#mullahbaybee.

i have no idea why this won't format correctly. i apologize in advance, i've tried to HTML it, i've tried to delete and repost, but the bad boy just does not want to be in paragraph format apparently.

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i'm doing something fairly predictable for january's happiness goal. but before i get into all that, let's see where we stand with the past couple of months. keeping in mind, these goals are designed to be apart of me as a whole upon the month's completion. i'm giving myself a bit of a pulse check. you're more than welcome to read on, but truthfully this is kinda my version of a progress report. and here we go...

decembenergize. remember my quote about synchronicity? well, this month was the perfect example. sometimes when you send something out into the universe, the universe throws shit at you. it becomes a very intense game of dodgeball. fortunately, that was my favorite childhood game. so in a month dedicated to energy and vitality and all things good for the soul (chicken soup and such), i also received news of my grandfather's health deteriorating quickly, i was sick with the world's longest cold, and i pulled insanely long overtime hours before leaving town for snowy utahhhh. amazingly, i am leaving the month with the most energy i've had in months. and i didn't even get to follow most of the mini goals. i slept inconsistently. i exercised maybe twice, one of those being on the last day of the month. my place is tidy, sure, but i should probably break out the feather duster as it looks like no one has lived in that dust trap in months. the only nagging task i tackled was an obnoxious cough. and as far as acting the part, let's just say my emotional exhaustion wore alllll up on my face. yet, here i am feeling incredibly rested and healthy as we start this new month and year! it's a christmas miracle!!!

okay okay, but what about dolla dolla made november holla? funny you should ask, alex. (coincidentally, you should probably stop talking to yourself on a public forum, girlfriend.) but the good news is, i'm right on track. a budgeting wiz over here. no impulse shopping, adding bits and coins to my piggy bank, eating in (and healthily for the most part), weekly evaluations and planning, and even getting an opportunity to splurge. i mentioned i paid off a debt and have a couple more in the works for this month! funny how much stress lifts when you see results. encouraging in all ways. 

my current album on repeat has a great song about alcohol relapse, listen to those lyrics. vaguely reminds me of my prior post. with a huge emphasis on vaguely. money? alcohol? apples. oranges.

i guess i should have told you the other day, the day i restarted my happiness extravaganza, i chose to begin with money. i suppose i acted before i spoke. wanted to get the wheels turning for it. so today, i finally have had a chance to collect some thoughts on the subject. again.

it's funny, this kinda feels like a relapse. i've never personally experienced addiction relapse in the traditional sense of the words, however i know what it feels to feel guilt, failure, regret, and disappointment in self for repeating mistakes over and over. i try to be understanding. patient, always trying to be patient, because this is a reality of life. mistakes are a huge part of it. mistakes give us adventures and wisdom. they're almost embraceable. until you are in them. then it just sucks. 

budgeting has been a part of my life for as long as i can remember. i've always been pretty aware of the importance of rationing money out with the goal of living comfortably. being aware of and actually implementing are two different things entirely. 

so here's my pattern. i build out this grand plan of a budget (usually with lots of guidance from mama jules). the thing is epic. it's tight, like really tight, and difficult, but always doable. i write it all out. i live, breathe, and eat it for days, weeks, months. but then things start smoothing over. life gets easier, i'm able to afford more. maybe i start making more. more for me means alllllll logic jumps out of my brain, slaps me in the face and takes off running down the block laughing at himself for being so quick and clever. (why my logic is male, i may never know)

insert a phase of denial, followed by couple of meltdowns/tantrums, minor visions of running away to a beach somewhere and living off a friendship bracelet business (which i will make myself as i sip coconut water all day long), and many anxious nights staring at my pores.

then i start all over. imagine mama jules pulling logic back to the table by his ear to finish his dinner. him kicking and screaming the whole way. 

i want to get to a place when logic and i remain one in the same. the day will come when i can look across the table and see him playing with his food for thought and be comforted knowing that no matter what, he will finish his entire meal and thank me for it later. that's why no matter how much life is trying to feed me temptation right now, or  scare me with financial burdens, i will keep trucking along. the only way i can convince logic to stay, is by showing him how wonderful life is with him present.

i'm going to reuse my previous mini goals. or as i called them before mini pieces of coin:

think before swipe. (#impulsestop.) 

this little piggy, bank it. (#piggybank.)

grocery shop. (#sackedlunch.)

indulge in a modest splurge. (#splurge.)

trim the fat. (#debtdiet.)

she got her own...

the "miss" i intend to be. that's what this whole project is for. i could never get sick of this song. for this month, "car and her crib, she bout to pay them both off, and her bills are paid on time." that's me that's me! except my car's been paid off and my crib is rent, hence paid on time.

a very young beyonce singing bout bills.