When I Grow Up - The Blog » Positivity Week

Positivity Week: The End?

Michelle — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:00:34 +0000

Purchase these Kind Over Matter cards on prettyfnmess.

It’s Sunday, Day 7 of Positivity Week. Just a few more hours and then we can all put our cranky pants on, watch Jerry Springer and remember how crapalicious the world is outside: unemployment is the highest it’s been since the Depression, our parents don’t get to retire until they’re 72, the MTA is charging us over $100/mo to provide more delays and less service, & there are no more episodes of Flight of the Conchords until next season. Sigh.

Ok, wait wait wait! I don’t want to sit her in a state of depression and anger and sadness! I want the world to take some Prozac and get better! I want it to be spring already! I want the sun to shine and the birds to sing and all the people to get jobs and have Justin Timberlake be the permanent host of Saturday Night Live (we need a new version of Dick in A Box, & Jizz in my Pants ain’t it. That’s what she said! Wait, that makes no sense.)!

If there’s been anything that I’ve taken away from Positivity Week, it’s that the world is asking – no, begging – No, demanding !- some positivity in their lives. They want a reason to smile. They want the silver lining. So, I’m adding a new weekly installment to When I Grow Up & calling it Sunshine Sunday. A link, a video, a post, a book, a movie, a TV show, a photo of a baby dressed as an animal (I only want to dress my future babies as animals. or celebrities.)…..whatever it may be, it will bring some sunshine to the end of the weekend.

So, my lovely, beautiful, good-looking, spunky, sparkly, funky, positive readers, what have you gotten from Positivity Week? How has this week changed you? What was your favorite part? Have you decided to keep moving and grooving? Drop me a comment so we can keep on keepin’ on together.

The Positivity Playlist!

Michelle — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:00:24 +0000

You can buy a customized guitar pick from magpiedesignz on Etsy

For Day 4 of Positivity Week, I put together a Positivity Playlist on blip.fm! This list could be a mile long, but I tried to just include the songs that touch me, that make me dance or make me laugh. And yes, I’ll make you share your favorites with me, so the playlist will just keep on growing.

Please note: If you don’t see anything above, wait just a moment for the playlist to load. Hit Play to, uh, play & Next to get to the next song. That’s obviously some “Duh” instructions, but it took me an hour or so to figure out how to embed this friggin’ thing, so I don’t want you to think the only song on here is “Hooked on a Feeling” because then I’ll cry.

On the Positivity Playlist (I love alliteration!) above, you’ll find:

“Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede
“Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina & the Waves
“Grow Old With You” by Adam Sandler
“Business Time” by Flight of the Conchords
“Birdhouse in your Soul” by The Might be Giants
“Extraordinary Machine” by Fiona Apple
“I Will Survive” by Cake
“Sexyback” by Justin Timberlake
“Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” by Jet
“Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey
“Anyone Else But You” by The Moldy Peaches
“32 Flavors” by Alana Davis
“Lust for Life” by Iggy Pop
“Blister in the Sun” by Violent Femmes
“Get Your Freak On” by Missy Elliott
“Smile” by Lily Allen
“Sentimental Heart” by She & Him

I also wanted to include the following songs that we’re included on Blip.fm in this playlist, so just click on the title & then hit Play in the Player that pops up:

“Let’s Just Get Naked” by Joan Osborne

“Wishing Heart” by Lisa Loeb

What am I missing? Let me know & I’ll be happy to add your favorites to The Positivity Playlist!

Freakin’ (Great POSITIVE Links) Friday: Installment 20

Michelle — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:00:07 +0000

If a breakfast fairy is not the epitomy of positivity, I don’t know what is. Bring one to your home via waterbears’ etsy shop.

Yes, I’m eschewing the traditional form of Freakin’ (Great Links) Friday in honor of Positivity Week.

While I’ve compiled a list of blogs I love right here, I wanted to point out the dozen or so that I visit every day. Whether it’s their beautiful artwork, inspiring words, brilliant ideas or overall hilarity, I love visiting with these gals:

In my quest to find all links positive this week, I wanted to share some new gems that you might enjoy:

