Secrets of Adulthood- Day 24

“Keep mementos that are small in size and few in number.”

I can’t say I have few in number, but my thimble collection definitely fits the small-in-size requirement. 

Forty-one years ago on my honeymoon to the Bahamas, I picked up a small thimble as a souvenir. Little did I realize that over the years I would collect many more from all the different places we would visit. 

I've even had friends and family bring me back thimbles from their vacations. 

Sadly, what I'm discovering now is that souvenir thimbles are becoming a thing of the past and they are difficult to find now. You’ll be happy to know that souvenir shot glasses are still plentiful and relatively small in size. 

Secrets of Adulthood- Day 23

 “If there’s something you want to do, make it more convenient; if there’s something you want to resist doing, make it less convenient.”

What simple advice, and yet why do we seem to complicate things?

I've noticed on social media that meal prep has become a really popular practice. If you spend a Sunday afternoon prepping your lunches and snacks for the week, you are probably going to have a better chance of eating healthy. 

If you place a bowl of Halloween candy on your counter, it's probably going to be hard to resist. Maybe not bringing it into the house in the first place would have been the better move, but at least storing it in the pantry might not make it quite so obvious. 

Along this line, I've heard of people literally freezing their credit cards to make them less easy to use. Of course, I'm pretty sure this was prior to online shopping. LOL!

Recently, I’ve learned about something called The Path of Least Resistance. Think about water trickling down the side of a mountain. Somehow water finds the path of least resistance to follow. 

The same thing happens to us as our brain is always scanning for ways to conserve energy and keep us safe. So it's easy to fall back into whatever requires less effort. 

So what do we do with this Secret of Adulthood? Look for ways to make the habits you want to develop more automatic. Don't make it so difficult that you give up. 

And see if you can make the things you don't want to do a little less convenient.

Secrets of Adulthood- Day 22

 “Things look better when arranged on a tray.”

I've noticed a trend on Facebook-arranging things on a tray. 

Each time a new season or holiday comes around people are making the cutest arrangements just by putting them on a tray. 

Why would something so simple make such a difference?

I'm thinking because it causes your eye to focus on the boundary of the tray. Then you really can enjoy checking out the different objects placed there. 

If you need some inspiration check out Pinterest or Facebook to come up with some ideas. Challenge yourself to use what you have to decorate with. Of course, you might need to invest in a tray. I like the round, wooden ones. 

Secrets of Adulthood- Day 21

 “Cheerfulness is contagious, and crabbiness is even more contagious.”

This is so true! Especially the crabbiness. Why is it so easy to complain?

I once taught with a teacher who was always cheerful. She looked for the bright side of everything and refrained from gossiping. When you were around her, it was difficult to complain. 

One time, someone was telling a story about her son climbing onto a roof. My friend interjected with, “He must be brave.” The other woman looked at her for a moment and said, “No, he’s stupid!”

We all got a good laugh out of that remark. 

They say in life you are the combination of the five people you spend the most time with. If you find yourself more on the crabby side, check out your friends. Maybe you can be the one to encourage cheerfulness. Both are contagious. 

Secrets of Adulthood- Day 20

 “Even a weekend away from home and routine can be enough for a real vacation.”

What is it about a weekend away that is so fun? 

For me, it's easy to plan, and you’re back home before you know it. 

I've found that I like day trips even more than a weekend away. My husband and I have taken many day trips, no more than two hours from home, and had a great time. 

We have taken tours, checked out historical sites, eaten at quaint restaurants, shopped at really cool stores, and enjoyed conversation along the way. 

The beauty of the day trip is that you don't have to make arrangements for your pets, you don't get tired of eating out, and, best of all, you get to sleep in your own bed. 

Do you have any suggestions for day trips?

Secrets of Adulthood- Day 19

                                                             “It’s okay to ask for help.”

Why would asking for help be so difficult for some?

Perhaps because they don’t want to burden others. They may feel that asking for help signals incompetence. Some may be embarrassed about asking a “stupid” question. 

All of these could be valid excuses, but I have found that most of the time people are pretty willing to help if you need it. 

When my dad went into memory care, there was so much I didn't know. I was forced to start asking for help, which didn't come easy to me. From his caretakers to his banker, everyone treated me with respect. No one made me feel bad for asking. 

I found that if I started the conversation by saying, “I have a question for you,” it was easier for me to ask. Kind of like a buffer zone of sorts, before I blurted out my actual question.

If you find it hard to ask for help, start in the produce section at your grocery store—pretty low pressure. 

Secrets of Adulthood-Day 18

Abstinence can be easier than moderation.”

I have found this to be true for me in some situations. Instead of struggling back and forth with moderation, sometimes it's easier to say no. 

I've found that if I tell myself, “I’m not eating the chips today,” before entering a Mexican restaurant, I'm much more likely to succeed than if I kid myself into thinking I’ll only eat a few. 

The old Lay’s potato chip commercial reminding us that “No one can eat just one” is basically true for me. 

In the past, once I committed to Weight Watchers, I did a good job staying on track. Once I moved to the maintenance phase, things became more difficult. Living in moderation can be a struggle for me. 

However, moderation is a more realistic approach. What works best for you?

Are you more of an abstainer or a moderator?