LIFE HACK “Creating Positive Change” (Day One)

1. Write down 3 gratitude’s each day

I am thankful to have such a wonderful support system. My family, friends and social circles and networks. Without these people I am not sure I would be able to have the number of opportunities I have been afforded. I work hard to make this community even stronger. It is this community that I will need to achieve my goals. I have no doubt that even though achieving these goals will take up a lot of time, these people will understand.

I am thankful for my resources. Although they could always be better and I work hard to continue to improve them, I know that my resources will allow me to achieve my short term goals.

Lastly, I am thankful for independent financial stability. Although more money would be nice, I am thankful that I am able to sustain a moderately comfortable lifestyle that allows me to travel, support my artistic side, and spend time with my family and friends. I have worked hard in the last year to do better financially in hopes of scaling down my life and being a lot less wasteful. So far so good.

2. Journal about 1 positive experience you’ve had over the last 24 hours 

A positive experience in the last 24 hours for me was being able to spend time with my girlfriend before she left for work today. We were able to do some shopping, eat lunch and spend time discussing our communication, our graduate school applications and what obstetrical. She definitely push’s me to be a greater human being and for this I am grateful.

3. Exercise: No

4. Meditate: Not yet, but I hope to later

5. Write one positive email praising or thanking someone in your social support network: Not today

LIFE HACK “Creating Positive Change” (21 Day Challenge)

1. Write down 3 gratitudes each day

2. Journal about 1 positive experience you’ve had over the last 24 hours 

3. Exercise, in order to teach your brain that behavior matters 

4. Meditate and allow your brain to get over the cultural ADHD we get from trying to complete multiple tasks at once, and allow yourself to focus on the task at hand 

5. Randomly, open your email and write one positive email praising or thanking someone in your social support network 

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Starting tonight I will start this 21 day challenge I saw on TEDx Life Hacks. The goal is to change the way I think and to make myself a more confident and positive person. To find success and happiness in every day, and try to focus and achieve all of my short term and long term goals. As I will be applying to graduate school again focus and time are two very important things. Happiness is major and is the anchor that must hold me down through the storms until the sun shines again. Stay with me through this journey and feel free to participate! 

-Domonique Meeks

AmbassadorNique Productions

Half Empty or Half Full (Written By AmbassadorNique)

One of the hardest parts of staying disciplined is learning to be okay with being selfish. Its hard enough to tell yourself no to certain things, but its even harder to tell the people you hold close that this time you wont be able to come through for them. This is necessary, this is vital and this must happen if I want to make it where I am going. Either separate yourself from what everyone else is doing or live the life that the average person is living.

I cannot honestly say that this week was one of success. I made poor financial decisions, I was not on top of my health, and I did not stay disciplined to working toward my goal of continuing my education. That’s not to say I failed or neglected these things, however just to be honest I could have gone way harder. Seeing the consequences of my behavior will hopefully inspire me. Since I will not be able to hit the gym Monday due to an early morning Orthodontist appointment the goal is to fit that workout in either Sunday or Monday evening. Create a schedule for GRE study time and a budget to SAVE SAVE SAVE! The tickets to Tokyo are currently way to expensive and I can only hope that a deal will appear between now and this summer.

On a brighter note this week wasn’t all bad. I enjoyed good times with some friends at a free luau, and celebrated a birthday with one of my best friends. I also enjoyed the beautiful Jefferson park this morning and wondered why I was paying for a gym when I had such beautiful park less than a mile away (Seattle rain maybe?). There were also tennis courts! I scheduled an appointment with a woman at the University who I hope will lead me in the right direction as far as applying for my Masters is concerned. I’ve also started reading a really good book that I cannot wait to share, and watched a phenomenal documentary about Japanese internment camps called Toyo’s Camera. Overall I have been happy, cooking, and healthy. In life there will always be up’s and downs. Both will continue to inspire me to reach for the stars and both will continue to teach me new lessons. Depending on what angle you look at it, this weak could be considered somewhat of a success.

Is the glass half empty or is it half full? Live long and prosper my friends.

Ambassador

Time to Level Up (Written By AmbassadorNique)

I’ll keep this one short and sweat since most of my writings tend to ramble on. I’ve done a decent job of staying committed to my goals thus far, but now it’s time to level up and take it to the next level. The plan is to move to a weekly budget, I should be able to save more money now that my credit cards will be paid off. I would like to start waking up and hitting the gym 3 times a week, and taking my home workout more seriously and be more consistent about the workout and going to sleep earlier. I also need to diversify my dishes and more food uploads. My last GRE Prep class is tomorrow morning and a practice exam has been scheduled for March 9^th (should probably find a sooner one). Time to TURN UP!

I’ve been doing a better job of genuinely keeping a positive attitude at work and going out of my way to take advantage of networking opportunities. I definitely need to find more productive ways to use my free time.

Relationship wise I’ve recognized my girlfriends love languages are quality time and acts of service, but I need to do a better job of not letting small things lead me off course of building the foundation we are trying to build for ourselves. I am also working hard to continue to work on progressing in my personal maturity and communication. A friend of mine told me the other day “I would hate to date you because you always seem like you are thinking 10 steps ahead of everyone else.” A gift and a curse I suppose, but I will try to be sure to use those 10 steps to aim for happiness. (**sidenote** Valentine’s day is next week… hmmmmmm…..)

