to brighten the days of neighbours, fellow commuters or others who are probably thinking “will this snow ever end? Will spring ever come?”

Some places where I will be putting my hope notes:

• bus shelters
• in the elevators at work
• in the bathroom at work
• at the self checkout station for library books

Got any more good places I can hide my notes?