NaBloPoMo2023- Make It Count
WOOHOO! It’s my favorite month! November has a little bit of everything- fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas prep… and once again I’m joining San for #NaBloPoMo2023. Let’s get the party started! This year, for NaBloPoMo, I want to focus on a topic that’s been on my mind a lot lately. The older I get, the more aware I am that our days are numbered. That sounds depressing, but it really isn’t. If our days were unlimited, there would be no reason to treasure them- but knowing that they’re finite makes me understand how unique and rare each one truly is. We might have one day left, or we might have thousands. But the fact is, we all have a finite number of days, so why waste a single precious one? How do we waste our days? Well, here’s a few things I’m guilty of: Comparing what I’m doing to something “better.” It’s so easy, on a hard day at work, to wish I were home sitting on the couch, snuggled with my cat reading a great book. But wait! Wouldn’t it be even better to be reading a great book on the deck of a cruise ship, holding a fancy drink with a little umbrella… but wait again! Maybe that’s not as good as a cruise to ALASKA- yes, that would be better… or maybe… The point is, you can always think of something “better” than what you’re currently doing. But why? Why compare one experience to another? A day at work (or spent cleaning out the garage, or going to the dentist) has just as much value as a day at the best party ever. We can’t afford to throw any of them away like that. Another way to waste a day is by letting other people bring us down. Here’s a little story: one morning a few weeks ago, my daughter couldn’t find her shoes and yelled at my husband meanly, saying he “lost” them (when the truth was, she left them in the middle of the living room and he moved them to vacuum.) Later in the day I texted him to ask how his day was going, and he replied that he was still really upset about the argument with our daughter. Really? That was HOURS ago! I’ve been through so many scenes like that with her, I guess I’m immune to them. I just can’t let an emotional 14-year-old dictate how my day is going to be. But that’s not to say I’ve never succumbed to those thoughts- there have been many days where I’m endlessly ruminating about someone’s comment or criticism. Why do we give other people so much power over us? A third way I’ve been known to waste my day is by not setting myself up for success ahead of time. It’s really hard to appreciate the day when you’re really tired, or your back hurts or your stomach aches. There have been plenty of days where I’m at work thinking “I can’t wait for this to be over so I can go home and lie down.” Sometimes these things are unavoidable, but I can try to get enough sleep, eat well and do my back stretches every night so I’m not setting myself up for failure the next day. So my projects for the month of November are: 1) stop comparing what I’m doing to something “better”; 2) don’t let other people’s negativity bring me down; and 3) do everything possible to set myself up physically and mentally to have a good day. My theme for NaBLoPoMo2023 is “Every Day Counts.” I encourage you to join me! I’ll be doing some posts around these topics, and checking in regularly with updates on how I’m doing. Happy November, friends! Do you have any goals or projects for November? Header photo by Nelly Antoniadou on Unsplash