More Joy 2009

[silensy]

And if that's true, then we need a new story, and if that's true, the most powerful thing you can do is reach across the divide and say, "You're not alone." And that's the story you continue to tell, until we all believe it...

...but what it means is something altogether more powerful, and it's that you continue to stand, and you continue to remember that you're not alone, and with reverence for this fact, you can't help but add to joy. Which is your entire job, from the day you're born until the day you die: more joy. Caring Is Creepy, but not as creepy as not caring, or only caring when somebody reminds you to do so.

-- Idol Gives Back

The real concept of More Joy is that you pick a day, do something selfless, something caring for someone else. You draw them a picture, write them a fic, give them a compliment and spread joy.

This isn't that.

I've coopted the name for something entirely different. I hope there's joy in this, but I'm not trying to do something nice. I'm just trying to give a small reward for a job well done. Here's how it works:

I know some of you are trying to kick a habit or build a habit. I want to help. If you're trying to save, I'll kick in $5 every week you do the same or more. If you're trying to quit, $5 for each week you hold on. If you're trying to lose weight, if you're trying to hit the gym, whatever it is that you have a weekly goal set for, $5 when you make it. You don't have to prove it, just tell me and it's yours.

Weeks end on Friday and start on Saturday. When you join the project, you get a number. Since comments are screened and the project is anonymous, the number is going to serve as my way of tracking you. I want to add in quarterly updates with totals earned and stuff which is why we're not doing the 100% anonymous version of last year. Only I and you will know which number you are.

Starting NEXT Friday (the 16th), each week I will post a reminder at or around 5 pm Pacific. Tag into each post and give me a yay or nay. You have five weeks to tell me if you made your goal or not, then I just assume it's a no--I figure if you haven't told me after five weeks, you probably don't remember anyway. At the end of a year, you'll get whatever you've banked sent to you (unless you want it sooner).

Ready? Comment in with your goal to join. These comments aren't screened but the rest of the project will be. Questions? Check out the FAQ that I totally made up.

EDIT: Okay, I'm going to cap this at 15 people (so, two more.) I think about $3900 is the most I can risk without robbing banks.

FAQ

Really?

Yes, really.

How much can you get for perfect attendance?

Whatever 5*52 is. Do I look like a math major? (It's $260)

Did anyone get that last year?

No, but a couple people got damn close.

Okay but there's a limit to how much you're giving away, right?

Yeah, whatever 5*52*however many people sign up is. Last year's total was $835. There's probably a limit to how many people I can manage but, eh, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

What's with the weird quote at the top?

That's what inspired the original More Joy project. Jacob, who recaps at TWOP, wrote that during the first Idol Gives Back. It's up there because I like it.

Comments

[unholynotions.livejournal.com]

I want to knit on some project (it can be large or small, I just want to get in the habit of working on it) at least twice a week. At least one of these projects will be for myself for a change.

Does that sound okay?

[silensy]

Sounds brilliant.

[frito-kal.livejournal.com]

Same as last year, yay!

[silensy]

Gotcha!

[thaursir.livejournal.com]

Go to therapy every week. (I have issues.) All my appointments, really. I tend to flake, but therapy's the only consistent appointment I could think of.

[silensy]

Got it.

[seraangel.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I can really do this, since I'm in AusLand. But I'm trying to lose weight at the moment and I'd like to be around 75kg by Frito's wedding if at all possible.

[silensy]

We are an international operation around here.

[seraangel.livejournal.com]

Hee! Then I am in. My goal is to lose at the very least 1/2 kg a week. Barring that, I need to go to gym at least three days a week, and eat healthy. So those are basically the goals I'm going for.

[indiana-j.livejournal.com]

Whoops, need to respond to your email!

Starting simple. Stick to my $100 for a pay period "extra expense" budget - this means things like entertainment, food during work that wasn't from grocery store, dinners out.

Also, we can change our goals or add to them, yeees?

[silensy]

Oh yes. You can change or adjust your goal at any time. It should be a challenge but nothing impossible.

[nute.livejournal.com]

I'm in this year. Goal: work to lower my BMI and triglycerides to a healthy level, through diet and exercise and (attempted) stress management.

[silensy]

What's that work out to weekly?

[nute.livejournal.com]

At least three days of 30-45 minute exercise, and not slipping back into bad stress-eating habits.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bounce_/]

What's your goal? What do you want to be more joy'd for?

[silensy]

Me? I just run the program. Just remembering to post this every week is hard enough.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bounce_/]

So you don't have a thing for yourself? That seems like a shame. I mean, you're giving out to your friends and, without sounding like too much of a dork, I'd like to do something back.

