Friday, June 11, 2010

Project Jen #1 More Happiness

Thank you for all the comments on yesterdays post! I'm glad to see all of you interesting in Project Jen so I've decided to share my progress!

Project (insert your name here)

Make a List of things you want out of life. More than what you have now. This is your time to be greedy!

My #1 - More Happiness

I love my husband, my cats, and my life. However I do believe at times I let the stresses of work and family get in the way and forget to enjoy the little things in life. I allow all of the hate and anger of the world to weigh heavily on my shoulders and I've decided to let it go.

The doors to peace, tranquility, meditation and love are opened. Stress can get the hell out of here!

I'll share random Journal entries with you so you can see the little things in life that have brought me happiness. Here is one from this week.

6/9/2010 (9:30PM) - I haven't read in bed since I can remember. Tonight I did. I enjoyed a great book and dreamt of cream puffs and Italian men. Yes I was reading Eat Pray Love.

Note: Liz learned Italian but I've always wanted to learn French. I'm going to buy a book in French and have a dictionary near by to read every word. Even if it takes hours to read one page!


An added bonus to all my posts is that I'll be adding a little French in the mix. If you speak or write french and would love to comment in French feel free to do so! I'd love to grab my dictionary and let the translating begin!

Donc, avez-vous une liste? Quelles sont les heureux petit dans votre vie?
Translation - So do you have a list? What are the little happy's in your life?

42 comments:

Bethany Elizabeth said...

You're so much more dedicated than I am! I can't speak French to save my life. Spanish, yes, French? Not so much. :)

TerryLynnJohnson said...

#1 - roll my kayak.

I may post a vlog showing my attempt. Thanks for your inspiration.

christina lee said...

oooh I like the french talk ;-)

Hey girlie girl, I see you are coming upon 500 followers (woot)! Does this mean I see a contest in the works? ;-)

Aubrie said...

Oh no! Not more French!! I'm so bad at it. Anyways, stress can make me unhappy as well. I need to always remember to focus on the positive. :)

Avo said...

Je ne suis pas sur que l'on puisse apprendre un langue comme ça. Quoi qu'il en advienne, je te souhaite de prendre ton pied. : j

En passant, veux-tu qu'on te corrige lorsqu'on trouve des petites coquilles?

Mon petit plaisir : découverir des choses et des personnes qui m'intriguent.

Unknown said...

Bethany - I'm going to try my best to learn and just remind myself that it's for fun and to not get stressed out about it!

TerryLynn - I'd love to see a vlog of how well you did! I'm sure you'll have a blast!

Christina - Haha thank you! I think it looks so cool, obviously because it's foreign to me but I'm so excited to learn!

Yes a 500 follower contest is coming up!!! I can't wait to share the news of all the ideas I have set up!

Aubrie - Too smart! Positive thoughts is what get us by!

Alesa - You are wonderful! I had a little trouble translating, especially on what you meant by correcting small shells but overall my dictionary is helping me out a lot!!

Avo said...

Lol, "coquille" is the french word for typo/mistakes. It can also mean shell as is the shell of a crab. Seashells are coquillages. :j

Tranz:
"Je ne suis pas sur que l'on puisse apprendre un langue comme ça. Quoi qu'il en advienne, je te souhaite de prendre ton pied."
I'm not sure you can learn a language like that. Whatever becomes of it, I hope you'll get a kick out of doing it.

"En passant, veux-tu qu'on te corrige lorsqu'on trouve des petites coquilles?"
Btw, would like for us to correct mistakes when we spot them.

"Mon petit plaisir : découverir des choses et des personnes qui m'intriguent."
My "little happy": discovering things and people that intrigue me.

Joanne said...

It's the simple things that bring happiness ... writing, a long walk, my cat's antics, a great dinner, music ... and the list goes on! Happy Friday to you!

Candyland said...

This project sounds like something I need right now. I'm gonna have to let this one simmer and get back to you.

Unknown said...

Alesa - It's a test to myself, a fun test! I just want to broaden my mind and allow myself to have fun learning something new! I know it won't be easy!

Yes please do fix my mistakes! I don't want to be writing like a fool!

Great little happy!

Joanne - Excellent little happy's Joanne!!

Candyland - By all means! Really figure out what you want!

m. said...

:)
this is so lovely.
i'm impressed with your dedication!

Ellen Brickley said...

Jen, I found a good French podcast online. I'm downloading the first lesson tonight and will buy a dictionary next week!

Moll said...

I recommend reading a french novel or two (in English) to help get you in the mood!

Jaydee Morgan said...

Good for you, Jen - and good luck with learning French.

My family makes me happy - and sunshine..lots and lots of sunshine.

Clara said...

Girl, way to go!

Oh and LOVED the interview with Elana by the way!! =D

I will start learning italian! There, decided! All tnks to you! =D

Luff!

Avo said...

Well have fun! : j
Here are my corrections... Keep in mind that for a person going from scratch it's actually not bad, understandable, at least. And that I'm pointing everything little thing out.

"Quelles sont les heureux petit dans votre vie?"

That sentence is lacking a subject here and the gender and pluralization is mixed up: "Quelles" is fem pl form, "les" is pl., "heureux" is masc sing or pl, "petit" is masc sing...

And in terms of meaning you've essentially written: "What are the numerous happy kid in your life"
Or if "petit" is taken as an adj instead of a noun: "What are the many happy little in your life?"

