… and how you say it.

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, reading, and introspecting since writing Friday’s post. I’m stuck with this feeling that the answer to this riddle is right on the tip of my tongue, and if I just keep mulling it over, it will come to me. The sensation is both frustrating and exhilarating–frustrating because I want an answer and I want it NOW, exhilarating because I feel kind of like a mental/spiritual Indiana Jones hunting for a mythical artifact. Semi-Charmed Wife and the Hunt for Life’s Purpose… It’s got a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

In the midst of all this research and soul-searching, I found an insightful and apropos article by Erin Pavlina called “The Medium and the Message“. (Erin is a practicing psychic. Regardless of whether you believe in psychic abilities, I recommend the article for its unique perspective.) The article refers to your true purpose as your message. Your message is why you’re here and what you must express or communicate in this life. If I were to sum up my message into a catchy slogan, it would be something like “You can do it!”, meaning that no matter what it is that you want out of life, no matter what you want to be or do, you CAN make it happen regardless of who you are or where you start. It’s a message of empowerment and enlightenment targeted primarily at women.

Your medium is the way you deliver your message. Using mine as an example, I could be a full-time mother who raises empowered, fully conscious children. I could be a therapist. I could be a counselor to battered women. I could be a motivational speaker. I could be a life coach. I could be teach at a community college. I could be an author and write novels that inspire people to believe in themselves, or I could write nonfiction books about personal development. The possibilities for delivering my message are endless.

That’s the rub for me–endless possibilities. I could deliver my message in a million ways–how do I know which one is the right fit for me? As you know from following my various 21-Day Makeovers, I love doing personal development “experiments” on myself, so I’m going to resort to my tried-and-true tactic of trial and error. I’ll just have to come up with different ideas and try them out. Eventually, one of them will click and I’ll know I’ve found the right medium for me. For instance, I’ve tried writing fiction, and although I enjoy it, it didn’t resonate as a way to live my purpose. On to the next idea…

I’m working on a different plan now. It’s still in the early stages of conception, but I’ll certainly share it with you when it’s fully formed.

What’s harder for you–figuring out your medium or your message?

I’ve been working diligently on my 101 things list, but it’s been kind of haphazard thus far. I wanted to set out a plan for the items I want to focus on in June:

• #13 Research & write a nonfiction piece (I’d like to start working on this in June, but it may take me longer to finish it.)
• #34 Wake up at 5:00 am every day for 21 days & #35 Meditate every day for 21 days (I’d like to combine these into one challenge starting tomorrow.) 
• #39 Go one week without complaining (Starts tomorrow)
• #41 Go one month without shopping (Starts tomorrow)
• #57 Memorize a poem that I love
• #81 Call one cousin per week for three months
• #82 Write a letter to my grandmother

Ground rules: 

Getting enough sleep is critical to good health, so if I’m up past 11:00 pm, I won’t get up at 5:00 am. However, every time I don’t get up at 5:00, I’ll add an additional day on to the challenge.

I have to meditate for at least 10 minutes in order for it to count.

Every time I catch myself complaining, I have to follow the complaint with a solution to the problem or another positive statement.

For the shopping item, these will be my guidelines:

• I already have a number of eating-out engagements scheduled this month. This is just the way my life is–I can’t really avoid it. I have both brunch and early dinner tomorrow, dinner on 6/3, brunch on 6/8, and dinner on 6/19. I will consciously choose the least expensive items I can find, and I will not schedule any new social events that require me to eat out!!
• Purchasing groceries (food, toiletries, other essentials) doesn’t count as shopping.
• Purchasing lunch out at work does count as shopping. However, because I occasionally get pulled into last-minute work lunches, I will allow myself one lunch out per week, but I have to keep the cost under $10.
• All other gratuitous purchases (gum, candy, sodas, bottles of water, magazines, etc) are off-limits.
• No purchases of clothes, books, gadgets, makeup, or any other non-essential is allowed.

I’m a sucker for infomercials. A while ago, I saw a commercial for an ab video that promised that I could get a washboard stomach without crunches.

Did I ever tell you that I hate crunches? Oh, friends–I do… I hate them.

Anyway, I ordered the DVD a few months ago. It arrived about two weeks later and has been sitting untouched in my bookcase. I finally cracked it open today and I did one of the three ten-minute workouts.

It was… meh. I felt it more in my lower back than my abs. Maybe it’s supposed to be that way? I’m going to try the other two workouts and give it a week or two to see if I feel a difference.

Have you ever made an unfortunate infomercial purchase?

I just got back from the Memorial Day parade, which is one of the many huge DC events I’d never been to. It was very, very cool–I highly recommend it! I went with my husband, my sister, brother-in-law, niece, and furry niece. We had a great time, and I got to cross another item off my 101 Things list!

Wow. This month has FLOWN by! I only have two full days left at age 29. I’ve been pretty freaked out about the whole birthday thing, but as it gets closer, I’m getting to a more Zen, it is what it is kind of place.

My husband and I had dinner outside at a little Mexican place on Capitol Hill. Then we walked downtown to the movie theater at Gallery Place in Chinatown to see the new Indiana Jones movie (I’d give it a 6.5 out of 10). Here’s a picture of the Chinatown gate that we took on the walk there.

Pretty cool, huh? We feel pretty lucky to live within walking distance of so many awesome places!

My sister, bro-in-law, niece, and furry niece (Lana the yellow lab) are coming to DC tomorrow and we’re all going to walk downtown to watch the Memorial Day parade, which will fulfill one of my 101 things. What are your plans for the holiday?