Give It A 100 (or 20, or 30) - November [Archive]

ejchase

11-1-17, 9:54am

Hi All,

In August, I was inspired by the video at the link below. It's the story of a woman who went to the gym 100 times to try to get herself out of a rut. I saw it when George Takei posted it on Facebook along with the question, "What would you like to do 100 times?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5FkshLcNLQ

Her video was part of a larger movement online called "Give it 100" which, as far as I can tell, is now defunct.

I decided what I wanted to do 100 times was work on my fiction writing at least 30 minutes a day. The times do NOT need to be consecutive. Since I know I will miss a lot of days here and there, I'm aiming to complete my 100 days by January 15, but if it takes longer, that's fine too. I'm just trying to get to 100. Others joined in at various points - nswef has been building up to 100 times of a certain number of steps a day and I think is also counting days doing 15 minutes of decluttering. Others have joined in for 20 or 30 times of something.

Anyway, if anybody else wants to join in for 20, 30, 100 or however many times of something, please do!

I'm at 52 days of writing!

ToomuchStuff

11-1-17, 10:10am

The whole point of the 100 movement, was to establish a new pattern. Those that do, tend to be those that also can change their lifestyle/diet/etc.
As movements go, though it died the way of Pay It Forward, or Secret Santa. (the Larry Stewart thing that was meant to have an effect with not just those well off, but everyday people as well) Everyday people, tend to let life get in the way and use it as a self fulfilling excuse.

nswef

11-1-17, 10:46am

Life does get in the way and it is hard to keep at it, especially if you think it is a "contest". I'm good with challenging myself and then dying out when it gets too hard. I'm pleased with this time staying with the steps. The declutter gets put aside and I've reframed my goal. But I love the idea of keeping track of one thing or two things. I know in October, thanks to this challenge of 100 days I had 21 days with more than 6000 steps and zero days with less than 4000. So it's working for me now. In two months I've done 34 days of 6000 or more, progress. EJ was able to write and submit writing that was finished which impresses me no end!

ejchase

11-1-17, 11:28am

Wow, nswef, I can't believe how many steps you've done. So great!

Williamsmith

11-1-17, 11:39am

I can’t commit to anything creative like writing or playing music for example. For me, that is not something I can force or it will seem like drudgery and lack any benefit.

I could do somehting like keep track of every time I made a better food choice, or chose not to eat something. Some kind of contribution to my health, like walking three miles or going to the gym. I could do that.

nswef

11-4-17, 10:51am

Day 35 of 6000 steps.

Chicken lady

11-4-17, 11:57am

Ok, i’m coming back. The last thread was really helpful in developing good habits for the new kitchen. I’ve become less obsessive about it (a plate in the sink, a cutting board left out on the counter....), but it is still mostly clean most nights.

i am going to start a more general goal for November. I want to get into the studio and do something every day. So, that will be 30 days in the studio. The first three days I at least started a piece of work. (More on a couple) so far today I am firing the kiln.

So, Day 4:
fire kiln.

ejchase

11-4-17, 7:55pm

Congratulations, nswef, on Day 35! That's awesome!

I've completed 55 days of writing.

Welcome back, Chicken Lady! That sounds like a great goal!

nswef

11-4-17, 10:04pm

Welcome back CL. Studio daily, sounds like a plan. Glad to hear the kitchen is working well.

nswef

11-4-17, 10:04pm

EJ, 55 days of writing!!!! Wow!!

Chicken lady

11-5-17, 7:59am

You guys made a lot of progress while I was gone!

yesterday I added starting a few pieces and some finishing work to my list.

today I will definitely unload the kiln and do some glaze work.

