Out my bedroom window…
I am still reading Gretchen Rubin’s book. I am reading it twice. I really am in love with this book, because so many things in it ring true for me. I am up to the bit where she talks about ‘True Rules’. Do you have True Rules? I sort of have something a bit like True Rules called Things I Know Now. I like to leave some room for the rules to move about a bit. Sometimes things that are true now are not true later, for me. So here is a small list of Things I Know Now, in honour of Gretchen the Re-Reader who I am Re-Reading…
Things I Know Now
- It’s best to just dive in
- Most people are nice, with good intentions
- Things are often way different than you think
- Life is better with chili and salt
- It is best to stop eating/drinking BEFORE you start to feel sick
- You’ll have more energy if you improve something every day
- Sunshine will make you feel nice
- You should create a positive daily ritual
- Things usually turn out okay
- It’s important to learn new things regularly
- If your mouth is watering you really like that food/drink
- Sometimes the best things require a bit of ‘toughing out’
- It’s important to know how to cook nice things
- True friends are as important as family
- Breathing is really good, so try and stop and do that sometimes
- You will often get what you least expect
- Listening is really hard, but really super important
- Computers can suck the life out of you, so enforce screen free time
- Emotionally, children usually want the very thing you are finding hardest to give, and it’s best to push yourself to give them that thing
- A good long hug can make most things feel better
- You can usually handle the things life serves you up
- “You have not lost your ATM card”* (this one shows itself in the shop every other day)
- Getting up early to work is heaps better than staying up late
- Getting up early is a really good idea in general because you get quiet time
- Don’t say never, because people do change
What Things Do You Know Now?
xx Pip
wow i really enjoyed reading your list. Such a lift on a crappy day.
One thing I know is to smile at people even if they don't smile back
xx Lotus
Hi Pip, I bought The Happiness project on your recommendation. I have to stop procrastinating and read it. It looks amazing after a quick flip.
I know now that if you boast about never having the flu you will probably get it
and
If you think that maybe you will take a fake sickie you will probably really get sick!
i really like your list! it rings true for me!
i especially like your one about stopping eating/drinking BEFORE you feel sick, particularly useful when you buy a packet of two creamed donuts. just eat one and give the other one away!
the things i know now includes some slightly less philosophical things too…
i've decided to;
never eat "dominoes" pizza it will make me feel sick
never eat "KFC" it will make me feel sick
(even if i stop after one bite)
thanks pip you're always an inspiration : )
X
Brilliant list.
1) Time is a good healer
2) Smile at the miserable person in front of you, you don't know what they are going through
3) Your children will grow up so make the most of them being little
4) Do something that makes you happy everyday
5)
Love Marge x
What a great list, and I love everyone else's too! What do I know now…
– Being intelligent doesn't mean you don't have to work really hard to get what you want.
– Kids who are wearing really bad outfits probably got themselves dressed and it's got nothing to do with a lack of taste on the parent's part.
– When you are 16 you are beautiful.
– Getting older is liberating and satisfying in many ways
– Complimenting someone else makes you both feel better.
– It's easy to accept a compliment in return, just say "thank you".
– Dying your hair to get rid of the greys is a slippery slope from which there is no easy return.
I could go on!
Thanks Pip and all of the wonderful commenters! I love your lists. If I'm going to spend some screen time, I can't think of a better way to do it than right here, reading MMAM.
I know now:
when you most feel like running away is the time to stay put.
it's worth asking someone to repeat themselves if you didn't hear or don't understand.
if you think someone looks good, you should say so at the earliest convenience, even if you don't know them.
small tasks get the big tasks done.
doing the dishes can make everything seem easier to manage.
landlines are better than mobile ones.
preparing for the next day, the night before, is a good idea.
Saying what you mean is best.
Finding a positive and encouraging way to say it is even better.
