Saturday, January 4

new habits

There are years, said Zora Neale Hurston, that ask questions and years answer. In 2014, I intend to find my way into some answers, and to begin, these three new habits:






:: spend 15 minutes outside everyday ::

Already this has made a huge shift in my days, in the way it feels to be in my body. Either in the last cold minutes of light around sunset, or going out for hikes as a family, I've made a point to step outside each day. Most often with this sweet boy, who delights so much on being outside, who wants nothing more than to play, no matter the weather. I have so much to learn from him.






Filling the dog's dish, taking a sock to the hamper, checking a phone message: so many little nagging tasks that are so small they're almost too easy to ignore. One of the ways I want to show up for my life is by not ignoring the seemingly insignificant little things, but instead to tend, right away, to what is in front of me, and thus prevent the small nagging tasks from turning into an insurmountable pile.



Whether it's blogging or doing some timed writing exercise, every day, I want to write for ten minutes, outside of the clear-my-head morning-pages style of journaling that I do daily. This year I want to focus on writing as craft, and this is my commitment to that process.


What are some of the small things you're doing to change your life in a big way? I'm really curious to know.




Playing along with Amanda at Write Alm--January Prompt-A-Day



6 comments:

  1. these are all good. i have to get out of the confines of four walls every single day. even if it's pouring down and i'm only taking the trash out, i'll linger, breathe, have a moment of quiet.

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  2. Trying the Prompt-A-Day as well...makes you think!

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  3. Such a doable list! I find when I am outside I feel so much better and happier :)

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  4. I'm trying to do something creative every day. Blog post, paint in the journal, gathering things for Project Life, just something.

    If I complain, I immediately have to think of something for which I'm grateful. I've fallen into the habit of being a little Bitter Betty and it has to stop. I need to retrain my thinking.

    I'm totally stealing the "under a minute"! That is brilliant.

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  5. So loving this post....and I know that 'if it takes less than a minute, do it right away' is going to stick in my thoughts!

    One of the new habits I'm making space for lately is to sing every day. Even just singing along with one song. Music used to be my creative outlet, but since photography took over in that area....I barely ever sing (like....for many years now) and I feel like I've closed off that part of myself!

    Thanks so much for this post and your blog is so lovely!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Vivienne! Such an honor really! And oh yes I do love singing. Doesn't it feel so great to allow our bodies to do what they love? Singing, which is breathing, is a potent emergency practice in this mama's life.

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Thanks for stopping by for a chat! I read and appreciate every comment.