(Today I am listening to beautiful classical music as I write. So soothing…)
I absolutely cannot believe that it’s been 100 days since I started this project. My life has turned inside out and upside down through writing daily posts for 100 days, I can’t recommend doing this highly enough — it would be a great project for you to start New Year’s Day even if you’ve never done a blog before, even if you keep it private and share it with no one, do it for yourself. You can easily set up a free blog on blogger.com. It’s simple and they walk you through the process. I have been blogging for twenty years and it has been life-changing for me.
Now, what have I learned?
I have learned that I can do anything I set my mind to. Starting to write the first post of 365 is daunting for sure but you only have to do one post each day, one day at a time. I can do anything one day at a time. I don’t look forward to how many days there are left, I come to the blog each day, just as I am in that day, and sometimes I have a lot to say, and sometimes very little, but on the hardest days when I’m down and think I can’t do it I just say so. I just show up and tell the truth. That’s all you ever have to do.
And I can’t repeat it enough, and it goes for anything that you are doing in life — JUST SHOW UP! You can do that for yourself and you won’t believe how good it feels. Show up. Even when you don’t feel like it, even when you don’t want to, especially then, because I’m telling you, and I can’t state this strongly enough, when you DO show up when you don’t feel like it afterwards you are on a kind of high. You DID it! You can DO it! Even if it’s just a few lines or a few paragraphs. You get stronger every day, you show the world you mean what you say and when you say you’re going to do a thing by God you’re going to do it! And you start, say, with committing to 365 days of blog posts, and you get scared but you keep showing up, and when you look back at a nice chunk of blog posts behind you and see that you DID show up, under all circumstances, you gain SO MUCH CONFIDENCE in yourself that you realize that you can do OTHER things too. I wasn’t on the ketogenic diet when I started but I got the confidence to start, I have stayed with it too, I have not had one bite of any non-keto food since I started in early October, I have lost 25 pounds and counting and even though my weight has stalled the last few weeks I am not concerned because I know this is just part of the process. I am keto for life, I will never go off this “diet” because it isn’t really a diet in the conventional sense, it’s a lifestyle and once you’re on it a week or two you feel so radically different, so much better, you see such a huge difference in your health, there is just no going back. Not for me. No matter how long it takes to lose all the weight I know that even when I am not going down in pounds amazing healing is going on inside my body. I will Keto On! and that is one of the greatest gifts of 2017.
And I have learned to trust myself. Because I know that I can be true to my good intentions and I feel more secure about my gifts and talents and what I have to offer in the world with each blog post that I write. I have both decided to do my mentoring again AND I pulled it when I knew it wasn’t right and I was perfectly confident in both decisions at the time. Learning to trust yourself is so huge once you feel this I swear you can move mountains in your life. I have no idea where this blog experiment is leading me in my life but I KNOW it is leading me somewhere important and amazing. Again, all I have to do is show up each day and share what is in my heart and through doing this I get clearer each day about what my work is to be in the world. It might take the whole 365 days or longer to figure it out but that’s okay. Things happen in the right and perfect time. I trust that too. I once read, “Trust the process, it’s larger than you.” And I do. Onwards and upwards I go!
I have made wonderful friends doing this and I appreciate you all so much. Every single comment that someone leaves is a tremendous gift to me and I always answer back — it may take a day depending on what time I put the post up and what is then happening in my life — but I always answer back, thoughtfully, and with love in my heart, as soon as possible, often the next morning over coffee. I would like to grow a community through this blog and the people who take time to answer here. I see a community in my future and it will grow out of what I am doing here. It’s not time yet, but it’s coming.
