Posted in A Better You

The Challenge: 100 Things That Make Me Happy

Posted on by melissaburgess

One of the projects I’m currently working on is compiling a list of 100 Things that Make Me Happy. The task is a bit more arduous than I had expected it to be, but in the long run, I think it’ll be worth it. I hope it will help me to appreciate my life a little more, appreciate both the bigger things and smaller aspects, and allow me to take a good look at my life, my choices and my journey, and it’ll be something I’ll be able to look at whenever I’m feeling down.

My challenge to anyone reading this is to do the same. Be forewarned, it may take a while. I’ve been working on my list for weeks and I’m not even 1/3 of the way done. But I think it will be worth it in the end.

Think of things that make you happy. People, places, vacations, experiences, books, things you do or things people say or places you go… anything that makes you happy. My list as it is so far includes everything from “the way the leaves change colors in autumn” to “getting paid from work” to “dying my hair a new color when I get bored with the old one.”

I’m not sure how long it will take me to get to 100, but it’s all about the positivity. Thinking about these things has already made me a happier person, bit by bit. Who knows, maybe I’ll end up going past 100, but that’s my starting point.

So go for it, readers. Make a list of 100 things that make you happy, and allow yourself to reflect on those things during the good times and the bad times. Get happy — you deserve it.

Posted in A Better You, Food, Health & Fitness

Meditation & What It Can Do For You

Posted on by melissaburgess

There are several things in life that I always swear I’m going to do more of. I’m going to do more healthy eating; I’m going to walk/run more; I’m going to get up earlier more often, etc. Another thing: meditation.

Meditation is something I learned in probably 8th grade. Our religion teacher would have us all sit in any sort of comfortable position in the classroom, she’d put on a gentle musical track behind us, and she’d be our guide, reading off what I can only assume was a book, taking us into this magical world of meditation. Despite that, meditation does not have to be a religious experience. Anyone can meditate, and it won’t cost you a dime. It’s a small, simple way to take a few minutes of your day, clear your mind and relax.

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Posted in A Better You

What’s the Hurry?

Posted on by melissaburgess

One thing I’ve noticed lately is that everyone always seems to be in such a hurry all the time. Rush to do this, hurry through that, this, that, etc. I typically get out of work, rush to pick up my personal belongings and then hurry to go catch my bus home – as if there isn’t another bus in 15 minutes that could get me home, too.

Yesterday, I had to stick around work while I waited for a friend to pick me up so we could head out to Rochester for a concert. I said “Okay, I’ll just take my time getting out of work.” And boy, let me tell you….. it was hard! I realized I’ve become so used to hurrying through things, getting everything done quickly, etc., that it’s almost difficult for me to take my time and slow down.

It was actually hard. I took my time closing down my computer and tidying up my workspace. I took my time gathering my belongings, changing into concert-appropriate attire, and making myself look socially presentable. Still, I had too much time, so I ended up taking a slow walk around the outside blocks of my building. And it was interesting to actually have to push myself to slow down…. but at the same time, it was a nice change from the usual non-stop, constant busy, hurry, go, go, go.

Now, I’m not saying you should move at a snail’s pace. Sometimes, there are time-sensitive tasks that require you to put in the extra effort to be productive in a quick manner. Sometimes, you DO have to hurry to catch that bus or else you won’t be getting home at all that night. But it might be nice sometimes to just slowwwww things down, take your time and don’t hurry yourself through everything.

Life is short as it is…. why are we hurrying to make it even shorter?

Posted in Miscellaneous, Uncategorized

Reflecting on a Year: Progress

Posted on by melissaburgess

Progress.

From Middle English, Anglo-French and Latin roots, it’s a word that, according to Merriam-Webster, means “the process of improving or developing something over a period of time.”

For me, it represents how far I’ve come over the past few years.

I can only speak for myself, but I know sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in everything in my life. It’s easy to focus on the bad things, the parts of my life that maybe aren’t going as well as I’d hoped, and forget all the progress I’ve made and how far I’ve come.

I sat down and made a list of all the things I’ve done in the last year, and it’s a decent list. The places I’ve gone, the personal achievements that I’ve added, and just the small, simple ways my life has changed, grown and developed over the last 365 days.

Doing that made me realize how far I’ve come and how much I’ve accomplished in the last year. And if I can accomplish all of that in just a year, think about how much MORE I can do in three years, or five, or ten. Think of how much I still have in my future, how much can change and how all the things that make me sad right now will be gone before I know it. It’s great fuel to keep me going even when I feel like giving up sometimes.

For my reference, here’s a few of the things on my list from the past year:

  • Got a full-time job, with health insurance, paid vacation, etc.
  • Found a healthcare provider as well as a dentist.
  • Visited several new places – including New York City, Washington, Virginia, and Columbus.
  • Seen several performers in concert, including Demi Lovato, Darren Criss and Selena Gomez.
  • Traveled through parts of four new states: Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey.
  • Published my first freelance piece in a local newspaper.

And that’s not the whole list, but it’s a pretty good one. And although some of those things may not seem that important, and I left off some of the more personal accomplishments, overall…. I feel good.

I feel like I’ve come far in the past year, and I should focus on the things I have accomplished, not the ones I haven’t. I’ll continue to focus on moving forward and making progress in all aspects of my life, and I’m going to try my best not to let anything get me down.

Posted in Movies, Reviews

“Divergent” – A Movie Review

Posted on by melissaburgess

“Fear doesn’t shut you down, it wakes you up.”

One amazing book that has recently been made into a film adaptation is Veronica Roth’s “Divergent,” the first book of the trilogy. I loved the book the first time I read it through, so naturally I was super excited about the film. I ended up re-reading it again in the days before the movie, so that I could recall all the little details & remember what happened in the first book, and where it left off.

It’s hard to watch a film adaptation of a book you love so much. It’s hard because you have all these expectations, and some of them may be fulfilled, while others aren’t. But I have to say, the Divergent film was nothing but a pleasant experience for me.

Note: There may be spoilers below, so be aware!

Continue reading ““Divergent” – A Movie Review” →