Spend

... a few mintues looking at what you spend, what you spend it on, and why. This one comes from a book I picked up at the library last week. It's called "Spent: Sex, Evolution, and Consumer Behavior." Author Geoffrey Miller gives a "Possessions Exercise" to try out: "List the ten most expensive things (products, services, or experiences) that you have ever paid for (including houses, cars, university degrees, etc.) Then, list the ten items that you have ever bought that gave you the most happiness. Count how many items appear on both lists." Could be interesting. Come back to let us know what you find.

Break

... from the usual post for a quick thought. I read a quote today that will be a favorite: "Life gives to all the choice. You can satisfy yourself with mediocrity if you wish. You can be common, ordinary, dull, colorless; or you can channel your life so that it will be clean, vibrant, progressive, useful, colorful, rich"--President Spencer W. Kimball, 12th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The quote reminds me of why I started this blog: I love the Internet. I love its information-on-demand--whether it's what time the local zoo opens or a summary of the War of 1812. I love its power for connecting people, especially when the kids and I Skype my hubby when he's away on military assignments. I don't love the Internet's information overload with meaningless dribble--I've gotten sucked in to reading celebrity gossip news--or its quasi-conversations that too often replace a hand-written note, a well-timed call, or a hug to someone who needs it. Even with all the newest connectivity technoloiges, the Internet is largely a passive medium. You can spend hours reading emails, posting on dozens of social-networking sites, but in the end, your eyes feel buggy from staring at a screen and you feel sluggy and disconnected.

The Internet has the power to be more; it can be "clean, vibrant, progressive, useful, colorful, rich." But, it will depend on how we use it. I'm not saying a good vapid but viral YouTube video now and then is a bad thing. I'm just hoping for a little more doing in our real lives from what we experience online. A little bit of verb living.

Do something this week offline that you might have otherwise done online--call that old high school friend or print that photo of your family, make it into a card and mail it to grandma with her favorite treat. Let us know how it goes.

Listen

... really listen to someone. It might be your eight-year-old son who is obsessed with Legos and Star Wars and builds intricate spaceships with multi-function capabilities, all of which he describes in lengthy dissertations whether you're reading a book, draining boiling water from a pot of pasta, or typing this blog. Stop what you're doing, look into his eyes, and ask questions that demonstrate sincere interest.

Show someone you love them by listening this week.

Select

... a book off the shelf at the library at random. Close your eyes and grab a book, any book. I'd suggest keeping your eyes open until you're standing across from a full book shelf. Otherwise, you might inadvertently pull some librarian's hair. They're not known to be a lighthearted bunch.

Read the book and tell us what you think. Even if it looks boring. You might be surprised and gain new life-changing insights, or you might find it sublimely worthless, a waste of time and who's bright idea was this random book thing anyway? Geesh! verb living, my .... whatever, just do it.

P.S. When I searched for a library photo to add here I came across the "Cave bookshelf." Cool.

Revert

... back to something you haven't done since high school. Write a book report. Pass a note to someone at work, complete with doodles. Go to Prom. Scratch that--too creepy. Dress up and take photos with your boyfriend/girlfriend in that famous "Prom Pose." You know, standing awkwardly with a big corsage in your face.

Revert back to any high schoolish activity you want, then come back to tell us about it. And, if you do the Prom Pose picture, do share.

Get

... out of the zone -- the comfort zone, that is. It doesn't have to be grand--like hang-gliding for someone with acrophobia (fear of heights) or cooking a big Italian meal for the alliumphobic (fear of garlic). (Phobia verbiage compliments of http://www.phobialist.com/.) It can be simple, like wearing a colorful scarf or hat even though you usually leave that to the perceived fashion elite. Or trying your hand at a gourmet recipe.

Do something this week out of your comfort zone and come back to share your experience. With your permission, I'd love to include a couple examples in a lesson on the same subject I'm giving to my church women's group this Sunday. Go get out of your zone!

Memorize

... the words to a favorite song or quote. Come back to share what you chose and why. (And, if you can think of any image to illustrate memorizing, please pass along!)

Recall

... as much as you can from your first few years of school: kindergarten, first, and second grades. Jot down in a bullet list any memories or snippets of memories that come to mind, along with any feelings or expectations you had at the time.

The list may come in handy when you get brave enough to write your life history, or it will just induce a smile or two. If you have kids in any of those grades, they'd love to hear your stories. Come back and share your favorite memory!

P.S. I guess my verb last week was "Take ... a week off." : )

Laugh

... out loud. No stifling that giggle or guffaw in the movie theater or even church (well, you don't want to guffaw in church, but I'm sure a respectful chuckle is authorized).

Wave

... to a stranger. Maybe from your car to the person running or riding a bike on the side of the road. Or maybe a nod and smile to the stranger you pass on the sidewalk. You might leave them with a renewed confidence in the kindness of humankind, or just a nagging question, "Do I know that weirdo?"

Visit

... a park, museum, festival or other "tourist attraction" in your area. One of those places you've been meaning to visit, but you tend to find projects that need doing at home instead. Here's your excuse to leave the laundry for another day and be a tourist at home.

Tune in

... to an Internet radio station while you're on the computer setting BillPay or surfing for the best fajitas recipe. My mom introduced me to Pandora (http://www.pandora.com)/ -- cool. This week, I'm going to try http://radio.lds.org/. It's a new 24/7 audio station sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) featuring gospel-oriented programs, music, interviews and more.

I'll even throw in a plug for the Mormon Channel's "Everything Creative" podcast. An upcoming interview features Lynde Mott, an LDS illustrator and artist who happens to be a historical fashionista; carob-almonds lover; and my older--but shorter--sister.

Check

... a lingering to-do item off your list. Let's say you have some carpet in your house. And, say, you've been meaning to have it steam-cleaned since--oh, last October. But, you haven't called anyone because you have a hard time paying what they charge. Then, let's say you borrowed your parents' steam-cleaner to do it yourself. And said vacuum has been staring you down from the corner of your bedroom for the last 2 1/2 weeks. This is your--okay, MY--chance to do it! Our motivation!

Do that thing on your to-do list you've been avoiding ... fixing that door that doesn't shut right, cleaning the garage, writing your thesis ... Then, come back to check it off and tell us how why you were procrastinating and how it feels to have it done.

Rent

... a movie from the year you turned 10 years old. Watch it. Revel in the tunes, bad haircuts and acid-washed jeans--or, bell bottoms for our more mature set. Come back to share your review.

Just Google your 10th birthday year and "movies" for ideas. Then, get to the video store fast if you want to beat me to "The Goonies."

Sing

... in the shower, the car--wherever you want--just sing it like you're center stage on American Idol for the big win. No wimpy stuff. If it doesn't annoy your kids, it's not loud enough.

Which songs reverberate nicely off your shower walls? Any that always lift your mood? Or get you rockin' so you don't notice the guy staring at you at the stop light? Extra points to any carpoolers.

Give

... the gift of a Star Trek novel and hand-dipped chocolates. Okay, maybe not that exactly, but something that shows you put more thought into what your loved one would want than what you would like to give. As a sci-fi adverse, "practicality is king" woman, I find gifting the aforementioned to my hubby is not easy. In fact, $20 for chocolate just feels wrong when there are perfectly good $.59 candy bars at the gas station down the street. But, I know he would like them. So, the verb this week is give ... in any form ... without expectation, with altruism. Try it and share your results.

Oh, and don't forget to come back next week to pick up our next verb.