early morning

11-5-17, 9:55am

Good job, all! I'm one of those "everyday" people who tend to start challenges and let them drop off as life gets in the way. But I've noticed that each time I challenge myself, I stick to it a little bit longer. I've challenged myself to cut carbs, and even though I'm not as strict as I was 6 months ago, I'm still checking labels and making low carb-conscious choices or cutting back on lunch/dinner carbs to let myself have a caramel latte, etc. While that, hopefully, will continue for the rest of my life, I literally need to get my house in order. I've tried committing to 3 hours a week, which isn't making much of a dent, and is too easy to avoid because it seems to hopeless. I'm going to try a different mindset. Instead of just organizing/decluttering, I'm going to try thinking about it as good management for our (DD, Dsis, myself) side business, which is antiques and flea-market sales. (Those are at two different venues, btw.) We currently have shops in two malls, one strictly quality antiques, and the other antiques/collectibles/home decor (which is what I call "flea"). The stuff littering my house is for both. IF I can manage inventory better, my house will look better! At least that's what I'm telling myself. And most of the time I really enjoy the mall shops. So I'm going to try to 30 days of "managing" - doing SOMETHING, big OR little, for 30 days straight. And I'm going to let myself start last Friday, lol. So Friday we priced and packed a tub of merchandise for our antiques booth. Sunday, we took that tub and a few things that wouldn't fit in it TO the booth. Today I'll price and pack a tub for the flea booth. So that's 3 down, 27 to go!

nswef

11-5-17, 12:00pm

Welcome early morning, It sounds like a good plan that will help in 2 areas, always a bonus! Your lower carbs has become a habit which is the goal, I think. congrats.

Chicken lady

11-5-17, 8:56pm

Early morning, you can be my “buddy”

today i unloaded the kiln, started a couple of pieces, did some finishing work on a couple of other pieces, broke something (hadn’t been fired yet, so no loss but time and wedging), glazed nine ornaments, and put the first coat (of 3) on two bowls.

i also talked to dh about my time and commitment to my studio work, and made a mess starting to unpack things to decide about inventory.

ejchase

11-6-17, 10:46am

Welcome, early morning! I've had the same experience with these challenges - that even after they were completed some of the good habits stayed around. For years, I tracked my earning and spending in Quicken in order to get out of debt, and though I haven't been able to get back to that habit yet, the years of doing it made me much more conscious of my spending and ways I could cut back on it.

Also, what you achieve - for 30 or 40 or 100 days - is what you achieved. I consider every day of healthy eating or decluttering or writing or exercising a permanent accomplishment. As they say,"They can't take that away from me."

As expected, I'm having to let a few days of writing slide while I catch up on work stuff, but I still think I can make my next benchmark of 60 days by November 15.

nswef

11-6-17, 11:21am

Good luck on the 60 days EJ. I like the idea that "they can't take that away from me!"

early morning

11-6-17, 4:47pm

Thanks for the encouragement all - today I had to leave work early because DH had an appointment so we took the tub of things DD and I priced yesterday to the south of town mall. AND I cleared off one end of the dining room table. ejchase, I like the permanent accomplishment idea too. I have two big barriers to getting things done. One is my love of reading - and the other is my crappy attitude. I try really hard to NOT project it, because people who do that drive me nuts (hellllloooo, kettle!!) but it's a refrain in my head.... what does it matter? you're going to die someday and what then? you know you just drag in more stuff when you clear something out so why bother? even if I get it cleared up, then DH or DD will just expand their crap (they might, but not as much as mine, I'm sure!)- one of the kids might want that someday! what if I NEED a _____??? on and on and on..... RE-FRAMING how I look at things really helps me - I really appreciate the way this site gives me alternative views and other ways to see problems. THANK YOU ALL!

nswef

11-6-17, 6:44pm

Early morning, I recognize your thoughts! Reframing is helpful. Every little step helps, too. One end of the Dining room table clear is a good thing. We'll be cheering you on.

Chicken lady

11-6-17, 8:05pm

ejchase

11-6-17, 9:41pm

I think that’s my problem with things like cleaning the kitchen. It absolutely can be “taken away” and it’s guaranteed to happen. If not today, then tomorrow.

today I put first coats on 10 more ornaments and a large bowl. That stays done! Also I carried some boxes up to my new work table in the loft and started unpacking and sorting for inventory.

Chicken Lady, I have a lot of trouble cleaning up the kitchen at night, especially when my daughter is with me, and I've just gotten through bath and bedtime routine with her. But every time I manage to do it, it's like a huge gift to myself the next morning when I walk into a clean space. Yes, it will get dirty again, but I still consider that good feeling I gave myself that day something that counts.

