This New Year’s Day finds me physically not feeling well, so, it is not quite the start I had hoped for, but in some ways, it turned out to be better than I expected. At first, I thought I was just tired from staying up late last night welcoming the new year, but as the day wore on, the aches and fatigue intensified, and I realized that I am under the weather, so, I stayed under the covers. It feels like a mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual detox from the holidays and recent painful events, so, I am reframing it in a more positive light. I am hoping that when I wake up in the morning that I can shake off both the covers and this illness, but tonight, I am relaxing.
As I sat down to write today’s post about what I did to help myself and others, at first, I thought I would have to write that I had not been able to do anything for myself and/or anyone else today. I felt like I had let myself and others down. Then, I revisited the whole purpose of this blog, which is to do just one thing, no matter how big or how small, to make life more positive for myself and for at least one other person. Sometimes, I over think this and believe that I have to come up with something grand or exceptionally creative on a daily basis for it to matter, when the reality is that I just have to show up each day and do even the simplest of things, as no act of kindness is too small. I also realized that sometimes I feel guilty if it seems like I was kinder to myself than I was to others on any given day. While I would like to have a perfect balance between helping others and myself every day, that is not always possible. I still am learning that being good to myself is every bit as important as it to be kind to others.
The most important thing I did for myself today was to do absolutely nothing at all other than to focus on feeling better. I snuggled up on the couch under one of my favorite blankets and just took it easy, and I put aside the tasks I had planned on doing today, as I will attend to them when I am well again. I also found that when the negative thoughts and anxiety began to creep in that I did a much better job in being able to acknowledge them without giving into them, and that seemed to help lessen their effect. I may not have done anything I set out to do today, but I still managed to make more progress to heal my body, mind, heart, and baby soul. When I look at it from that perspective, I did a great deal for myself today, and I am proud of that.
As for what I did for others, I continued to tell some of the people closest to me ‘thank you’ and ‘I love you’, along with wishing them a very happy new year. Too often, I focus on whose love and acceptance I do not have, rather than appreciating the love and acceptance I do have. I already am open with my feelings, but this year, I want to focus on letting more of those close to me know how much I love and appreciate them and spend less time on those who do not reciprocate my feelings and affection.
While the year is off to a different start than I had envisioned, the important thing is that the new year got started, and, so did I. I began writing this particular blog one month ago today, and I will get up tomorrow and continue doing my best to be kind. That’s all I ever can do, which is good enough. Happy 2013!
Just one thing each day . . .
Categories: Just One Thing Each Day
That's Another Story 
Thanks for sharing — your account of your day sounds very similar to mine in that be both have to focus on similar, seemingly ‘simple’ things.While it sounds cheesy, to develop an attitude of gratitude”. 🙂
http://www.jacksdavie.wordpress.com
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Jackie, thanks so much for taking the time to read this and for commenting on this post. I tend to overlook the simple things, when it is the simple things that mean the most. Happy New Year!
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