One Day at a Time

"There is nothing certain, but uncertainty." - Proverb

I'm exhausted. It has been another big week for our family. In the midst of a big year. I was just beginning to feel a little excited. With a quiet week's escape booked at the beach, the promise of more family time & with Christmas in sight, I was beginning to hope that we had some happier, less stressful times ahead...

As you may already know, 2020 has been a debacle for our family: obviously the pandemic; Melbourne's ongoing lockdowns (the second being 112 very long days); job loss, which has left us without a regular income; & also my emergency hospital trip & resulting surgery. I said to my family just last week that surely, surely things had to begin to improve soon. But it seems that 2020 isn't done with us yet. A much loved, close family member's health is failing after recent surgery, which is emotional & worrying for the family as a whole. Also, I'm back in the dance between specialists & another minor surgery awaits. 2020...

This really has been a year to put us to the test, & more than ever before it is a time for us to take one day at a time. It's all we have really. Today. This day, right now, this moment. When it all seems overwhelming, I try to bring myself back to what I need in this present day. Not worrying about ahead, not ruminating about behind. Just focusing on now.

What matters most today?

Courtney Carver (of www.bemorewithless.com) is one of my gurus when it comes to practicing living simply & in the moment. She has penned three key questions to ask yourself each day, & I consider them to be super important in my daily planning. I answer them before I set my work goals for each day. These questions help to set my intentions for the day, so that rather than being purely task focussed, I also honour my own needs. Courtney's three questions, to ask each day, are:

What matters most today?

How do I really want to spend my time?

What do I need to do to take really good care of myself & the people I love today?

Answering these questions ensures that I give myself time & space to ponder what it is I really need. It might be that I need calm, or that I need organisation. I may yearn for some alone time, or maybe I really need to connect with others. What I need changes day to day, & it is constantly changing depending, which is why it's important that I make these questions a regular practice. However, I will keep taking the time, each day, to answer these questions - having them front & centre on my daily planner, helps me at least consider what I might need.

Now, I will confess that I'm good at talking the talk, but not necessarily walking the walk. I'm not always very successful with actually following through on my intentions. My focus can be easily distracted by other "must do's", or my never ending lists of what I "think" I "should" be doing. But I will continue to work on that. This is a time for digging deep, prioritising my self care & doing the work - & of course, some mindful stitching!

From These Clever Hands, to Yours...

Jo xo