“I cannot think of a single advantage I’ve ever gained from being in a hurry. . . Through all that time I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away.”
(Buchanan, 2007, p. 45, emphasis added)
Yesterday I was in a hurry, buzzed. Reclining on the plum-colored couch at the end of the day with my two kiddos–one two-years-old, the other seven months–I just couldn’t turn off the fast pace. My body sat still, thoughts still sprinting.
“I wonder if anyone will come to the gratitude party. . . I am so excited. . . what if someone doesn’t know how to subscribe. . . maybe this was just a stupid idea. . . why am I doing this again?”
Funny how sending invitations to a virtual 30-day gratitude party had thrown me into exactly the mindset I’m trying to shift: striving and evaluating. I am forever trying to maximize my time, and in this tight hold, I sense I’m killing it.
Time is a funny thing; it only enlarges when we slow down.
Time is a funny thing; it only enlarges when we slow down.
The world tells us to schedule time like mad, treat time like a slave. In that case when my daughter woke up during my scheduled writing time early this morning, I should have marched her right back to bed in spite of her tuft of blonde hair and cute lil’ tired face. But–and I so want to learn this–there is enough time for what is needed. So instead of pointing my dictator finger back to her toddler-size bedroom, I waved her over to cuddle under our fuzzy red blanket.
This 30-day challenge is not one more thing to do, another task on an already long list. Instead it’s a lens to look through, a red blanket over every moment in the next 30-days leading up to Thanksgiving.
Each day I will post a short piece. I’m a teacher, so some will be teacher-y. I hope some will make you laugh, but all will call us to action, to work out our gratitude muscles. So, here’s day 1! Cheers to us getting all buff and stuff.
Day 1 Challenge:
- Get a dedicated notebook or start a list on your phone/computer. This works best if it’s easily accessible through your day. When gratitude strikes–and it will–jot it down. I bought a little $.99 composition book, labeled it “thanks” and added a goofy sticker (Charli has already scribbled on it). The goal with this list is to notice moments of gratitude each day for the next 30, both at work and at home.
- Choice 1) Note 3 Things Each Day (Totally Awesome)
- Choice 2) Join me in Ann Voskamp‘s epic challenge to notice 1,000 gifts this month. (Yikes. . . that’s like 33.3 a day. . . God better show up. . . Just what is .3 gratitudes?)
#7 Little blondie under a red quilt, warm cheek against mine.
*To enter yourself TO WIN A FREE PIE, post one of your gratitudes in the comments below. The bakery pie will be mailed to your address. p.s. Sara Meyer. . . only one entry per person. 🙂
Evi Wusk 
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