[silensy]

Um, I suppose it should be to take advantage of my Wii Fit and step away from the computer long enough to use it.

[azzinita.livejournal.com]

I'm in. Take my meds every day and do one thing nice for myself a week. Which is: doing an activity on the weekend instead of staying in bed, spending money and not feeling guilty about it, eating better, etc...

[silensy]

Good goal.

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

Read two articles/texts or write 500 words on Dissertation of Doom, not counting articles or texts I read for something else that could still happen to be used on the Dissertation (though writing other stuff that can still form chapters of it will still count). Given the time it takes me to translate the texts, that's probably plenty, but if it turns out super easy I can add more in later. ;)

[silensy]

Excellent.

[wiloeleigh.livejournal.com]

Do you mind if I join? I think I need to feel, well, accountable (for lack of a better word) in some way in order to accomplish the goals I want to reach.

With that said, I want to exercise at least three times a week, for more than 30 minutes. Gym is preferable, but I'll count long walks and hikes.

[silensy]

Got it.

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

That was mine last year, and seriously sometimes this was the only reason I kept doing it. ;)

[silensy]

Aw, that makes me feel all squishy!

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

It's true! I keep telling you you're awesome. <3

[wiloeleigh.livejournal.com]

It's just too easy to let it slip. I've been bouncing between being really, really good at keeping it up, and absolutely horrible. And I've given myself too many health excuses (some were valid, some were less so). So, a new approach.

And thank you for the encouragement. It's good to know that this might actually be the thing that helps me over that last hump.

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I definitely know how that is. So yes, good luck! I'm sure you can do it!

[rhain.livejournal.com]

Okay, so my goal for the year is to loose weight, but I currently am only able to be weighed sporadically. So, instead of the end result, how about the treatments: Work out on my elliptical for at least 20 minutes a day, at least five times a week.

[silensy]

Good goal. *nods*

[wayward-petunia.livejournal.com]

I want to join your cult. We have a pact already for this year, you and I. We must work out the details later. I feel like I haven't seen you in ages!

[silensy]

Yes, we need weekly goals for this!

[wayward-petunia.livejournal.com]

Yes!

Wow.

[archangeloz.livejournal.com]

I can't believe you're going to do this again this year. I didn't join last year, because I kind of felt guilty about (potentially) taking your money. But now I feel like if you're going to do it again, I'd be a fool not to commit. I'm going to run 1000 miles this year. In order to do that, I'm going to run 5 miles every Tuesday and Thursday, and at least 10 every Saturday. I'd like to join the Rewards Program here at Silensy, Inc. Thanks for being awesome. :)

Re: Wow.

[silensy]

with that goal, I'm /still/ not worried about you taking my money. ;)

Week starts Saturday, remember. :)

[lady-cassidy.livejournal.com]

I changed my goal multiple times last year, starting with drastically reducing the amount of soda I drank while greatly increasing the amount of water I drank, and ending with talking to one person a week I didn't usually talk to.

This year, it needs to be more. It needs to be all of it at the same time. What it needs to be is a healthier me, both physically and mentally. I need to keep drinking water. Now that my hours at Sears are reduced to basically nothing or even nothing, I need to exercise on my own (I walk all around the aisles on my shift, back and forth, when I'm not helping customers, and thus end up walking for between 15-30 minutes at a time), I need to stick up for myself sometimes yet not get into needless arguments, I need to let myself start buying comics again (I haven't bought any for seven months now), and even though I know I'll feel guilty about it, sometimes I need to just come right out and tell my mother than I need my space, even if it means I have to stay in my room for the evening, and I need to continue talking with people in XP, doing something about the ideas I have in my head for my characters instead of just keeping them there and doing nothing about them.

What does that mean on a weekly basis? I can't say I have a new XP idea every week, but water, exercise, and time for myself. Comics will be ordered every couple of months (I don't have a comic store, so I order them online, and it's cheaper to pay one shipping charge rather than multiple ones), and I will continue working on the ideas I have for XP, both the ones I've already discussed with people and the ones still swimming around my mind, unspoken.

[silensy]

Check!

[amythyst7.livejournal.com]

After much thought, I'm going to do this again. Made it through two goals last year and since my dissertation is almost done and I'm working out regularly, guess I need a new goal...let's see...

I know! Keeping my house in better order. Which basically breaks down to putting away the dishes, laundry, etc. even when I'm tired and busy. How's that work?

[silensy]

What's the measure? Everything tidy before bedtime?

[amythyst7.livejournal.com]

Everything tidy by Sunday night. Things can get crazy during the week, but I better catch up by the weekend...as I get better at that, moving it up will be good.

[silensy]

Excellent.