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!)