Monday 13 September 2010

The Fluffy Plan of Happiness

Sometimes I gaze out of the window and wonder where I am heading. There may have been a birthday lurking around the weekend, hence staring at the grey sky in a rather grey mood. I need to put into action a new life plan. This plan shall be called the Fluffy Plan of Happiness. Or something.

The Fluffy Plan of Happiness

  1. Buy a top. You cannot start the fluffy plan of happiness without a new top.
  2. Book out evenings / weekends again for New Writing Project (very exciting!)
  3. Continue saving money for dream of owning own shoe-box
  4. Start some sort of exercise venture more vigorous than walking up escalators
  5. Never let the house be empty of chocolate ever again

The thing with fluffy plans is that you cannot over-load them or be too specific; otherwise they stop being fluffy and start becoming Concrete Plans of Exacting Particulars. Fluffy plans tend to give you a bit of a cuddle halfway through. C-Pep plans sound like they come in a fussy bottle from the chemist to be taken when experiencing a blockage.

“Feeling stuck in life? Take some C-Pep!”

You just know C-Pep would taste a bit murky, although perhaps it is useful for everyone to have a bottle on the shelf just in case.

Birthdays are funny things – your own personal New Year. While they should always be celebrated and enjoyed (and I did, very much, thank you!), they also bring on feelings of ‘what have I accomplished’, ‘what is next for me’, and ‘where on earth am I going and did anyone bring a map?’

So with that in mind, I have already made good in-roads with the fluffy plan, in that I have bought a new top.

What would be on your fluffy plan?

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm putting my fluffy plan together as I type. What an excellent idea!
No real planning of objectives, just a mountain of whims and dreams. I'm up for it!
Thanks for sharing this.

Have a nice day, Boonie

Janet O'Kane said...

I came up with my own fluffy plan when I hit 50 a couple of years ago. I made a list of mad things I wanted to do (drive a tractor, go up in a balloon, get a tattoo) and am gradually working my way through it (though I've dropped the idea of a tattoo, for reasons of taste and cowardice).
I made a more serious list (take up horseriding again, get a novel published) and am also working towards achieving those things. Sometimes I think I'm doing well, other times, less so.
Sadly, come middle age, if you want to limit your weight gain, keeping chocolate in the house at all times is ill-advised.

Natascha said...

My fluffy plan was just to feel clear headed and energetic. I was feeling slow physically, mentally and my writing showed it. So I kicked up the exercise plan, took my vitamins and drank plenty of water. By day 2, I was feeling better already. It was like I was running on a low battery and then I became charged. :) Good luck with your plans. I agree with the last step most of all :)

Touch of Ink said...

Chocolate and world building are on my list for sure.

Ok, I'll add a daily walk, just because chocolate and world building can sandwich it nicely. And because otherwise I'd be accused of being a hedonist.

Talli Roland said...

Oh, happy birthday Jayne! A new top always brings happiness, in my opinion. As well as chocolate and wine!

Kyna said...

Happy Birthday!

I always buy myself something on my birthday. :)

Anne Gallagher said...

Happy Happy Birthday!

My Fluffy Plan is not so Fluffy, more like concrete, and that is to be published before I'm 50. (coming soon to a birthday near me.)

And chocolate in the house is a necessity.

Maria Zannini said...

I could go for some pie. Blackberry pie with a flaky crust.

Happy fluffy birthday, Jayne!

Eliza said...

Happy Birthday. Still working on my plan, fluffy or otherwise :-)

Jules said...

Happy Birthday! A fluffy plan? I guess for now I'd just steal your map. lol

I'll have to think about that. Might make an interesting blog fest though.
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Unknown said...

A lovely idea, must think about that one. I send English tea to my American friend and my husband mixed up the packets, I send her toys too, and he wrote 'fluffy toys' on the outside of the tea packet. So my plan will have to include tea somewhere in it......

Talei said...

Mmm good idea! I've had tattoo on my list for ages, and also more travel...can't get enough of it. I'd also like some fluffy slippers for winter. ;)

Private said...

What a lovely name for a plan! I'll have to come up with my very own:)

Happy Frog and I said...

Happy fluffy birthday! I love the idea of the fluffy plan of happiness. I'm very much into your no's 4 and 5 in particular. My fluffy plan would also include treating myself to flowers whenever I feel like it aiming to have at least one belly laugh every day!