It sounds like you are getting a lot done in your studio!

Chicken lady

11-7-17, 6:56am

Yes, being able to start the day in a clean kitchen makes a big difference to me. That is why I do it.

i don’t feel like I am getting a lot done, but I guess I must be - I am starting to get some push back from my dh about how I always overstock for sales. This is true, but I also run out of things, and there is no way to know what those things might be. For example, I have a signature style bowl. it sells best in green. sometimes it doesn’t sell at all, but I have also had a show where several people have specifically come looking for one. So, I want to have ten in stock - five of them split between two shades of green I offer. I was down to three, no green.

last sale I ran out of gray and kiwi hippos, the sale before it was blue. You can never have too many hippos. :) Yes, I may sell one “high end” art platter, but I need three on display to pull people over and I need half a dozen similar ones to pull out from under the table to show them when the one they are looking at isn’t “quite right” (“actually, I have one [with more blue or whatever] but I hadn’t put it out yet”) somehow draws people in, it becomes part of the story that I was keeping it back but got it out just for them and makes it more special.

and yes, the booth is still full at the end of the sale. The booth HAS to be still full at the end of the sale. If people come in at 1:00 on Sunday and see stripped down booths, they just keep walking.

ejchase

11-7-17, 10:14am

Chicken Lady, I know nothing about selling crafts, but my ex used to get on my case for buying too much food for dinner parties or birthday parties, and we always did have leftovers. But I hate the feeling of being at a party when I see they are running out of food. So I've made my peace with lots of leftovers!

Your reasoning about having extras sounds very sensible to me!

mschrisgo2

11-7-17, 4:54pm

LOL, Chicken Lady, that's why you are successful with sales, and he doesn't sell!

(and you are correct- empty booths kill an event. We had a local sale that was very successful, and had mostly empty tables mid Saturday afternoon, 2 years in a row. The next year nobody went at all!)

early morning

11-7-17, 11:42pm

So today I've done very little on the inventory control. I'll just go with the fact that nothing extra was added and nothing was "undone" and plan for a more productive tomorrow. Chicken lady your pottery sounds lovely, and you are right about needed your booth full at the end of the event. Best case might be everything unpacked and on display, I guess? I know when I go to a craft or antique show, I am not drawn into booths that look picked over or half empty - even if I'm towards the end of the show. Same with our antique mall booths, they need to have enough stuff that if we sell a good bit and I can't get there for several days, they still have plenty to look at!

Chicken lady

11-8-17, 6:52am

Early morning, some days holding your ground is just fine!

i thought I posted last night, but no sign of it.

yesterday in my home studio I glazed some test tiles and unpacked and sorted more stuff for inventory.

at school I unloaded the kiln and put a first coat on 4 hippos,

and at my class studio I made 4 more hippos before class but then I was so tired I just took notes during class - I didn’t try to produce work. I did put 4 dry pieces on the firing cart. I have a bunch of homework.

so far this morning I have turned the heat on and started the fan. Anything that warms up will go to school with me to fill out the kiln load today. (Work that stays cold isn’t fully dry)

nswef

11-8-17, 11:26am

I'm enjoying reading about the progress in hippos, clearing out and writing. I made my first 6000 + steps for November yesterday- say 36! October was a huge success in my goal...this month not starting auspiciously, but I'll keep plugging along.

Chicken lady

11-8-17, 7:46pm

Nswef, that is a lot of steps! There is still a lot of November left, so i’m Sure you will regroup and get more days.

put 4 pieces in the kiln with the kids stuff. There was a little extra room, but all the kid stuff was in plus everything I brought and the load has to be done for their next class. I want to unload it tomorrow, so I went ahead and fired. (The kiln fires better the more full it is, which is why I take my work in when we have a deadline but not a full load.)

glazed ten hippos. Might be done for the night.

nswef

11-8-17, 11:02pm

How many hippos did you want to have for the show? You are well on your way! congratulations.

