Angel or Devil
How hard is it to live in an ethical way?
In this section we ask you to challenge us to make certain lifestyle changes each week.
Though the intention is that these changes will lead to better living we are not opposed to attempting anything providing it is legal and technically possible!
Week Four - Smile
It's cold. It's February. Someone suggested we should just try smiling - seems like as good a week as any to give this one a go.
Smilology* tells us that smiling is contagious. So it should spread like a virus - just a good virus. Easy.
Result of week 3 challenge - create things
Results of week 2 challenge - energy efficiency
Results of last weeks challenge - no meat
Ollie is generally a happy sort of person. He can get quite outraged at injustice though so this might depend on who he comes up against.
Monday
After a week away in the alps snowboarding my happiness factor was off the chart and I was beaming all the way to work on the tube.
Unfortunately, beaming at people on a Monday morning on the tube was received with the kind of disapproving looks you would give to a mental outpatient proudly showing the contents of his latest stool sample.
Upon arriving at work I felt like someone posing too long for their bumbling Aunt trying to take a photo (real smile fading into a faked manic grin as you will her to find the large button located on top of the camera).
My smile disappeared again as I realised I had been sucked back into the corporate world. All ten men in my office were wearing blue shirts arhhhhhhhhh whats happened to me!
Things improved on the way home as I made a little kid giggle on the way home by pulling a silly face and giving them a beaming grin so that made up for it!
Tuesday
Just another day on this crazy planet but could I bring the cheer to masses with a beaming grin, what better place to try then on the packed tube.
Well some people smiled back while others kept my theory of the unmedicated outpatient on day release fresh in my mind. My only crowning glory was on disembarking at Bond Street a random man ran down the platform knocking my laptop bag of my shoulder.
My temper quickened to the pace of speedy Gonzales on class A's but instead of unleashing my X-rated remarks I took a new approached and took a deep breath and as he gazed back on his continued dash I gave him the biggest smile I could muster.
The poor man almost fell in front of the west bound central line train but managed a bemused smile and a thumbs up as he took of into the distance. Wohoooo it works!
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
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Angel - 0% Devil - 0% |
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Susie might have a problem working from home. Smiling at herself in the mirror might not really fulfil the criteria of the challenge - and may get her sectioned...
Monday
Not feeling at my best so pretty much hibernated all day. I did make it to the shop and smiled at the people there but I am ashamed to say committed the terrible sin of checking out while on the phone - which I never do!
Really bad! I would like to try to redeem myself by explaining that I was on the phone to my godson's father - who I can never get hold of - discussing his upcoming birthday plans.
Even so, I think I probably deserve minus points.
Tuesday
Like Ol I think I am actually frightening people. A man in the cafe actually moved seats to get further away from me.
Hmmm must learn to smile without looking like a maniac...
Wednesday
I was working from home all day - but I had a bit of a cold so the fact that I could work from my bed with a big cup of tea made me smile. Rest assured though no one saw it - I was!
Thursday
Do I get extra points if I made someone laugh? Had some general banter with a nice lady in the Post Office about pinching men's bottoms. Not too sure how we got on to that but hey.
Actually the smiling is leading to a general chatting with people which is nice. Had a lovely talk with the guy selling the Big Issue and the lady in the supermarket too. Really nice.
Friday
Had a lovely chat with Beryl while I was buying some milk. It is so much nicer just chatting away to people as I go about my daily meanderings.
I often do this anyhow but am making more of a point of it and it just makes doing things so much nicer.
Everyone assumes you are Australian though...
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Lara is usually pretty smiley but following a series of calamities while skiing she is injured this week. The general pain might put her at a bit of a disadvantage.
Monday
I am so glad susie chose a week where bad things kept happening to me (admitedly, alongside the good) to make me smile. Today I hobbled (literally, due to the oversized leg brace that is gracing my right leg) to the Dr. A journey which should take 7 minutes took me 45 after my surgery changed locations without leaving the new directions on the door.
Not smiling.
Still not smiling when I get to work and have a mountain of stuff waiting for me to get through from my week away.
Manage a smile over dinner with friends exploring Google Earth and finding all my old childhood homes and haunts.
I know there are so many more unfortunate than me, but I really do hate Monday's.
Tuesday
Day started fantastically, got into a taxi with a driver who had no idea where he was going. Got me lost and I was the one with the A-Z in one hand and stopping him from turning down the wrong way down a one way street. I have him a grin when i got out of the cab, somehow, I think he knew that I did not really mean it.
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
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Angel - 0% Devil - 0% |
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*not 100% this is an actual ology but it would be such a nice one that I thought I'd stick it in anyway.
Past Challenges
