Pampering

  I created a list at the beginning of the week. It's almost the weekend so maybe it is time to take stock to see if I hit these goals.

1) Be healthy
      Meh. I have done so-so in this category. Not sleeping enough puts a damper on things. My friend Adrienne is right. I need exercise. Not later. Now. I have been doing small things such as rubbing oil into my cracked skin around my nails. Doing this has already reduced how horrid my hands normally look at this time of the year. And my feet? I'm tired of the callouses. So I have been babying them with pumice stone in order to get rid of the dead skin and rubbing Burt's Bees Coconut foot creme on them every night and slipping on fuzzy socks.

2) Listen
     This I can say that I did better than normal by becoming more aware of the context in which things were said. All my interpersonal relationships improved because I interrupted less and put their words into pictures in my mind instead of immediately opening my mouth. Tilting your head to your right tells the other person that you are being sympathetic to their cause.

3) Observe
     My skills in observation are always high. Yet, lately, my thoughts were distracting me from really focusing on another person's facial expressions, body language, etc. Again, there is always an automatic gain in new interpersonal relationships when the other person believes you are trying to read them.

4) Write 
     Blech. Probably my worst category this week, still. Time to get on top of it this weekend so I have the time to do it!

5) Laugh
    Well, plenty of that always happens. I just like to make sure I get a few belly laughs per day. It is a technique that Indians use to relax and de-stress the body.

6) Meditate 
    A couple of times this week. Especially near the beginning when I was running on lack of sleep and I could feel the stress levels. Next goal, add another day? The more often you perform a new habit, the more likely you are to keep it.

7) Be courageous
    I had a situation to deal with at the beginning of the week and I was concerned that it may deliver bad news. But instead of avoiding the issue, like I usually do, I just went on ahead and attacked it. You know what? Positive outcome. Maybe being courageous should be first on my list.

 Love with an open heart
      This is tough for a lot of people. We often write others words off with a flick of the wrist. Or worse, we make them feel unloved because we take them for granted. Even people who's opinion we disagree with. The only thing I am concerned with is that being courageously open-hearted, I am not sure if I may not have accidentally hurt a possible friendship. If that's the case, it's a shame for them because I know I can be a good, solid friend. I don't judge people for who they are or what they are going through but I believe in an extended support system. 

     In other personal news, there is an opportunity to go to a Women in Physics Conference at the beginning of next year. Filling out the paperwork in hopes that a group of us get to go . There are a lot of women physics majors in my school so it would be great if we all get to represent. There are also other opportunities to travel this summer for more research work and experience. I have my family's blessing to go for it. It would be nice to travel and add some more experiences under my belt! 

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