Chicken lady

11-9-17, 7:17am

10 grey, 5 of each color, however many colors I get around to. Making hippos is like knitting a plain scarf. Pick it up, put it down, keeps the hands busy and looks productive. They are small, cute, inexpensive impulse buys and pull people over to my booth. Also, kids can play with the hippos and a ceramics show tends to be not so kid friendly. I think some people buy their kid a hippo to keep little hands busy.

i actually made 8 more while m hair was drying by the fire last night.

Chicken lady

11-9-17, 10:14pm

Unloaded and loaded the school kiln.

glazed two hippos and two small dishes.

unpacked and sorted some more inventory.

nswef

11-10-17, 11:59am

Yay!!! Cl

Chicken lady

11-10-17, 10:58pm

Thanks nswef.

today I glazed nine hippos a small dish and a middle sized dish. I need to do a couple more small dishes in the morning and fire the kiln tomorrow.

early morning

11-10-17, 11:15pm

WFG, Chicken Lady! Today we took a load to our flea-style booth. Sadly, most of it came from my sister's house, not mine, lol. But hey, she's trying to clear out too! Another load goes to our antique booth tomorrow...

Chicken lady

11-11-17, 10:28pm

Well, it’s nice to help your sister. Keep up the good work! Have you squelched the inflow?

today I fired the kiln; glazed three small dishes, two medium sized dishes, and five hippos; started two more hippos; got two of three coats on another medium dish; glazed a large platter except for a few minutes of detail finishing; put the finishing coats and detail on ten ornaments (done glazing ornaments for this year); and decorated five hot pots with feathers (one broke, process hazard).

I also found some more small dishes I set aside last year when I didn’t have time to glaze them. Basically, I spent the day in the studio. I hope to do it again tomorrow!

mschrisgo2

11-11-17, 11:52pm

Great progress, CL! When is your sale?

Chicken lady

11-12-17, 4:51am

Set up is Friday night. Sale is all weekend.

nswef

11-12-17, 12:21pm

Cl, I'm pleased to see you were able to spend the whole day in the studio. Ornaments all glazed! You've made huge progress toward getting everything set for the sale. Congratulations.

JaneV2.0

11-12-17, 1:49pm

Glazed hippo--yum! :D
I have a little Egyptian hippo figure similar to this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_the_Faience_Hippopotamus#/media/File:Standing_Hippopotamus_MET_DP248993.jpg[

Do you have a picture?

Chicken lady

11-13-17, 6:29am

Lol! Poor hippo!

no picture and the link keeps failing, but from the url, i’m guessing that is the famous blue museum hippo? Mine are much much simpler. Think Pokey the horse from Gumby.

i didn’t keep track of exactly what I did yesterday, but I fired again and got more pieces ready. Plenty of work time, but not the full day. (Dh was willing to do some long overdue fence repair, so I spend several hours with him on that - the front porch is now guaranteed goat free.)

ejchase

11-13-17, 10:30am

Way to go, Everybody! Chicken Lady, it sounds like you are getting a lot done!

I completed my 59th day of writing today.

nswef

11-13-17, 12:00pm

Yay! 59 days of writing. That's amazing. The hippos make me smile, just thinking about them.

Chicken lady

11-14-17, 6:31am

59 days of writing is amazing! Do you feel like you are getting somewhere?

I can can see where the pottery is cutting into other things, but I think I can keep up with getting into the studio every day after the show, some days may just be really short. I am really happy with all I have gotten done in just two weeks.

actually, Saturday and Sunday will be really short because they will be show days. I might miss Saturday. Friday I will load stuff, and Sunday I will unload stuff - probably at random leaving a mess for Monday.

ejchase

11-15-17, 12:18pm

Thanks, nswef and Chicken Lady, for the encouragement! I don't know if I at this point feel like I'm "getting anywhere." I'm working on a new story, and it's a complete mess right now, but every year at the holidays, I feel regret that I didn't spend more of my time during the year writing and vow to do more of it in the new year, but this is the first year since my daughter was born (6 years ago!) that I actually have done more. The structure of just aiming to "do it" 100 times - even when I'm doing it badly - and the gentle peer pressure I feel from this community to stick with it has REALLY helped so far. A few times I've thought I should add another "give it 100" goal - like for decluttering or something - but then I've stopped myself because I've made so many things besides this a priority for so long that I'm really forcing myself to keep this one my main one for right now. Just like with Chicken Lady's pottery, I can see how my writing is cutting into other things, but I'm thinking that's okay. Writing is more important to me than many other things, so it seems like a good change.

