Daily Reminders
If, by chance, you are one of those people who need to remind yourself about seemingly miniscule (but oh so important) behaviours that keep your life and brain in working order then this is for you.
Welcome to my list of daily reminders.
Get up. Do it now. Get up from your bed, your desk, the floor—wherever you find your prone meat husk, and get up. Stop staring at your screen and take a few deep breaths. Wiggle your arms. Good job, proud of you.
While you’re up, go drink some water. Choke down as much as you can. Better yet, if you need some motivation tell yourself you can chase it with a strong coffee. If that’s even too much for you, skip the water, coffee is mostly water anyway.
If you’re working on something creatively new to you (maybe working in a new style, with a new-to-you medium, or process) give it ten minutes. Then ten more. There hasn’t been a day in the last four years when I’ve started working and thought to myself, “This really sucks, why did I quit my job to do this? What am I even doing??” Somewhere in all this self doubt my inner voice swims her way to the surface of my brain matter and I’m reminded to give it ten more minutes. Usually by minute twenty I’m solidly in the flow of enjoying the moment and have completely forgotten the bumpy road at the beginning.
Give it ten minutes.
Get in close.
I used to teach a photgraphy unit to my 7th graders every year and I taught them that if they didn’t know what to photograph to get in close. Focus on what’s in front of you. Notice all the details. See how the light casts shadows in the place you find yourself right now? I’m currently staring at the wind blowing snow off of the roof of the house across the street. Every time the wind gusts, little crystaline flakes are cast into the air where they catch the sunlight. It looks like a 1st grader heaving glitter into the air. I’ve seen actual 1st graders do this, so I’m an expert on the physics of gravity+1st graders+glitter. I’ve been watching the blowing snow for at least an hour. I can’t get over how the snow keeps swirling around and around. It looks like it’s enjoying itself…I’m think going to come back as snow, those freaks look like they know how to have a good time.
Anyway, get in close. The details hold the magic.
You’re doing great. No, really, you are. Things may not be exactly where you want them to be, but you’re here, breathing in and out. That’s pretty wild considering that some aspects of the world feel like a hamster-wheel-hellscape-dumpster-fire right now. And…other things are okay. For example, I talked with three neighbors today, and petted two dogs. (TWO DOGS!!) There’s also that snow-glitter thing happening on the roof across the street, and I’ve got a hot cup of coffee in hand. Honestly, I’ve had worse afternoons. I didn’t get every thing on my list accomplished today, but really, when have I ever? Answer: never, not even once, and that’s okay. I hope you tell yourself several times a day how well you are actually doing. And if you don’t, then take it from me, you’re killing it, kid.