Maybe "Quels sont les petits bonheurs dans votre vie?" Or simpler put: "Quels sont vos petits plaisirs?"

Kristin Rae said...

That's some serious dedication! Go project Jen!

Maybe when I get organized a little bit, I can start a Project Kristin ;)

Jessica Bell said...

Nope, don't have a list. I attempted to learn French just only a couple of weeks ago, but gave up when I realised I so didn't have any time, and I'd rather spend the hour having a lesson writing my WIP. So much for that. It does sound delicious though. I've always wanted to learn French. Enjoy it!

Carolyn V. said...

I have a little list or things I want to do. =)

French? I got a C out of my French class in college. But I can't remember much of it. How sad. =(

Tahereh said...

this is so so great. i'm thrilled to hear you're taking these steps!!

and woo hoo for french!!

Kimber said...

Hi Jen! Your blog is fantabulous! I will definitely be following you. Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting on my blog yesterday.

I think Project Jen is a great idea. Maybe someday I can start a Project Kimber.

Things that make happy: My munchkins, the kittehs, cherry limeade and chocolate...lots and lots of chacolate :)

Erica Mitchell said...

I love how dedicated you are to this, and very inspiring. Aw, that's so cool you got to read in bed, sometimes that really is just the best thing in the world. I doon't know french so all that just went over my head ;) I was watching a Dutch movie though oddly I could understand half of it without subtitles (thinking german teacher taught us a different language cause I don't understand german everrrr)
My number 1- Husband home from deployment. Nothing could be that.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I love how you named your quest for greater happiness "Project Jen." How cool is that! As for reading in bed- I love it! And I gave up tv awhile back to replace it with reading in bed. My husband reads now too, and he always said he never had time. Stupid tv!

ceecee said...

Your passion and exhuberance translate right through the screen. It's such a pleasure to meet you, Jen.
Catherine

Talli Roland said...

Bonjour cherie!

Non, je n'ai pas une liste, parce-que je ne suis pas une liste kinda gal. Mais je pense que c'est une bonee idée! Bonne chance!

Bon weekend mon petit chou!

Meredith said...

More happiness--such a fun place to start! It's always the little things that make me happy, too, like reading in bed. Or taking a long walk and talking to my mom or a friend on the phone. Bonne chance!

MTeacress said...

Oh how I wish I could remember my French well enough to answer. I can only barely recognize the easy words now. I loved Talli's reply, how she mixed in a little 'kinda gal' and 'weekend'. HaHa!

Sam Liu said...

A great post and a beautiful idea. I definitely agree, I think happiness is one of life's eternal aims. Je veux être très contente aussi!

Lindsay said...

Great post. I think Project Lindsay may have to evolve soon.
I'll brush up on my French too, that way I can give some replies. ;)

Talei said...

Bonsoir! I could listen to french all day *sigh*. ;) My list...well top would be loads of Happiness for everyone I love! And world peace! (seriously). I better getting working on my current project- WIP, I would like to finish it this year! ;)

Anonymous said...

That's a lovely idea -- letting going of all the stress and hatred. :)

P.S. I've tagged you in my latest post. :)

Anonymous said...

Do you want to know how happy your number one makes me?. I think happiness should be everyone's number goal in life.
Have a wonderful weekend.




LOVE!

Kimberly Franklin said...

French! Now that's amazing. Best of luck with Project Jen. :)

Melissa said...

How inspiring. Eat, Pray love was obviously a great book for you to read!

Bonne chance avec le Projet Jen. Tu es une inspiration. Je n'a pas un liste personelle, mais je pense que c'est une excellente idee.

Seulement Cinq autres partisans d'atteindre cinq cents!!! Felicitations!

Vicki Rocho said...

I'd be buying a KID's book, LOL. Like for preschoolers...but that's just me!

My list for this year was to write my book (half done), run in two 5k races (check) and be a size 10 by my birthday...uhhhhhhhh....I think I need to go to the gym!

Jai Joshi said...

I studied French in high school but haven't spoken it in years. I'm sure I've forgotten most of it. I think I should re-study and go to France to try out my memory.

Jai

The Urban Cowboy said...

Right on about letting it go...it's the only way to go.

Anonymous said...

Bonjour mademoiselle. Comment ce va?
Moi? Tres bien, merci.
Now you got me thinking I have to pull out my French CD's and listen to them again while driving. That's how I TRIED to learn french last time. Quebec City is beautiful, a great place to vacation, and speak french only.
Can't wait to hear how it goes for you, and I'll happily try to write to you el francais.

Unknown said...

Bonjour! Je parle francais depuis quatorze ans, mais je fait beaucoup d'erreurs quand meme. Une fois, j'ai lu Des Souris et des Hommes par Steinbeck en francais...Il m'en pris trois mois!

Bonne chance avec Projet Jen!

Crystal Cook said...

Jen, this is such a fantastic idea! I love it, I'm so with you. :)

Laura S. said...

All I know in French is merci! I studied Spanish in high school and college. Or I should say, Estudié español en la escuela secundaria y la universidad. (I think that's right; it's been a while!)

I still have my Spanish textbook from college. You've inspired me to brush up on my español!!!

Guinevere said...

Love your idea of reading a novel in French! Good luck with Project Jen!