Chicken Lady, congrats on getting so much done!

Nswef, keep up the good work with your steps!

nswef

11-15-17, 4:35pm

Day 38 of steps, slower this month but sill progress. EJ one of my writing posts on facebook said just shovel the sand (story) in order to build the castles. You cannot make anything until you start, so having writing that isn't "great" is better than having no writing. You will make it great once you have it! Making it a priority is the best step. Thanks for the encouragement.

Chicken lady

11-16-17, 7:14am

We are halfway through November. Go team!

so far I have done something in the studio every day. This morning I am firing my kiln for the last time before the sale. I also have to fire the school kiln today so kids can take work home tomorrow. All their stuff is in it and there is room for a small bowl and my last ten hippos, so if I get those glazed this morning, I will fire them.

i have half a dozen large bowls it would have been nice to fire, but I have an ok selection and I will use them to glaze replacements if a particular design sells (so far my sales record on those is zero to three per sale - which is fine for that price point, they are as much a customer attractant as a product.)

Zoe Girl

11-16-17, 8:41am

I am at 111 days of meditation without missing a day. It includes some lame5 minute ones sitting in bed but at least something every day.

Ultralight

11-16-17, 8:44am

I am at 111 days of meditation without missing a day. It includes some lame5 minute ones sitting in bed but at least something every day.

You're a zen bad ass!

Zoe Girl

11-16-17, 9:03am

You're a zen bad ass!

Theravadan actually :)

nswef

11-16-17, 11:45am

Congratulations Zoe. Do you feel it is helping with your current job situation? Life in general?

nswef

11-17-17, 4:44pm

Day 39- I pushed myself to walk around the house all evening to get to 6000 from about 2500! Today I took a long walk so will have 6000 as well. I don't count that until morning.

ejchase

11-18-17, 10:32am

nswef, I like that "shoveling sand" saying! Congrats on Day #39!

Zoe Girl, 111 days of meditation is so impressive. Do you see ripple effects in your daily life?

Chicken Lady, congrats on all the work in your studio!

I hit 60 days of writing and now am taking a few days off because I am REALLY behind on grading, but I will start up again soon.

nswef

11-18-17, 11:03am

60 days is awesome! Once you are caught up with grading ...does it ever happen? I did day 40 by actually taking a walk outside!!!
CL I hope your fair goes well.

Chicken lady

11-19-17, 7:51am

Yay for writing and meditating and walking outside!

i did get into the studio yesterday to pack a few more things and take them along. So I have hit every day in November so far. Sale is going well, thanks. I hope day 2 will also.

nswef

11-19-17, 11:59am

Cl, You must be pleased! To have worked every day at your pottery...joy!

Zoe Girl

11-19-17, 12:31pm

Yes to all the 'is it helping' comments on meditation. I am a long term meditator and it is easy to keep saying I will catch up with a longer sit tomorrow. The regular practice really makes a difference. It has been a f-ing exhausting week, no other way to put it, 55 hours on site and 12 of those in programming on Friday. By the time I left I had to stop and get something to eat I was so worn out. So that night was taking some pretty rock and holding it on my chest and resting for 10 minutes. The night before was my meditation class in Boulder and that is supportive. I usually think I am too tired to share much, this time I got really honest and teared up, said how my week was and stayed out of drama story as well. I had some wonderful connections with people approaching me at the end. The practice is about being with what is, and I can't change what is happening so I might as well sit with it :)

nswef

11-19-17, 2:18pm

Congratulations ZG for continuing to "sit with what cannot be changed" a very difficult task.

