Fifty Two For Me.

52 weeks in a year.
52 times I’ll try something new.
52 opportunities to do more of what makes me happy.

The idea for this gem of a personal project came to me while I was out on my morning walk around the tourist-filled mecca of Denarau in the Fiji Islands.

It all started when someone close to me said something that struck a chord (or possibly hit a nerve)… They said “you live in paradise, you only work two days a week, how can you not be happy?”. It got me thinking.

I know, right? Sweet gig. I live in Fiji with my main man Leon, who’s here on a three-year work contract. Right now we’re a year in, with two to go. The thing is, looking from the outside in I am pretty happy, but I reckon I could be happier. Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to get a bit more happy in their life?

I genuinely believe there should be no limit on any person’s happiness. As human beings though we’re far from perfect, I actually think that’s one of our best qualities, but many of us have varying degrees of (conscious and subconscious) self-imposed limitations.

Do I deserve to be happy? Where do I find my happiness? Do I even know what happiness means to me?

So, starting this week here’s what I’m going to do.

Each Friday I’ll review the new ‘thing’ I’ve tried in a blog post. It might be an activity, a lifestyle change or something more personal. I’m a little apprehensive, but mainly I’m excited… and I’m committed. Gee’d up even.

At the end of each post I’ll decide if this new ‘thing’ is worthy of adding to my life permanently, or I’ll chalk it up to experience and park it.

Then I’ll decide on what I’m going to try in the week coming up. There’s a big chunk of accountability right there!

I’ve got a list of ideas that will get me through the first 12 weeks. After that, who knows. That’s the exciting bit. I’m open to suggestions. I’m also going to ask my friends and family what makes them happy, and I’m going to try some of those things too.

I expect there will be some stunning successes and some grand failures, along with a heavy dose of self-reflection. Bring it on!

Most importantly though – one year from now, through trial and error, I’m going to definitively answer these three questions:

1. What does happiness mean to me?
2. Why do I want, need and deserve to be happy?
3. Where do I find my happiness?

So, without further ado, let the fun begin.

Week one… using Photoshop and InDesign and a myriad of online tutorials to create a new logo for Fifty Two For Me. Watch this space…

Lx