My Inspiration Lounge “makes it easier for you to be inspired, find balance, pursue your passions & make an impact in the world.” They even have a portal for booze!
HelpOthers.com is a portal dedicated to small acts of kindness
Kindred is a new site from Holly of Decor 8 & Heather of Creature Comforts. I’ll let Heather describe this site, but I’ll tell you off the bat that I’ll be signign up for the forum & making it a regular stop! Don’t miss the free downloadable Gratitude Cards made by Holly herself.
The Smile Tribe has formed with the mission of sincerely smiling at strangers! I remember being in VA with a friend years ago, and an old man greeted us with a big “Hello” on the street, and my friend said “Hello” right back. When I asked if she knew him, she said no. The jaded NY that I am, I assumed he was trying to pick us up! My friend reassured me that “It’s what people do in small towns”. It is?! Well, if it’s not, I guess that’s what The Smile Tribe is for!
The Bright Side Project promises to “bring you a little metaphorical sunshine every day, to help you stop for a second and remember life is (still) beautiful and there is goodness in the world.” Amen.
kind over matter asks, “Have you ever left something beautiful
for a stranger to find, have you ever found something beautiful yourself? We want to see it.” And you want to see this gorgeous blog.
The HumanKind Project is the online version of paying it forward. Share your act of kindness, and read about the kindness that others have done.
Operation NICE reminds you that “a little NICE goes a long way.”

And here are others that contributed to Positivity Week:

Jeremie Miller of Sunday Night Success
Carolyn Rubenstein of a beautiful ripple effect bought these Positivity Cards , and is leaving them around Boston this weekend! Can’t wait to see the pics she takes. And did I mention her angelic, generous nature? She bought a set for me too? I’ll share our pics with you next week!

While Positivity Week will continue until Sunday, and the usual installments will be up next week, I’ll be working the Schedule function since I’ll be taking a long 4-day weekend that doesn’t end until Tuesday! Yay, road trips & Beantown & family & friends & adorableness. I can’t wait.

You can see all of the Freakin’ (Great Links) Friday installments here.

A Few of my Favorite (Positive) Things…

Michelle — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:30:46 +0000

“Yes” by Jess Gonacha, found on pecannoot. You can purchase this print from Jess’ Etsy shop.

Since I wanna hear all the things that you do/say/read/watch/listen to that make you or keep you positive, I figured it was only fair to share what I do/say/read/watch/listen to first. Because asking for something without offering something is not very positive, and I don’t wanna be unpositive (yes, I made that word up. “Negative” is just…so…negative) on Day 3 of Positivity Week!

So, here are 5 things that make me/keep me positive (in no particular order):

1. My quote book. Besides the quotes that I’ve put on this page, I have a beautiful book at home that’s full of quotes I’ve been keeping for, oh, about 10 years. Crack that baby open and off to Inspiration Land I go…

2. Reading the emails I got when I asked friends & family to tell me how I inspire them. I put the gist of what they said here, and when I’m getting down on myself I read what they had to say. I also started an Encouragement Notebook (thanks for the idea, Jamie!) to put everything positive that’s said about me, but honestly – I couldn’t keep up! Just remembering that the kind words are coming fast gives me positivity to work towards my goals, whatever sacrifices I need to make & whatever challenges get in my way.

3. The book Taking Flight by Kelly Rae Roberts. I can’t express in this little blurb how inspirational (and positive!) this book is to me. OK, maybe I can, but I’m gonna take a whole post to do it in a book review soon. What I can succinctly say is that, from start to finish, Kelly Rae manages to make you believe that you can do whatever it is you set your mind to, and that you’re full of your own great ideas and inspiration and creativity. I can read just the first chapter and get inspired and overwhelmed and passionate…and positive.

4. Surrounding myself with positive people is such a key, key component to keeping myself positive. The people pleaser in me wanted to keep everyone around that I’ve attracted throughout my life, but thankfully the life coach in me realized that The Energy Suckers / Negative Nellies had to go. I’ve now rid myself of every single one of those monsters, and because of that I can count on any one of my close friends and family members for the love and support that I need.

I’m totally Carrie, by the way…..

5. Working with a life coach is a way to give myself a cheerleader, as well as someone that will hold me accountable, be non-judgmental, and will point me on my own path. By focusing on my strengths, clarifying my strengths, and asking powerful questions, they allow me to be positive in tackling my goals. If you need someone like this, why don’t you contact me?

Or if you want to become a life coach, I can’t recommend the International Coach Academy strongly enough.

6. Looking at my wedding pictures. Not only was that the day that I got to marry the most wonderful man on the planet (yeah, yeah, your hubby/boyfriend/son is great too), but the day that everyone I love was in one room. That’s the day that radiates positivity, and light, and support and encouragement.

OK, your turn! Tell me what you do to make/keep yourself positive! I’m bossy like that.

Keep your eyes out the rest of this week as I share the blogs & songs that make me/keep me positive!