My tax return is on its way and will serve as emergency savings only. No big plans to buy anything or take any trips. Paying off debt slowed me down from my savings for Japan but this will start this month! August is getting closer and Mt. Fuji isn’t getting any smaller!

If you’ve made it this far I hope you too are being realistic about your goals. Continue on your marathon, and best of luck to you on accomplishing your aspirations.

-Ambassador 

Happy Holidays (Written By AmbassadorNique)

Happy Holidays

What a roller coaster year. So many lessons learned so many memories made. I am thankful that I can look back and say I ended up flat footed standing up with my chin up and chest out. This to me means the struggle the headaches the confusion and sacrifice was all worth it. I couldn’t have made it without my loving family and a supportive partner in crime. Things this year got rough to the point where I doubted myself and questioned if I was being to prideful and should give up on all of my hopes and goals all together, or should I stick with what I want to do. With this help I was able to stay above water mentally, physically and financially. I was also able to formulate my “dreams” into goals and take realistic steps to making these come to fruition.

As I reflect I have so much to thankful for. My family is healthy. That makes me smile. My family is healthy…. So nice I had to say it twice! Life really is good. Now that I have gotten older and built up some income for myself I no longer wait until Christmas for the things that I really want. Therefore more than gifts the moments are what matters most to me.

In the coming year the goal is to continue to learn, prioritize a healthy lifestyle, and be smarter financially. THIS is what will take me into the future. “Mind over matter… Those that matter don’t mind, and those that mind don’t matter.”

-Ambassador

PS. Happy Holidays! 

Everything I’m Not Made Me Everything I Am (Written By AmbassadorNique)

Everything I’m not made me everything I am. Well it’s been about a month at my new position and I’m still happy. Things are pretty slow since students are now on Winter Vacation, but it has given me time to learn concepts and understand things before the real fun starts in January. Some big things are coming my way this Winter. My goal is to start a new gym membership in January and start waking up early at least 2 days a week to make this happen. Hopefully I will start an extended learning Japanese class January 8^th where I can learn basic Japanese language and culture. The goal is to be a lot more dedicated than I am about learning the language now. I will also be starting a GRE prep course in February that will hopefully allow me to successfully apply for a Masters program. My goal is to obtain a Masters that will allow me to use Digital Media and Social Networking to progress social and criminal justice.

I’ve recently bought two new books read. The first will be The Five Love Languages. This book is all about communication and understanding in relationships. The second book is Total Money Makeover. This one is all about saving money! These are two things I think EVERYONE should work on. More importantly these are things that I need to work on.

Continuing to educate myself is definitely something that I feel is very important to me progressing in this world. While I know that this will require much more time and much more effort than I’m giving now, I also know that it will be well worth it!

My New Year resolution is COMMITMENT. As long as I can commit myself to my goals and not let anything stand in my way 2013 will be a great year. Living in America we are all given some form of opportunity that can significantly change our living situations no matter what cards we are dealt. Nothing is perfect but every day is a new day to progress. Keep working, keep your integrity and keep smiling.

-Ambassador

Next Chapter (Written by AmbassadorNique)

Torn between chasing money but wanting to make change at the same time. The curse of knowing to much in a capitalist society that is ran by money, greed, corruption evil and lies. No judgement, nor will I throw any stones, because looking out the window I know I can still only try and understand the intentions of the greedy or the struggle of the hopeless, the crimes they feel they must commit to get just a taste of the so called American dream. Fore isn’t that what we all want? 

Slaves to the almighty dollar many of us that know better do whatever we can to find a balance between what our heart is telling us and what bill collectors are telling us we must do to get by. Some with no setup or blueprint to success are left making life up as they go learning from the mistakes of our parents, grandparents, peers and neighbors. Saying to ourselves we will not make the same mistakes as those who’s missteps led to their downfalls.

Determination for survival is mandatory. The nihilistic mentality that tomorrow is not promised and we have only one life to live keep minds trapped living for today, and NOW. Forgetting that in an age of global warming the next storm or natural disaster is only around the corner. Furthermore  what will we do when the revolution really does arrive? Have we all fallen asleep with our televisions on? Will we be to busy focused on our own problems to recognize the signs? 

Life is long, but more importantly life is now. We must strive to live longer, live healthier, live happier, smile, share, integrate, lend a hand, and discover. Be thankful and never underestimate the importance of a baby step. Be thankful that you can wake up with hope. That you can see even a glimpse of the light in the tunnel. There are some who cannot. Never be to quick to judge, to busy to understand, or to blind to see the larger picture. Even if life has no meaning it is up to us to make each day have a purpose. 

I am so thankful for my family, my friends, my life. The monkey that was on my back is gone. Now it is up to me to do the things I said I would. To put the time into making the goals I said I would accomplish happen. Get in Shape, learn photography/photoshop/finalcut pro, Study/Take the GREs, Learn Japanese, and save money! These are my goals! THIS is the bigger picture for me.