Stupid, Scary, Brave Things (and how to do them)

About three months ago, I pushed down hesitantly on that right mouse button and clicked "SEND" on one of the scariest emails I'd ever sent.

I asked THE Jon Acuff if he would let me write my words on HIS blog. 

If you don't know Jon Acuff, he is the awesome author of two best selling books and the hilarious writer of the Stuff Christians Like blog.  He is the REAL DEAL.  Look him up because EVERYONE can use extra laughter in their day and then a kick in the rear to get your hustle on and do something amazing with your life.

The funny thing is, because of his book START and because of his online Facebook group, 30 days of Hustle, he pretty much asked me to try this.

After a few weeks I forgot about that scary click of the button, until I heard from Jon.  

And he said YES.

Today, my words are all over his blog and you can read them right here:

http://acuff.me/2014/10/7-ways-everything/

He titled it "7 ways to do more of everything."

But really it was me, afraid, trying something impossible.
Because honestly, you never know what will happen if you don't try.
Be stupid enough to try.
Scare yourself.
Be brave.

What's in my Bible Journal?

I am almost through my second Bible journal since I first started doing this in October 2011!

Three years later and I'm still loving both my journals.  My first one was a composition notebook, because it was handy, cheap, and I wasn't sure I'd really stick with it.  It is much worn and loved.  My second is a 8.5 x 11 bound Canson Sketch book with 65 lb paper (a nice weight that minimizes bleed through).  There are only a small handful of pages left in that second journal, so I thought I'd give you an update on what is working, what I've changed and what I have in it.

Bullet Journal Web Planning

Trying a more visual approach to the Bullet Journal.  I saw a lady in one of my facebook groups do something similar and thought it was brilliant!

We'll see how it works.

At the top I listed the main things I'm likely to procrastinate on this week and a rough schedule.

I also need to list all the incompletes and unfinished items for September and figure out my main tasks for October.  But that's this weekend.

Revisit--Homeschooling as an introvert

Since the school year is upon us,

and some are a good solid month into it, 

I thought this would be a timely post to revisit:

Homeschooling as an introvert

Week review and Bullet Journal lists

It would be so much better to do these reviews on Friday, or even Saturday..

But here is how my week worked out.  I think I got my main priorities done, though I'm always hoping for at least 50% done in each category, and it didn't quite work out like that.

Thinking through why I still procrastinate on doing the Proverbs project.  I think it's just plain procrastination and unorganized thinking in the morning.  Each morning next week I'm going to make it a point to review my Bullet Journal every morning for just 5 min while I sip my coffee.  Hoping that helps.  There are still days where I forget to even look at it.

So in order to do that, it means I have to rework my morning routine--which, honestly, isn't working that great right now anyway.  I need a lot more margin built in because I am still moving too slow in the mornings, and I still really struggle with switching tasks.

I did have a great light bulb moment earlier this week for my sales goal though, and will be working on that this week.  Totally different than what I had been trying before.  Instead of focusing on total sales, I'm going to focus on product. I can't really control sales... but I can control that I am consistently putting out fun and new items and using my email list and social media effectively.  So that's my new focus this week.
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I also thought I'd share some random lists I have in my bullet journal. It was great going over these lists to get pics for you.  I also need to include a Bullet Journal review once a week and re-read through these quotes and lists.
(earlier this week, T1 came in on my bed with me and I happened to have my bullet journal out, working on it, and I flipped to the page where I have been writing great things about each son and read the list outloud to him... he didn't say much, but had an embarrassed smile the whole time. I highly recommend it!)

"Amazing things about" list for each son.

Great ideas for doing on the weekend... that I very rarely do.  But wouldn't it be cool if I did?!

Great quotes I want to remember.  Especially that middle one!

I have lots of lists like these to try to combat falling into the same old routine of wasting time.
Still have not done much here... yet.

Kind of similar list to the one above, but this was a year review after my 41st birthday.
So good to re-read and ask why I'm not doing these.

These lists are pretty much the only things that keep me focused on the big picture.  I SO easily fall into the easy and familiar and start putting out fires and wasting time online, sitting at the computer, and doing the urgent.  I definitely need to build daily review/reflection into my morning routine so I can remember what I want to be doing.  If it is not in my face, I get lazy, I forget, I get overwhelmed and return to what I call "scribble brain", where I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing, and get overwhelmed with kids in my face, literally breathing my same air because I'm not paying them any attention.  So, here's to a new week and new goals, and lots more margin and review!