Carolyn V. said...

Totally #4 is going down on my fluffy list. I wish someone had thought of that sooner. =)

Fran Hill said...

A Fluffy Plan sounds like a Good Plan.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Ooo a fluffy plan of happiness! A much better idea than goals and resolutions. My fluffy plan would definitely include a new top, shoes and purse. Marshmallows because they're sweet and fluffy without many calories and no fat. At least an hour a day to stare pointless out the window without being bothered. And knitting or crocheting with fluffy yarn, which I've neglected of late. Oh, and laying in my fluffy bed reading for two hours every night.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Ooo, that sounds like the perfect life plan - especially the new top and chocolate! :-)

Deniz Bevan said...

Happy belated birthday! And what a great idea, a fluffy plan - it sounds so do-able, not something that would be procrastinated on at all...

The Words Crafter said...

Happy Birthday!!!! Love the idea of your fluffy plan. I, too, think it would be a fluffy-fun blogfest.

I would have to take the chocolate in the house at all times and change it to fruit pies or cheese danish....swoon!

For me, mine is sooooo fluffy-just do something constructive every day!!!

Kelsey (Dominique) Ridge said...

This idea makes me smile. ^_^

Marguerite said...

Happy Birthday Jane! Love your fluffy plan, except I would have to add: have lots of fun, get my cookbook published, go on a cruise, go to more concerts, go to Paris, and have a massage, at least once a week! :) Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Jayne.

In my fluffy plan would be a trip to Argentina for tango lessons (from a nice young man, of course. If fluffy plans are dreams then they are essential, as dreams keep you going.

Keep saving for that shoe-box; you'll climb into it one day.

Unknown said...

Somewhere in my Fluffy Plan I'd like to move back to Europe. I miss my dinky little apartment in Lorraine, it was so easy to keep clean. My 1500 square foot house in California is always a disaster area!

Mise said...

I think the Fluffy Plan would want you to have a second new top, for when the first is in the wash.

Rose said...

birthdays are strange, fun yes but they also make the birthday owner reflective I find... with age... My fluffy plan? I don't know, i agree a new top or dress or a pair of shoes can help, I write lists of things to do and try and do some, sometimes I just be for a few days, watch some black and white films, or read or watch some Agathas, just let my self be grey and then hopefully I turn sunny again

Krista said...

Happy Birthday!
My Fluffy Plan includes chocolate-covered cinnamon bears, and I just ran out. Time to re-stock!
I gave you a shout out on my blog, so come see!

Rachna Chhabria said...

My fluffy plan is to gift myself something special on my birthday. Sometimes its a story, sometimes its a top. This year I decided to reconnect with all my close friends with whom I was losing touch due to work pressures.

MTeacress said...

I believe we all ask ourselves that "where am I going" question at one point or another. It's a deep one.

I'll fess up - I like the concrete plan, something I know I can count on. This year, I want to spend more time with the kids since they're almost grown!

I like how you've attached the New Year idea with birthdays. What a good way to look at it. :)

Al said...

"Take more photographs" would definitely be on my plan

Hannah said...

I would definitely block out time for the new writing project! I love that plan!!

Old Kitty said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!
MAY YOU HAVE LOTS OF GOO!
LIKE A SWEETIE OR A CHOCCIE!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!

:-)

Hip hip hooray!!!!!!

I hope you went straight to Fluffy Plan of Happiness no. 5. Cos you're worth it!

Take care
x

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

Happy birthday. And what a great idea, this fluffy plan! My birthday is coming up in two months, so I see I need to get busy and have a fluffy plan of my own. Of course, high on my list is to have an agent and an editor. Oh, yes, and a bidding war for my book. And to become fluent in Spanish. (Living in California, there is no excuse for why that is taking me so long.)Let's see: Good wine is a nice idea, as is chocolate, and also chamomile tea. Preferably at a nice cafe in Paris while someone plays an accordian. Hmmm. I really should exercise. The evidence that I spend spend time writing (i.e. sitting at my computer) is growing daily, and I don't mean on the page.

But now, in a rather nonfluffy way, I suppose I'd better get back to work so I can enjoy the bidding war and the trip to Paris in the future. Thanks for an enjoyable post!

Maggie May said...

Happy Birthday.
My fluffly plan...... to learn the recorder!
Maggie X

Nuts in May