Bird by Bird

Turns out this "I don't know if I can (fill in the blank with activity), but I know I can (fill in the blank with what you are pretty sure you can do) works pretty darn well.
Example: Yoga class.
"I don't know if I can hold this pose for much longer, but I think I can do it for 3 more seconds." Breathe.
Or at home, land of SO MUCH TO DO THE DUST BUNNIES CAN CONSUME YOU IF YOU LET THEM.,
"I definitely don't have it in me to clean the whole house tonight, but I can pick up and order things for 15 minutes." Set timer.
Anne Lamontt wrote a great book called Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. The title comes from someone feeling overwhelmed about how to describe in an essay an amazing day spent amongst hundreds of birds. The advice was to just start, and describe them bird by bird.
Some of the best advice I ever read- and put into practice.

Return of the Prodigal Runner

Today I was running and my guides told me: A perfect day is not one in which everything happens precisely in the way you think is perfect. Perfect exercise, perfect food consumption, perfect productivity, etc. A perfect day is just being still and non judgemental of perceived imperfections, showing up and doing your best. Whatever that might be for the day. One step in front of the other, bit by bit.
I pondered that as I ran, and was amazed at how directly it translated into my run. I didn't know if I could run a half hour (it had been a loooooooonnnng time since my days of running regularly) so I said at 5 minute intervals "I don't know if I can do 30 minutes today, but I know I can do the next 5." On and on this went... 5 minutes at a time, until I had reached 30 minutes! I felt great to be out there, doing my best for today, and while there are some grandmas who power walk faster than my best, my best is between me and me.
One foot in front of the other, moving forward.

Garden Party

My friend Marci took this picture in Florence. We staged it for a friend who is starting a type of bed and breakfast. We had a blast digging through the china closets in this old villa to get just the right look. Isn't it lovely? I loved the burst of creativity!