Did I say I’d come back tomorrow? Oh, well. There’s the first one.
I’m not really that good at blogging every day.
Or exercising every day.
Or meeting those writing goals I’m so fond of making.
Or avoiding butter.
Reading books slowly.
Writing thank you cards.
Waiting 24 hours before spending the paycheck (on frivolities like food and heat).
Staying up past 10 p.m.
Grinning and bearing it.
Being patient.
Staying at the speed limit on the freeway. (In neighborhoods, I rule the 23 mph.)
Changing my own car’s oil.
You know what? I could go on all day about the Good Things I don’t do well. But here’s the thing about that. I am very, very good at beating myself up (emotionally – I’m not coordinated enough to do anything quite as physical as beating myself up for real). But I can make a plan, a goal, of you prefer, to find and revel in the long list of Good Things I’m good at. I can wallow in it for a minute. Then I can just figure one small Good Thing that needs work (at a time), and I can work on it. I can give that one thing my focus for a time, until I’m better at it.
This works. I’m telling you. I could give examples (loads of them) of Good Things I’ve been really, really bad at, and have tried to improve by tiny increments. Now I’m less bad at those Good Things. And that feels good.
So how about we skip all this talk about those Good Things I don’t do. You can guess the rest. But maybe I don’t want to know all the ways you figure I need to improve (at least not just now). I’ve got a thing I’m working on. And when that Good Thing becomes a habit, I’ll pick the next one.
So, for today’s gratitude: I’m seriously grateful for Incremental Improvement.
(8) Comments for this blog
I love this. Most nights when I crawl into bed my mind starts running through a list of all the things I didnt do or should have done. At least in the morning I can get up and make a good effort to work on one of those things. Great post.
I love this. Most nights when I crawl into bed my mind starts running through a list of all the things I didnt do or should have done. At least in the morning I can get up and make a good effort to work on one of those things. Great post.
Me too!!! Especially the exercise part. =p But the effort is worth it, right? Maybe? Okay, I’m with you, I’ll work on it a little at a time until I can get it down. =D
Me too!!! Especially the exercise part. =p But the effort is worth it, right? Maybe? Okay, I’m with you, I’ll work on it a little at a time until I can get it down. =D
I solve the problem with denial and pretend I’m great at everything.
I solve the problem with denial and pretend I’m great at everything.
Incremental Improvement is one of my favouritest things EVER. I’m fond of saying that I don’t need to be perfect, I just need to be better. So doable, so happy-making. Thanks for that reminder – I needed it today.
Incremental Improvement is one of my favouritest things EVER. I’m fond of saying that I don’t need to be perfect, I just need to be better. So doable, so happy-making. Thanks for that reminder – I needed it today.