Last Saturday I did something that I have put off for 19 months. Long time reader, Katie K., should cover her eyes and plug her ears while I share my story.
In August 2009 friend and reader, Katie, was nice enough to roll more than $600.00 worth of money, collected in a piggy bank that was given to Matthew the week he was born. If you don't know the back story, click here. It's kind of fun.
The stainless steal box of rolled coins has been sitting on the corner of my desk ever since. I did not intend for the box to be there so long, but depositing the money never felt especially important or urgent, so it just kept getting pushed to the bottom of my to-do list. Besides, opening Matthew a savings account would require me to dig out his social security card and the box is really heavy. It'll wait until tomorrow. And so the story went summer, fall, winter, spring, summer, fall, winter - until finally came Saturday, the first day of another spring.
Matthew found out two weeks ago that his five year cousin has a debit card and a trip to the bank is all he's been able to think about since. His persistence paid off. We loaded in the car with our box of rolled coins, wads of dollar bills saved up, and social security cards in hand. Twenty minutes later Matthew and Jack both had savings accounts and I felt great. Accomplished. Productive. Empowered. Like I just shed twenty months of incessant procrastination in less than thirty minutes.
The newly reclaimed corner of my desk motivated me to straighten the rest of my office space. That meant throwing things away, stopping to do some scrap journaling, returning phone calls, sweeping, folding laundry, cleaning the refrigerator, and writing my note to this week's recipient of our Yellow Envelope Project. All because I finally deposited Matthew's money in the bank.
What does all this have to do with National Act Happy Week, you ask?
Engage in one productive act and suddenly your day is more productive. Act Happy and suddenly you are happy. The principle is the same. Act and the corresponding feelings shall follow.
Participate in Act Happy Week by behaving in ways that make you happy and then watch how, in turn, your mood improves. The book title, 59 Seconds: Think A Little Change A Lot, makes a few recommendations for ways to act happy. This meta analysis of research include suggestions such as: Do something nice for someone else; spend money on experiences instead of material items; smile; sit up straight, instead of slouching; and adopt the mannerisms of people who report higher levels of happiness. For example: walk in a more relaxed way, put a spring in your step, make more expressive hand gestures during conversations, wear more colorful clothing, speak slightly faster, and have a significantly firmer handshake.
Or, scrap those and develop your own ideas for celebrating Act Happy Week. Only six days left. I'd love to hear what you have in store.
Shining off until tomorrow...