Learn Something New 2010

Now that it’s been a month since the project prompts ended, I’ve finished my Learn Something New journal. I actually finished it like a week ago. I had shared the first half of my “learning” awhile back, but here is the full list and a little description of my journal design.

I pulled out some favorite papers, the kind you buy and then stash forever because they’re so pretty, and created 4.25x5.5 journal pages with the paper on one side and orange paint on the other. For the dates, I printed off some caption boxes from Just Something I Made and used stencils to blot black paint for the numbers. For the text, I just free-wrote my “learnings.”

Full list of what I "learned":

1. Today I was reminded that it only takes one to change everything. One smile. One kind comment. One helping hand. One day.
2. Today I decided I need to live my life as who I am already instead of wasting moments waiting to become who I want to be. They may be the same person.
3. To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.
4. Food doesn't taste as good late at night.
5. If the sun is shining, it does you a world of good to get out in it.
6. I seem to become more homesick when my parents leave my house than when I leave theirs.
7. You must face the direction you want to go.
8. Greater expectations rarely bring greater results.
9. Laughing (at yourself) reduces the get angry and yell reflex.
10. Fall might be my favorite.
11. On Saturday, it is far more satisfying to get up and get to it than to sleep in.
12. God can make all things new... including you... and yes, more than once.
13. Cleaning the kitchen before bed makes for a much better morning, even if it means staying up a few minutes late.
14. Attitude is so important.
15. This year, there's more meaning... it's deeper... I'm thinking about and "learning" less trivial things.
16. I am learning to write down things I see or hear that inspire me so that they wont be forgotten.
17. Sometimes the kids are the grown ups.
18. Spending time with my family, especially in celebration, revitalizes my soul like not much else can.
19. Packing only what you need makes unpacking as soon as you get home way easier… and much more likely to happen.
20. Coming back from Vermont reminds me that Virginia is lonely for me.
21. There is a lot on my mind... and I can let go of it.
22. I admire people who garden to live.
23. Going to the grocery store four times in a week is too much.
24. It feels good to know I'm appreciated at work.
25. Casey will never get sick of me.
26. It's okay to take a longer nap, as long as you get up and go afterwards.
27. It is much easier to be peaceful when the house is clean.
28. Everything is ordinary and extraordinary at the same time.
29. "In the middle of the world, make one positive step." ~ Natalie Goldberg
30. Keep things filling, not just full. A busy life does not mean a fulfilling life.