To find people to help with their time management using the ProcrasDonate platform. The service works. We’ve asked a bunch of people for feedback, incorporated what we can… and now we’re ready to help people learn and feel good about the time they spend on the internet, to support their favorite charities, and to make time for their off-the-computer lives again.

My commitment:

Empowering people to use this tool will be my primary activity until December 31st.

I won’t be slimy or underhanded in my pursuit of this goal.

I will not expect to be rewarded or praised for my actions. I will pursue this ask for its own sake.

I will enjoy what I learn in the process.

I want PERSISTENT CLEAR HEADEDNESS. No matter what someone drops on my desk with a ridiculous expectation for turnaround.

Ahhh…I feel better already.

1. I’d like to write a blog post this week with very little effort and stress. (Leaving lots of energy for the big projects I’m juggling at the same time!) How this could happen: I could dash off a really short post, for a change! I could get an idea that motivates me to write a post about it immediately! I could notice something going on in my life that I realize could be a post topic, and write about it with minimal effort. I could look over my list of post ideas and one of them could grab me. Someone could suggest a post idea that inspires me to write something, quickly and easily. I could notice myself having fun writing a post! I could have some insights about someone else’s post and link to it with a few brief comments, giving myself permission to be brief.

Hm, those all sound like good ways to write a post ANY time, but let’s start with this week…

2. While we’re at it, why not also a VPA for: I’d like to enjoy those Big Projects I’m juggling!, rather than stressing out about them. How this could happen: I could allow myself to feel whatever I’m feeling as I start work and continue working. I could gently ask myself, when I have the urge to take a break, whether I’m giving myself a gift or running and hiding (or both!), and listen compassionately to the answer. I could allow myself breaks way before I get tired or sore or burned out. Even if/when my inner editor is cricitizing or worrying, I could allow myself lots of awareness outside of her voice. Even if/when my inner editor is worrying, I could let myself enjoy the topic I’m engaging with and the information I’m learning and sharing and working with and transforming so it can be helpful to others.

Come to think of it, there might a blog post or two in this very comment, but I’m not going to worry about that just now.

My commitment: I’ll print out what I just wrote and read it over, every day, this week.

@Claire – Hugs for the hard. Your friend’s family is lucky to have such a good friend to support them during such a stressful & scary time. Deciding on a course of treatment when losing one’s hearing is SO incredibly difficult, and it’s even harder to make that decision for a child.

Cochlear implants are a very controversial, heated, and emotional debate among Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing communities. It’s a very complicated issue, and one people feel strongly about on both sides.

There’s a documentary about cochlear implants you might want to check out if you haven’t already: Sound & Fury. You might also visit the forums at http://alldeaf.com/ The website itself isn’t particularly pretty, but don’t let that put you off. It’s a great place where Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing people gather to discuss all aspects of hearing loss. There is a wealth of information & wisdom there. The people there will be able to point you towards some great resources.

@Sherron — ooh, good luck with the post. Good for you! ANd yes, first one is the scariest.

Luckily, everyone writes terrible first posts (seriously, go to the archives and look at mine!)

@Leocadia – keeping up good hopes for you.

@Leslie – oh! That didn’t even occur to me to mention, so thanks for the reminder. The healthy boundaries spray doesn’t have a scent.

I’ve actually tried at least half of Deborah’s sprays and the only one with a scent was the Harmony one. I think you could just ask her if there was a spray you wanted, and you wanted to make sure it was scent-free.

In terms of the your sovereignty not bumping up against anyone else’s thing, that’s a complicated issue. Actually, it’s a simple issue that is complicated to explain. It kind of needs its own post, but here is the short version:

The thing that preserves your sovereignty also preserves everyone else’s. When you are in sovereignty, it inspires everyone else to respect their own.

The more you are clear about the healthy boundaries of your own kingdom, the easier it is for everyone else to define theirs.

The best concrete example for this is the Dog Whisperer (have you ever seen that?). When the dog whisperer shows up, there is a situation that is not good for the owner AND not good for the dog.

When the dog whisperer establishes boundaries, they end up in a situation that is good for the dog and good for the owner. And good for the dog whisperer.

Sovereignty is a *little* different than that, but not much. Because sovereignty is all about the win-win.

And one of the things on your dammit list might be “I respect my own space and the space of my workshop participants, dammit”. That way you can give them room to not participate in everything, and to be clear about your own needs and comfort.

Hope that helps for now. Something to start with, at least.

@Heidi – Yay! Yay! Yay! That’s wonderful. And sure, you’re welcome to Chicken on a VPA. Why not? I am so happy about your potions and lotions for mixed up emotions. I used your magical Ease Balm last night and my hands and feet are sooooooooooooo happy.

@Lean – whooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

My VPAs for this week:

1. To write my very first real blog post!

I’ve written it two or three times already…and it still pretty much sucks. It’s about a dog (of course!) and I have so much to say that what I’ve written is rambling all over creation and making even me say, “So? Who cares?” I’d really like to finish this blog post and get it out into the world because a)the world needs to meet this fabulous dog and b)I’ve wanted to write a blog for a long time and I’m finally ready to make the leap.

How this could happen: Words could just flow out of me, making perfect sense and being exactly what I’ve wanted to say all along but just couldn’t get out of my brain and onto the page. Or, I could write and write and write some more and then edit and then rewrite. Either way is okay; I don’t find rewriting painful, just tedious.

My commitment: I’ll keep writing. I won’t demand perfection.

2. To finish the project at work that’s sucking the life right out of me.

I like my job, but this project is kicking my butt. I would like the energy and focus to just finish it so I can move on. The next project is waiting its turn and it promises to be a whole lot nicer to me. But I have to finish this one first, and I’d prefer it to go smoothly because I have enough stress in my life, thanks.

How this could happen: All of the feedback I’ve been given could suddenly make perfect sense to me. I could look at the chapters and know exactly what’s missing and what needs to be added. Divine intervention?

My commitment: To give my best effort even when I don’t want to.