Check out the rest of the Positivity Week entries here.

What is “positivity” & what do ya do with it, anyway?

Michelle — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:00:29 +0000

From Sarah Gardner’s Flickr stream. You can find her prints to buy here.

When i think of the word “positivity” a bunch of singular words pop into my head. Words like “Radiant”. “Cheerful”. “Optimistic”. “Hopeful”. “Inspired”. “Encouraging”. “Light” (both literally, like a light bulb, and figuratively, like a state of being). “Energized.” “Enthused.”

Throughout my adult life, I’ve been prepared to wish for the best and expect the worst. Got that big part I wanted? Just so happens it conflicts with my best friend’s wedding. Didn’t get the big part I was up for? Just so happens a huge agent signed the girl that got it. Alanis Morisette would call it ironic, but I would just call it crappy luck.

So, when people would ask if I was a glass-half-full or a glass-half-empty girl, I’d have to think: I do see the glass as half full, but I also expect that when I go to refill it I’ll be out of whatever I was drinking (probably wine) or the water from the tap will be green. What does that make me? An optimistic pessimist? A pessimistic optimist?

I realized, though, that when I would describe myself as anything but an optimist to, well, anyone that’s known me for more than a few minutes, I’d be greeted by a scoff and a chuckle. “Why, you’re a huge optimist, Michelle! Always so encouraging, and driven, and supportive. You’re always such a positive presence, always laughing and smiling and full of energy. How can you say you’re anything but an optimist?”

Glad you asked. I think part of me wanted to hang on to my sarcastic wit and all those experiences that left me jaded. I wanted to be considered “tough” and be able to complain at will. But now, at the tender age of 31, I see how not only do those choices not serve me – but they’re not me! Not to say I’m going to lose my sarcasm, or the tough guy voice I put on that says “I’m from Strong Island and lived in East Harlem. Don’t mess” – but now I know I do it for comedic effect. I want to bring sunshine, and optimism, and positivity wherever I go and to whomever I speak to. But not in an annoying way.

I know that Tough (Question) Tuesday was yesterday, but I’d love for you to share in the Comments section what positivity means to you, and how you give it to yourself or the world. And don’t forget to leave a Comment here if you’re contributing to Positivity Week so I can link to you!

Tough (Question) Tuesday: Without being humble, what’s your best trait?

Michelle — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:30:24 +0000

Purchase the Personality Traits word blocks from pacokeco.

This week we’re going to turn Positivity Week inward & also make it short & sweet.

“Without being humble, what’s your best trait?”

Join me in posting your answer in the Comments section!

All Tough (Question) Tuesdays can be found here.

Motivation Monday: Things We Forget

Michelle — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:30:23 +0000

It’s Day 1 of Positivity Week! To start off simply but with a bang, I wanted to share some images from my new favorite blog, Things We Forget….

Don’t you want to print them out and matte them and frame them and gaze at them all day long? They’d look nice above Luke’s computer….Who needs a silly bulletin board anyways?

All of the Motivation Monday installments can be found here.

March 23-30 is Positivity Week!

Michelle — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:00:02 +0000

Purchase these inspirational gocco prints from the incomparable jess gonacha

For those of you that unawares, I’m currently a student at the International Coach Academy, a fantabulous school for life coaching. When I received the following notice in their monthly bulletin, I got more & more excited the more & more that I read:

The ripple effect of the huge economic crisis impacting our globe has presented many with difficult or challenging times. We wanted to do something to acknowledge and support our global community and are excited to be announcing next week as ICA’s Positivity week. Our aim is that during the course of the week, with your help, we will bring about as much positive energy as we can. Together we will make a shift in the contribution to global optimism. How can you contribute your positivity, and share in the positivity of others?

I know! I know! Duh, my blog! So, besides offering the usual installments of Motivation Monday, Tough (Question) Tuesday, Freakin’ (Great Links) Friday & wrapping up (Time) Management March, I’ll be sharing some positivity with you each and every day next week. It might be a link, or a picture, or a song, or a video of Annie singing “Tomorrow”- or…uh…ya know, something really cool that non-musical theater nerds like.

I also wanted to pass along the word that ICA is sponsoring a different call every day that features positive stories on a different topics (relationships, perspective, opportunities, etc) – and you don’t have to be a student call in! Sign up here to get all the details.

So, what are you gonna do for positivity week? Leave me a comment so we can spread sunshine all over the place. I mean…uh…oh shoot, it’s no use. I’m a musical theater nerd & I always will be….So deal! But in a positive way…