I am so freaking happy.

Okay guys. Here's the deal. I haven't been posting as much lately. I've been trying out this new thing where instead of doing things and obsessively posting about them I use that posting time to do more things I want to do.

Like last night, I put Norie to bed, watered my garden while I talked to my dad (a.k.a. listened to his hilarious narration of Tosh.0), and went for a jog with the puppos. Then I sat on the couch for a bit with my hubby AND still had time to skim my new Real Simple.

Old school me would have spent at least an hour, if not more, of that time coming up with something witty or crafty or whatever to post about. Long story short, I have more time to enjoy my life when I post less often. Hopefully you're cool with that.

I promise I'll still post when I do something awesome or see something I just have to share (like today), but it will probably be more like once or twice a week than every freaking day. I'm better in small doses anyway.

So, with that explanation for my lack of posting out of the way, I have a super duper infographic to share.

Are You Happy? infographic

Looks like I should keep doing whatever I'm doing. :) I should, however, maybe post some photos of the garden I'm obsessing about. (Did you see my Smart Gardener OMG post? It changed my life.)

You are AWESOME

You are AMAZING.

Do you realize that?

No really. You are an absolutely amazing human being and the world is lucky you're here. It needs you. It needs you to be your most authentic self, the amazing person you were meant to be. Without you the whole thing isn't quite right.

I'm serious. And I'm going to do something about it. I've been saying I'm sequestered off working on a BIG AWESOME THING I can't tell you about yet (but will someday, promise), but really I think I needed to take a step back from blogging to think about why I actually do it. Thanks to my former life coach Jessie May for helping me to think about what I was prioritizing (through a newsletter no less).

I've been blogging for a long time and I was starting to feel like I was posting just to post and it was a thing I had to do, not a thing I wanted to do. I mean, it's not like I get paid for it (though I certainly wouldn't complain if you mailed me a quarter for every time I made you laugh). I realize that consisting posts is one of those things you have to do to make that happen, but the vibe had gotten off. Anyway, during my time away I've had some revelations about another BIGGER AWESOMER (or at least way less complicated and really exciting) THING that I can totally tell you about.

RIGHT NOW.

And I'm SUPER EXCITED so please realize that the capital letters really are words that I'm shouting in my head causing my face to become all smushed up and funny looking with excitement.

It's a long story, but the basic gist you need to know to follow along is this: for literally (not figuratively) months I've been getting the feeling I just need to do things. Random things. Like introduce two people from very different parts of my life who live on different continents or send crazy emails to people I don't really know baring my soul. Not like I get a little nudge of an idea, I mean I feel straight up compelled to do them. I've just been taking them as commands from The Universe and going with it. I haven't really had any idea what any of them had to do with anything I just really felt like I NEEDED to do them.

Here's the thing: I think they are all starting to coalesce into something. Something AWESOME.

Then last week I was talking to my mom. I realized after our talk that one of the things I am CALLED to do in this life is to help other people see their true selves and realize how AWESOME they are. I've been doing it for years and always really enjoyed it. I just never thought of it in those terms before. Everyone should be able to see themselves and know how amazing they are, but most people don't. They have this crazy idea that awesomeness is limited and linked to some socially accepted measure of merit.

For example, I told my office mate about this realization and sarcastically responded, "no one is below average." I was so excited and joyful I didn't skip a beat and reminded him that everyone is above and below average depending on what characteristic or skill you're talking about, but that doesn't make them any less awesome. It's not a limited resource. Me thinking I'm awesome doesn't imply in any way that anyone else is any less awesome. Everyone can be awesome at the same time and if we actually acted like that was the case (because it is) the world would be a better place.

We are all intended to rock out at life as our most authentic selves. If everyone really owned how amazing they are life would be a lot better. People who feel good about themselves and who they are don't have any reason to try to make life harder for anyone else. They spread goodwill like sprinkles.

Please, for me, really own your awesomeness. Be the person you are deep down under all the stuff the world has told you to be. Be the person you're not sure you can be. Paint the thing you want to paint. Write the book you've always wanted to write. Smile at eveyone you see even if they think you're nuts. Enjoy that ice cream and skip if you feel like it. It's okay. If anyone asks what you're doing just tell them, "Being Awesome."

You're in there and the world needs you out here. 

I Should be Procraftinating

I got this crazy idea last week that I just needed to cut some things out of my life and focus on one or two main priorities so I could get them done. All kinds of things got dropped in favor of focusing all my energy on THE PROJECT (i.e. that BIG AWESOME thing I would tell you about but I can't on my blog. If you know me in person you already know about it. I'm just not ready to talk about it on the internet yet) and cleaning. Even my BLOG (gasp!). I allowed myself to work on my pregnancy/baby scrapbook, but only because I want to be able to have it out for Norie's party and I'm almost a year behind. All other creative endeavors were cut from the calendar.

You know what?

It was awful. The whole week I couldn't focus and I'd forget stuff I really need, like parts of my breast pump at home (I had to buy  new ones) or lock my keys in the car and have to ask a friend to bring me my husband's keys (Thanks Justin), or some other not super horrible, but random and frustrating thing that doesn't usually happen to me.

Then this morning I was talking to my mom and I said something about how when everything just seems to fall into place it's because you're in the flow of The Universe. When you're not it's like you're continually going upstream and nothing seems to work and everything feels like too much effort.

Conclusion: The Universe wants me to be creative.

Even though my projects frequently annoy the crap out of my husband I think he knows it too because this morning he sent me a link to 23 Quotes That are Totally Craftastic. One from CraftSnark really got to me.

Via CraftSnark, http://www.craftsnark.com/2013/01/craft-definition-procraftinating.html

I clicked the link and do you know what she said?

There will always be laundry that needs to be washed. or folded. or put away. There is a constant stream of dirty dishes making its way towards the sink. Dinnertime arrives every 24 hours. But inspiration is not constant. We must create while we are inspired to do so. Because housework can wait... some more.

I will probably never finish absolutely all the things I want to get done and cutting all the fun creative stuff out doesn't make it any better. It just makes me frustrated and cranky about doing the functional life things I need to do. Hopefully I'll find that balance.

Until then I'll indulge in just a little procraftination.