Chicken lady

11-19-17, 9:28pm

Zoe girl, i’m Glad you are getting support from your meditation group.

all I did in my home studio today was grab the last box of inventory to take to the sale. I’m counting that because I spent the rest of the day AT the sale. And I sold one thing from the box, so that is permanently out of my studio. (The box was things I have had for a while that I am no longer making due to weak sales but which haven’t sold out yet)

early morning

11-21-17, 12:33am

Chicken Lady, i hope your sale went well! And way to go everyone! 15 days after starting, I've managed to work on inventory control on 10 separate days - sometimes a lot, sometimes a little, but there IS progress being made! I have a lot of projects on, but that's always the case. I have tons of work AT work and some evening events planned, so I've had some days of getting home really late and not doing anything else. Sadly extra work hours do not equal extra money, lol. But I'm pleased, we have emptied 5 large cartons, and I can see most of my dining room table!

Chicken lady

11-21-17, 9:22am

That is great that you are finding your dining room table!

The sale did go well, thanks.

most of the stuff I sold was physically small, so it didn’t help a lot with inventory storage, but I did get more organized during the process. And I have done something in the studio each of the 20 days of November!

today I have homework to do for my class.

ejchase

11-22-17, 2:46pm

Glad to hear everybody is making so much progress!

I finally returned to writing today after a week away, and it felt SO good. That was #61.

nswef

11-22-17, 5:34pm

Day 41 and 42 for steps!!!

Chicken lady

11-22-17, 7:49pm

Yay for walking and writing!

i did my homework yesterday, and today I cleaned up a little in the studio.

Chicken lady

11-23-17, 9:08pm

So all I did in the studio today was collect the dirty towels and throw them in the wash. Basically a drive by. But I was in the studio.

ejchase

11-24-17, 10:58am

Chicken Lady, that totally counts! It was Thanksgiving!

Chicken lady

11-24-17, 12:52pm

Yeah, except we are celebrating thanksgiving tomorrow. I plan to do better today.

Chicken lady

11-24-17, 10:53pm

Put away two clean, dry molds that had been sitting on the porch for a while and the clean laundry.

started a relief mold i’ve been wanting to try, cut out 23 hippopotamus blanks and did the sculpting on 9.

ejchase

11-25-17, 3:11am

I wrote for an hour! #63!

Chicken lady

11-25-17, 9:47am

ejchase

11-25-17, 1:27pm

Nice!

do you have trouble with the transitions, or are they easy for you? I have a hard time getting out to get started, but then once I get going I get annoyed when I have to quit and my brain tends to stay engaged with all that I want to do.

Yup, getting started is by far the hardest part. The one thing that helps is that I do it first thing in the morning before I do anything else. It's extremely hard for me to get to if I do anything before it. And yes, often, once I get going I don't want to stop, but unfortunately, at this time of year, the grading is piling up, so I have to. I'm looking forward to long stretches of time in January and February when I'm working less.

Getting started is hard for me with decluttering too. And again, once I start, it's hard to stop.

Hit #64 today!

Zoe Girl

11-25-17, 2:48pm

I boughtnew file folders and am cleaning up paperwork, so much anxiety! So any steps are good

Chicken lady

11-27-17, 7:40am

Just keep moving Zoe girl!

yesterday I cleaned and taped 7 ware boards, added a layer of slip to three plates, and did the finish sculpting on 11 hippos. So far I am on target to do 30 in 30 for November!

nswef

11-27-17, 11:55am

Ej,CL and Zoe- Great progress!!! I did day 43...after 3 days of NO MOVEMENT to speak of! It was great to get another 6000 day in. I'm working on papers, clearing, yard, but not as daily goals. I can only focus on one goal at a time.

ejchase

11-27-17, 1:28pm

Awesome progress, Zoe Girl, CL, and nswef!

I completed #66 today!

nswef

11-27-17, 1:56pm

Ej you must have piles of writing to edit now! That's where I fall apart.

ejchase

11-28-17, 1:10pm

Ej you must have piles of writing to edit now! That's where I fall apart.

Not piles, but I've made some inroads on different stories. The biggest shift for me is that I feel better about my life in general because I've finally succeeded in making my writing more of a priority. It feels like my life is closer to what I want it to be and that I'm spending less time on things that are less important to me.

Did #67 today!