Here’s why we still need brick and mortar book stores: the cool bookish gifts in the front. My current favorite items from Barnes and Noble are magnets with literary and inspiring quotes on them. I have a stack, and each month I put a new one on the fridge.
Here’s the September selection:
I love this quote because it gives me permission to indulge in the things that fill my spirit: reading, writing, photography. I’m a big list maker, but frequently my to do lists don’t include anything that I love, just things I have to get done. At the end of the day, I know I’ve been productive, but my spirit is sapped.
Lately, I’ve been trying a new approach: include the things that make me happy on the to do list. Crazy, I know! Or better yet, do what makes me happy first, before tackling the list. Guess what? My attitude about folding underwear and paying bills improves immensely after I allow myself thirty minutes to write, read, or observe the world through my camera.
Here’s a powerful quote from Entrepreneur and Leadership Mentor Michael Hyatt:
You must schedule the important things so they don’t get crowded out by the urgent things.
By important, he means the things that promote personal growth and strengthen relationships. Creativity and innovation. The things that matter. This does not include sweeping the mud room or scrubbing toilets. Those are, depending on the size and activity level of your family, the urgent things.
I’m getting better about telling myself, “Don’t fret about the laundry. It will always be there. Even twenty minutes from now.”
What are the things that you love, and how do you make time for them each day?
Thanks for getting thoughtful with me.
Oh do I love this message… It resonates with my daily intention. Right now, I have dishes from this morning still sitting in the sink and laundry still in the washer waiting to be dried. But while the house is quiet, THIS is my time for ME.
Writing and reading. 🙂
(So lovely to connect with you, Julia! Found you through Eli’s blog!)
I’m glad we “met” too, and I’m glad you’re giving yourself more time to do what you love.
We have very similar loves!
I’ve found that making time for the things I love most, FIRST, always makes me happier. For instance, I can get totally caught up with the cleaning and driving and tidying, and never get to writing – this is incredibly frustrating and makes me feel resentful.
But if I put other things off (everyday tasks, email, etc) until after I’ve written an hour….HAPPY! Then I can go on my merry way, humming a song as I pay the bills 🙂
The vacuuming can wait a day, but words on paper? It MUST get done!
We make time for the things that matter the most to us, whether it’s exercise or spirituality or family. We find a way.
Thank you Amy for another dose of affirmation! I’m glad I have you.