My blog tagline is “the art of living well every day.” What do I mean by that?
A while back I started keeping a one-line-a-day journal. The idea is simple: Every night you write a few words about what you did that day. No need for deep thoughts. It’s just a straightforward record of your day.
This simple practice opened my eyes to a sad reality: Most of my days were painfully boring. There were days where I literally had nothing to say. That could not stand.
We all know that our days are numbered.
I want to make the most out of the every day. This is my game plan.
This blog isn’t about productivity or being perfect. (I mean, have you met me?) It is not possible to maintain a breakneck pace. It is not my intention to make you feel inadequate.
This blog is where I put that plan in action for me. I’m so grateful to those of you that have come along for the ride. I have learned so much from you and continue to do so, every day.
I cannot define what living well means to you any more than I can tell you what you’re thinking. But my hope is to inspire you to go for whatever living well means to you.
I’m often struck by how much energy we spend for special events, often at the expense of the everyday. We spend hours prepping and cooking when we have company over, or spend months of our lives preparing for a wedding.
Wouldn’t that energy be better spent to live better all the time?
How much energy do you spend to make your everyday better?
It stands to reason that you will be better prepared for life’s big celebrations if you celebrate the commonplace. Practice makes perfect after all.
On this I have learned is that the best way to start is to focus on the details. That’s where beauty lies.
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Yes! I am definitely working on this too. One simple thing we do? Eat dinner with nice plates, cloth napkins and appropriate glassware. Even when it’s just me and my husband. Feels nice.
I find that getting into the habit is the hardest part. But once you’ve done it a few times it comes as second nature, don’t you think?
::Sigh:: This reminds me to start writing in my one-line-a-day journal again. It’s been sadly neglected since March. What a lovely, insightful post.
Do it! I was so tired last night is “I hope B. sleeps through the night — he’s been having night terrors and I’m TIRED.” We did more things that day, but I needed to get to bed and didn’t want to break the streak
I love your blog and agree with you wholeheartedly. Thanks for the reminder – what am I waiting for? Today is a good day.
I try to go for a walk every morning, to start off the day living well–a little fresh air, a little exercise.
I try to do one “non-routine” thing everyday: see a friend, take a bath, go for a long walk, go outside somewhere gorgeous. It’s amazing how even 15 minutes of doing something that’s not routine can make any day better.
You are so right! Everyday is a new opportunity. Some days I get so wound up and stressed out and at the end I feel like I should have taken all that energy being upset and turned it into energy used to accomplish something in a positive way. Ultimately you are responsible for the energy/mood you bring.
Today my hubby got out of work unexpectedly early and we just up and went to the beach. Well, as much as you can “up and go to the beach” with a 2 yr old and a 4 yr old. It was such a delight to see their faces when we told them we were going. And the joy I felt being there reminded me, like this post, how it really is easy to make an ordinary day, extraordinary. Love your blog!
I love this post!
A while ago I realized I was always rushing through things, this leading to the fact that I could not really enjoy any of them. So now I’m trying to slow down, and “feel” every single moment of every single action.. and that’s making my days better!