Small Joys — smug rule breaker

Day 36 ( after taking 4 day break)

— i wasn’t doing the Small Joys on our trip to anew Orleans. I felt a bit guilty and stressed about it, kept moving to next day, and then I remembered: I am in charge of the rules. Turns out a four-day break is perfectly okay. No one is going to get mad at me. So moving on … —

Random number 229

Allow a moment to be smug for the things you’ve achieved this year so far

Sean and I jokingly both took a second to feel smug this afternoon to fulfill this Small Joy. But we didn’t list our reasons at the time.

Here are many good reasons for me to feel smug:

i have survived at my job, and turned it into a even more flexible job, and have found I am still needed and relied on more than ever. But away a lot of income into retirement account.

i spoke at a tax conference. It was on how to make friends, which isn’t a very concrete subject. I did ok. But the important thing is I volunteered and did it.

I've made good investing decisions.

I've cut way back on social media, and dumped twitter.

i took care of my stress after the election, protected myself. Also with Peter: setting boundaries on topics

I’ve spent more time with Peter, treated him more like an adult, been patient, and been happy to see his growth.

I re-started therapy.

I made big progress on declutterring the house, getting my office in good shape.

New York, Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Sorrento, Chicago, Miami, Orlando, New Orleans, (Williamsburg next). That’s a lot of navigating different cities, and I did it!

I spoke Italian in Italy, in untested situations!!! Dealt with Peter, and corralling people, and a backpack robbery… and did well! I do feel smug.

Started a new medicine, which has a bunch of different hoops to jump through for prescriptions, but has been worth the hassle as i do feel better.

Didnt take the bait.

Asked for, received and enjoyed a 57th birthday party from B and S. Delightful day. Celebrated living longer than my dad.

Did some crafting, did some reading, did some drinking, saw some art… but without should or should nots bothering me in my head.

Saw Nora graduate. I feel smug — even though she did an awful lot, ok, all the work.

organized a stargazing adventure.

got invited to more things than we hosted. That used to be unbalanced the other way. It was nice to have a change.

Started a regular cribbage group.