I’ve been neglecting my blog in favor of real life lately. Sorry. I did manage to hang out in Guatemala for ten days and wrote up my Guatemala Bucket List if you care. My Guatemala Bucket List 1. Strengthen one friendship. This is how you make friends: ask people to do things with you and say… Read More: My Guatemala Bucket List »
Don’t go around thinking the world owes you anything. The world owes you nothing. It was here first. That’s a badly mangled version of a quote often incorrectly attributed to Mark Twain that I mutter to myself at least three times a day. Entitlement is the single worst trait in a human being. Expecting a… Read More: The enemy of happiness is entitlement »
I bought a fitbit recently. For those of you who don’t know me, that’s kind of a big deal. I don’t really buy things. It’s a watch that encourages you to walk 10,000 steps each day and then celebrates with you when you do it. I love it. I’m in love with it. And no,… Read More: How to get to 10,000 steps »
I recently spent about a month in the Middle East. Not nearly as scary a place as I envisioned. In fact, it was just the opposite. Clean and modern and safe. My Middle East Bucket List 1. Visit two new countries. I’m making my success explosion noises here pretty loudly. I visited four countries in… Read More: My Middle East Bucket List »
I’m trying to cross off Life Bucket List Item #6 (write a book). Cliché, I know. Here’s my process (so far) if you’re thinking of writing one too. 1. Make a book proposal. First, I read some stuff on how to write a book proposal. A book proposal is an enormously helpful way to think about the… Read More: How to write a book when you’re retired »
I plunged into my retirement with so many lists mapping out experiments and thoughts; future ablaze with potential different lives. Everything looked fun and I wanted it all and I wanted it RIGHT NOW. Predictably, my greedy paws picked up too many shiny ideas at once and now I don’t have enough time to play with all of them. I overstretched. Overreached. My… Read More: Surprising Finds About Retirement »
I just spent a couple of months in the beautiful state of California. Specifically, the bay area of California. I know what you’re thinking because I thought it too initially. Two months in one spot? Holy cow. I CAN DO SO MUCH. You have to expect more of yourself and think big. This is why I… Read More: Thriftygal’s California Bucket List »
I found another book to recommend to you guys. Grit by Angela Duckworth. It’s thoroughly researched, thoughtfully written, with enough human interest examples to keep the data from being dull and, most importantly of all, I have never felt so motivated in my entire life. Now I’m convinced that the only thing that stands between anyone… Read More: On Grit: It’s not about being smart »
In real life, I’m a news junkie. Politics and current events and international happenings fascinate me. I like the idea that I’m informed about the world and can talk intelligently about whatever you bring up. At least I used to. Operation Finally Write Your Stupid Book and Cross Off that Bucket List Item In August, a publisher knocked and encouraged… Read More: The News Illusion »
Here’s my best attempt to persuade you that biking is your purpose in life. Or at least the best way to get around a bunch of places. Biking saves money! Biking is pretty much free after you fork over the initial outlay of money. My commute to work in Chicago using the L cost me $80/month for an unlimited… Read More: Let’s all start biking everywhere »