Flat shoes are awesome!
x
Gooooooood List Pip. Thank you. I am going to write it all down on a piece of paper to make it even more real and true and tape it to the fridge. I haven't ventured into the blogosphere for a really long time lately and even though my used-to-be-brand-new son will be 7 months tomorrow I still feel like i haven't gotten the whole juggling act down pat just yet. But this list is so good I think it might just turn everything around. So thank you!
Oops, being nice to everyone was one of Gretchen's points not yours.
And I guess my point was the same as your number 1 – just dive in.
Pip, My copy of The Happiness Project arrived today, bought on your recommendation. I love it.
What I now know is that confidence lies in not fearing the outcome.
The one point of yours I have trouble with is being nice to everyone. There are some people I find it nigh on impossible to be nice to for more than about 50 seconds as they are such total … well, you know what I'm saying. Perhaps what I should know by now is 'avoid total ….s that are impossible to be nice to'?
I like your list Pip, it made me smile, thanks. xx
This is a lovely list Pip.
Similar to your point 16, I know now that you get what you need not necessarily what you want.
Pip you are a gem and a treasure and I love your list (and the lists of all your lovely commenters).
I nod my head to your list (and I would also add 'partners' to number 19, not just kids). I'd also say in response to number 23 that staying up late can be great, especially if it's staying up late with someone you love, just sitting and sipping and chatting. The night can be full of peace and calm and quiet too.
On top of that, I'd say some things I know right now are:
If you love someone, it's okay and good and fun to tell them you love them even if they don't/can't/won't say it back to you.
Getting things in the post is great, sending things in the post is greater still.
Appreciating the little tiny things around you everyday makes for a happy life.
It's okay to be flat and sad and morose some times, but not for too long.
Bite size chunks can make things manageable, they can help you achieve something that seemed completely overwhelming at first.
Despite appearances, people everywhere are more similar than we are different. We all want peace and safety, tasty food, knowledge and good things for those we love!
Those of us who live in relatively wealthy, stable, democratic countries where we are free and surrounded by opportunity should never, ever, ever forget how straight up lucky we are.
Thanks Pip!
oh i do love a list and especially this list.
i know now that i don't know everything… and that's okay, because there's a whole lot to know out there and finding things out is fun.
i also know that some days one foot in front of the other is a huge triumph.
and i now know that i am going to get the happiness project to read when i go on holiday in 3 weeks time. so thanks for letting me know that. xx
Thanks so much for your blog Pip! I have never commented before, but much appreciate your posts – I reckon there must be heaps of 'non-commenters' out there who are similarly grateful. I know now that 'anything is better than nothing' – both an antidote to perfectionism (e.g., yay that I got the dishes done, never mind about the vacuuming) and an answer to 'I don't have time to do a decent amount', (e.g., cutting out at least some of the pattern, or doing just a row of crochet, or reading half a chapter). Every little bit counts!
What a great list!
I know now…
I am in charge of my own happiness.
I am the common denominator in my life, and change for the better starts from me.
I really do feel better when I get my body moving.
To invest my time in stuff that nourishes me and my family.
I know now…
1. give your mum a hug because sometimes you're a bit narkypants
2. rain can be fun, especially if you have boots and a pretty umbrella
3. waking up early and walking means you get to see hot air balloons! (I live down the road so we see the same ones!)
4.walking and crochet do NOT go well together!
5. People will want to cooperate more with a smiley person
6. Enjoy the anticipation even if you don't get/ win it; it means you care about things, and it's much better to care than to say "oh I don't care enough to enter/ apply" because you never win that way. And eventually stop caring.
Also yay! It's Wednesday!
How about these, too ::
Coffee doesn't give you energy, even though you might think it does, it makes you MORE tired and PERHAPS anxious too. (Don't throw things at me!)
Honesty is the best policy, unless you are going to really hurt someone's feelings.
Don't scratch insect bites.
I am super loving everyone's 'Things They Know Now'. Thanks for all these ace comments!
xx
thanks so much for this list. it practicaly sames up a lotof the "things i know now" by blogging- i am going to read that book though : )
I tried so hard to read this book and I just couldn't get there – I don't know why! I did read 365 thank yous by John Kralik recently and would highly recommend it. I bought it on a Saturday and had finished by Sunday morning!