And I had a big learning some weeks ago when for the first time in the 10+ years I have been doing this blog an absolutely horrible troll left a comment that was so long, and detailed, and cruel that it shocked the few people close to me I showed it to. I mean it was really specific and the intent was to cut me to ribbons and keep me from keeping on with what I am doing, criticizing everything about me from my weight to my mental health struggles to the work that I do and how I live in the world and on and on and on! It was a doozie. But I tell you, after the initial shock, just minutes later, I burst out laughing. I really did. I mean it was so horrible and so mean and I just sat here wondering WHY anyone would be here reading my blog, first of all, if this is what they thought of me, (It was SO detailed about so many aspects of my personal life I realized that this person had been reading my blog for a LONG time. Would you waste your time reading something for YEARS that you thought so little of? There’s something really wrong with that picture!) and then the time and energy it had to have taken to write it was just truly astounding. And the thing is if you are going to be out here on the internet telling the truth you will mostly meet lovely people but trolls will come, people who simply don’t have a life and enjoy being hurtful. Because I have to approve all new commenters I simply deleted the comment and went on to write this post and had a BALL doing it! And if you have had or are afraid of trolls do read this. I can’t tell you how many people ended up writing me to thank me for this post and said it really helped them and changed their whole attitude about trolls, they don’t fear them anymore AND THEY WON’T STOP ANY OF US FROM DOING THE WORK WE ARE HERE TO DO. Read it here (click the turkey, I mean, he deserved a come back!) —->>>>
To sum up I simply want to say YOU BE YOU, no matter what that looks or sounds or feels like, the world needs YOU and your own unique gifts, and trust me, the more UNIQUE (Read: Odd, out there, outside the box, an outsider, on the outside looking in, weird, etc.) you think you are the MORE we need what you do. So start now, don’t wait until the new year, make a list of every single thing you think about yourself — quirky, artsy, philosophical, etc. — and then make a list of all the things that interest you, that you love, that you’ve always wanted to do but thought that you couldn’t do — and then pair them up AND DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO THIS YEAR TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. And I’m telling you starting a 365 day journey on a blog is a perfect way to find the answer to the question, just like that old quote, “I don’t know what I think until I see what I say.” it will take awhile to unravel the mystery of where you should go next in your life but you’ve got to start somewhere, right? Start here, start now, do this thing!
And — and you know what I’m going to say — “If not, why not? If not now, when?”
That’s the perfect place to stop. These are some of the many things I’ve learned in the first 100 days. Now it’s your turn, start here, start now, what are you waiting for?
The Experiment ~A 365 Day Search For Truth, Beauty &
Happiness: Day 1 ~ Introduction To The Project
“Do or do not. There is no try.”
Yoda
Congratulations on your first 100 days Maitri! I enjoy watching the progress of your blog and the changes you are experiencing.
I do have an old blog on Blogger, one I started years ago and stopped. Maybe I’ll go back and look at it. It was mostly reviews of personal development books I had read. I can’t even remember the last time I wrote there.
Ah Joan, you can start anew and revise it if you want to or you can start a whole new one which might be easier if it’s whole new content and you want to have a fresh new look. They’re free and easy to set up and like I said you can set it to private if you want to do it just for you, or you can share it with the world and we can all celebrate with you! I hope you do it. It’s truly an amazing thing to do! Much love to you honey, the new year is almost here! 😀
I’m so pleased for you Maitri. The first one hundred posts is a terrific milestone. Congratulations!! Your posts have become part of my day. Because of the time difference, I read your blog last thing at night before I go to sleep.
I’ve never blogged before….but perhaps 2018 is the year I’ll begin!!
Oh Moira I so appreciate you coming and reading my blog, it really means a lot to me. I’m so glad you enjoyed it and oh! Blogging is so much fun and such an act of creative expression. I’ll be so excited for you if you do! And if you’re shy about making it public you don’t have to, just to do as a daily exercise for yourself, it really does something for you. Up, up and away! And if you start one make sure to come here and share your blog address so I can follow you! 😀
I think I just started a blog and posted! I went on blogger about a year and a half ago and tried to start a blog called “once an art teacher”. Then I couldn’t find it anymore. Since you posted the blogger link I went there- and the blog was there! So I wrote a little bit and hit publish. I have no clue where it went! I guess this is MY experiment! This is making me giggle. Oh my, what have I done?!
Oh Lorraine, how exciting! You’ll have to share your blog address here so I can go see it! It will be such an exciting adventure for you for 2018! You GO girl!!! 😀
P.S. I put the blog name you posted above in Google and I can’t find it so you’ll have to share the link here! 🙂
Can you hear me cheering all the way up here in British Columbia? Your response to the person who set out to cut you to ribbons is perfect. You refused to let it keep you from doing the work you were born to do. And what a 100 days you have had, writing daily, taking steps to change whatever seemed essential to your health, writing with candour on the low days and the high ones. Hooray and congratulations!
