Archives for December 6, 2020

Day 6 and 7

December 6, 2020 by

Offers readers a cheeky and novel viewpoint on the world of ideas, how they can be formed, who they can come from and how to harness them.
Day 6 of the 28 Day Self-Growth Plan
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon

If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.
On May 17, 2014, Admiral William H. McRaven addressed the graduating class of the University of Texas at Austin on their Commencement day. Taking inspiration from the university’s slogan, “What starts here changes the world,” he shared the ten principles he learned during Navy Seal training that helped him overcome challenges not only in his training and long Naval career, but also throughout his life; and he explained how anyone can use these basic lessons to change themselves-and the world-for the better.
Day 7 of the 28 Day Self-Growth Plan
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World by William H. McRaven

Doing these two a bit different today for a few reasons –

  1. I took a day off and I really want to start week 2 of the 28 Day Self-Growth plan on a Monday. As luck would have it
  2. I did not enjoy Steal Like an Artist at all. It has some great reviews on GoodReads so I am assuming it was the summary and not the book. If it looks interesting to you at all, don’t take my word for it – what do I know anyway?
  3. I know that I did not finish the summary of Make Your Bed. I got about halfway through it and decided this would be one that I read in its entirety.
  4. I also know that it is Sunday, and my coffee is hot, my bed is warm, and my kids are still asleep. I have already pushed publish once today as a consequence of Reason #1. I will push it again here for the same reason. I realize that may be too much content for one day so I’ll make this pretty easy.

Here is the video of The Admiral’s speech. You can find the shorter, edited versions all over YouTube. But I think it’s a well spent 19:26 in its entirety.

Have a great Sunday y’all, and thanks 😊

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Bubbles, Balance, Bootcamp

December 6, 2020 by

Using the science of habits, riveting stories and surprising facts from some of the most famous moments in history, art and business, Mel Robbins will explain the power of a “push moment.” Then, she’ll give you one simple tool you can use to become your greatest self.
~Day 5, of the 28 Day Self-Growth Plan
The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage, by Mel Robbins

So, I took yesterday off. I figured I would start there because I will feel better about it once I said it aloud.

But I am glad I did. I am glad I recognized when I needed a do-nothing day and took it before I got too many days into a streak…when the pull of getting a sticker was more alluring than listening to what I needed.

And, in all honesty, it wasn’t completely a do-nothing day. I did a few chores around the house, put together a to go dinner for my folks, finished The Great Alone, started Deep River Blues, read the rest of the executive summaries for the week, scoured Pinterest for food and drink ideas for Bitches and Bourbon (that’s the name, I don’t care what Facebook makes us call it), finished work on our monogram, soaked for a really long time in the tub, and went to bed super early.

When I step back and look at it, I did a hell of a lot. What I did not do was the big-ticket items on the Big Rock List

  • I did not exercise (although I did a meditation session so that I could get the little circle on the date – see streaks can be a bitch)
  • I did not write

But I did do things that supported both of those activities.

I rested and put Epsom salt in my bubble bath because my body is sore. I did a Peloton bootcamp Thursday and a 60-minute ride Saturday. I needed a rest day.

I read. And writers read. I thought about writing. I read about writing. I supported other writers. And I knew that not writing words yesterday would require writing more words today. That was a trade I felt good about making. It is also a trade I have made before and didn’t make good. But I don’t beat myself up over past failures. I trust myself to learn and grow. I took the day off.

Interestingly enough, this was also the day the summary for the 5 Second Rule was on deck. Unfortunately, the foreword at the very beginning billed it as a “one-size-fits-all solution.” I instantly became skeptical. Is that my pessimism showing? I’m not even really a pessimist, but I am realer than I have ever been and something about billing yourself as a “one-size-fits-all solution” just causes a side-eye.

I get the premise and I can’t disagree – 5-4-3-2-1 go! is the idea.

  • Don’t want to get out of bed? 5-4-3-2-1 go!
  • Don’t want to answer that email? 5-4-3-2-1 go!
  • Don’t want to go to the gym? 5-4-3-2-1 go!

You get the point.

This book employs some of the same ideas as others of its ilk and I make the same note – “This is not applicable to my life.”

I cannot, will not, even if I wanted to, which I don’t, remove social media from my life. The product most successful currently at my company is social media driven – so there’s that. And let’s be completely transparent – just because I do not currently make money pushing publish does not mean I am opposed to it if it fits into my life. So even my hobbies and personality are on social media to connect with others who inspire me and enjoy what I have to say at least some of the time.

I cannot, will not, even if I wanted to, which I don’t, have a daily schedule. Ok, maybe that’s not entirely true and I just said it that way because it looks cool. But seriously, if you know me at all, what kind of miracle schedule creation do you have for me that comes close to fitting the way I actually live my life? I’ll wait and strongly consider writing you a check if you figure it out.

So, whatever, the 5 second thing isn’t going to change my life. But it was worth it to find this one little nugget of gold

I have a hard time finding the balance between not beating myself up when it doesn’t happen as fast as I’d like it to, and not wasting time while I wait for it to happen.

Full. Stop.

It has been a minute since I have encountered a sentence that so perfectly encapsulates a challenge that I feel but haven’t been able to identify. And here it is in all its frustrating glory.

I have a hard time finding the balance between not beating myself up when it doesn’t happen as fast as I’d like it to, and not wasting time while I wait for it to happen.

And I feel validated and (say what you want about how it sounds) supported by the universe. This showed up on the day where I was doing (contextually) nothing. On the day where I actively chose balance. In the middle of a period of time where I am learning to let go of expectations and just enjoy the flow. Where I am letting go of purpose, rate of return, results, and just feeding my Big Rocks because I can.

And today I will get on my bike, I will write the words, and I will appreciate the memory of a too long bubble bath and a too early bedtime that will make both of those things possible.

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