I love your list. Especially the term 'toughing out,' (maybe that's from the book).
I know now that the crap life throws us doesn't matter, what matters is how we deal with it – because crap happens 🙂
I now know that when I feel overwhelmed or irritable, I really just need a nap.
And I really agree about kids needing what you're least able to give at the time. When my kids start acting up, it's a big clue that I'm not giving them enough of something. When they were babies, it was a clue that they were hungry or tired or needed to be changed. Now that they're older, it's a clue that they need personal attention, or they need mental stimulation. Or sometimes they just need someone to listen to them.
What a lot of wisdom in one blog. I like staying up late rather than getting up early, sill pining the quiet time just not a morning person. I know to stop and notice things, there's beauty all around us. Today a beautiful sunset, sparkling stars, a big full moon….
I know now that the grass is greener where it's watered
I know now that there's no point in complaining unless you're prepared to do something about it
I know now that a smile and a kind word can change a person's day
Things I now know:
1. Your pencil/wallet/phone probably hasn't been stolen
2. 'I can't find it' is different from 'it's lost'
3. It is important to find something to be happy about every day, even if it's a little thing!
What a great list!
My one for today is " When you feel like everyone has it all together and you dont, it's probably not true, we probably all stuggle with the same things" I say this when Im looking at all the other school Mums and thinking they have it all together ;0
After being at an amazingly joyful big old irish Catholic funeral and wake for a vibrant happy lady today, I say enjoy every moment and when the going gets a bit tough take a deep breath and keep going cause it will get better and this life of ours is so fleeting worrying about weight or money is so pointless.x
Hi Pip (what a lovely fun name you have been given!)
I know now that being intrepid is some good ride…
I know now that if a kid can't hear they sometimes hit other kids…
I know now that a good camera takes good pictures…
I know now that if family visits from far away you should stop what you are doing and hang out with them…
I know now that kids grow up…
I know now that homegrown really does taste better…
Better stop before I bore you!
thanks for the chance to think…
art house mum arthousemum.blogspot.com
Pip,
All this seems valid to me – I have only just today got my copy of the book and so I'm now going on a journey of discovery:-)
Aileen
Things I know now:
1. The longer you avoid something the harder it is to keep avoiding it! Do it now, it will be easier in the long run
2. Tell someone else when you are scared and it won't be so scary
hi Pip. I just bought the Happiness book, cos' I saw it on your blog! – started it on the weekend, love it.
The biggest thing I know now, that I keep having to remind myself every day, is that "it's best to just start – don't wait til you know everything, 'cos you never will, and you can figure things out along the way".
see you Cat x
Read about you in Mollie Makes, so here I am…
As for your list… agree with number 5, and 10. Number 14 I would say definitely, in fact from experience, think now that friends are better, they've never let me down. Number 17… there is a whole world of difference between hearing and listening, looking and seeing, isn't there? Number 21? So many bad things have happened, things that if I had thought they would happen would have immediately felt sure I wouldn't cope. But I coped, they made me stronger, made me the ditzy old dame I am today!
Love the blog. And as for 'things I know now'.. how long have you got?!
Thanks for numbers 19 and 20- I so needed a little reminder to know them today.
1)I know that saying thank you is really important. Not just in a polite manners type of way, but in a 'I appreciate you and what you've done' kind of way. It's nice to say and to hear.
2)I know that getting a bit of perspective and distance from your life from time to time is really wonderful.
xx
Things I Know Now:
1) Be careful going downstairs at 2:00AM, there may be cat vomit at bottom of said stairs.
2)Make the best of early morning cat clean-up and spend hours happily reading good blogs like…meet me at mikes!
That is SUCH a good one, Dee! x
i now know:: that tired mums at the supermarket aren't BAD mums. they're just tired.
great list~
Dee