Thank you so much sweet Cathryn, and no, I will never let someone like that stop me nor should anyone. We must never let the turkeys get us down! And yes this is such a wonderful thing, blogging, and I appreciate you coming and your support and kindness mean the world to me. I love you honey and I hope you and your love have a beautiful new year filled with blessings…
LIFE Can be so strange and funny at times. I know when I first started connecting with you that you thought who is this guy invading my space, but I feel we have become friends and I know that because I follow you each and everyday, and I worry and get concerned and ask myself how can I add to her day or her week and somehow make it a little better or special in some way. So, yes I consider us friends….Your stuck with me like it or not…..well not really if you told me to fly away, I would. I have seen you rise from the low’s and no matter what you do show up and make the effort to give love and concern for others. I am so happy to see where you are today and where you have come from. I love reading and enjoying your blog. And Maybe one day…One day I might venture to start a blog. Hugs….and Happy New Years Eve to you, Maitri
Oh my darling dear friend Jim, looks like we’re stuck with each OTHER!!! 😀
I am so glad we met, you have become so very dear to me, and not because of the generous gifts which I loved of course, but because of your sweet, gentle spirit, and all of who you are. I know that 2017 has been hard for you with many losses. I am hoping that 2018 brings you all things bright and beautiful and a whole new beginning and truly Sadie and I are hoping that in the year ahead you will honor her memory by taking in a little soul who really needs a home and someone to love as you so need to give that love. We all need a little companion in life and you only honor Sadie’s memory by inviting a new little someone into your life. I know that Sadie is always with you in spirit, I absolutely know this to be true, and she wants you to be happy. I don’t think she will ever really be at peace until you are. She wants you to be happy and so do I. Here’s to a wonderful 2018 with many blessings and delights in store. And maybe a blog? How wonderful! I would love that! I can’t wait to see all the happy things that come to you in 2018 because I know in my heart they are on the way.
I love you dear Jim…
Congrats on 100 days! You’re such an inspiration. Ups or downs you are so real in sharing life and it’s challenges. I really appreciate it. Happy New year!!! 🌌💞
Thank you so much dear Kate! You are very kind. And it means so much to me that you are here with me and that you appreciate the blog, that just means the world. And I wish you the happiest of new years honey filled with blessings and all things bright and beautiful. May you feel love, may you find joy everywhere… 🙂
Hi Maitri, my WiFi is back, so I am back. Back here to tell you how happy you make me with reaching your 100th blogpost. It is a true milestone. You are a KANJER… Today I reached my 100 days in my own writing challenge too… I filled up my huge notebook.
Maybe you are right, maybe I should go for a blog too…
I think we both grew in the months behind us. We are on our path, we are on the right track. We can see things more clearly now… I do hope we just keep on growing, together, in the year to come… Thanks Maitri, for being you… Big hugs and loving thoughts from over the big ocean… ❤️❤️❤️
Oh Darling Claudine you’re BACK! Yay! And I can’t believe YOU hit your 100th day too! How marvelous! We are truly sisters, friends and companions on this journey. I am so excited for both of us in 2018, I just know bright, beautiful things are on the way.
And a blog, how wonderful that would be! Onwards and upwards dear one and away we go! You are such a blessing in my life and I love you so much…
Congratulations to your 100! I even walked out to find Internet connection to catch up on the last two days 🙂 Wishing you all the best for 2018!!
I went riding horseback this morning! You of all know how much that means to me. Lovely Quarterback mare named Missy, very trustworthy. We saw a great flock of wild geese, it was so wonderful even though rain kept pouring.
Dearest Maitri, may all the love you send out to us come back thousandfold to you.
Blessings upon you
Yours Silke
Oh Darling Silke, it’s so good to see you honey! And it sounds like you are having a wonderful time, and OH! You got to go riding! How I envy you and I’m thrilled for you too. And I will continue to send you all the love in my heart, I’m so glad that you are here with me. And I hope that 2018 finds you happier and more fulfilled than you ever have been, and I hope you have peace, love, and joy woven into every day. I love you Silke honey. I am sending you a big warm hug and a sweet kiss on the cheek… 🙂