What would constitute a satisfying day today? I think just asking the question sets one up for success. We spend a lot of time ruing the things we didn’t get done after the fact, but maybe more intention is what’s in order. How do you want to feel come bedtime? What things do you need to do, what plans do you need to make or break, in order to get there?
— Melissa Kirsch, from “Game Plans” in The Morning (NY Times, Nov 16 2024)
DK Photo. Atlantic Brants arrive at the Cove for a pit stop on their way south. 6:45 a.m. 36° F. November 16, 2024. Cove Island Park. Stamford, CT. More photos from this morning’s sunrise and the time lapse of twilight to sunrise in 18 seconds.
Beautiful😍💓
Agree! Thank you!
Beautiful shots and video, DK. What is your answer to the first question posed?
Well, thank you! So here we go: 1) Morning Walk. 2) 10,000 steps for the day, plus my daily exercises 3) Catch up on my reading. 4) Afternoon nap. 5) Play with Wally. 6) Ice Cream. 7) Cake. 8) To bed early!
👍 Sounds like a great plan!! 🙂
Thanks!
Thanks to God for such a beautiful day and start daily routine.
Yes!
I’m a very simple and basic human.
I found this scribbled in my notes,
“i Know i am happiest when i have lived my entire life in a day
in one day
my entire life in one day
not knowing how or when it will end
all i Know is how and when i would like it to end
and do it all in one day
the first decision of the day is always whats it going to be for dinner
then make it to dinner
clean kitchen floor
read a few pages
bed time
where i come from we say that the soul leaves the body for two reasons
when we die
when we sleep
SO
i am at my happiest when i do it all every day”
You wrote this?
I did. By notes I meant my personal notes
Well then, Bravo!
FYI The quote – which is well chosen btw esp. w/ the pic – is by Melissa Kirsch, not Melissa Clark, according to the original article.
Thank you for correction. Odd that the resources have different names but I appreciate you pointing it out. Have a good weekend.
That’s a good day. But I could short circuit a lot of it by just staying in bed with a good book 🙂
Me too Jim!!!!
This was shared at yoga this morning! You are always so spot on with these introspective reads!
Found myself drawn to “I’ve been trying to ignore the master mental to-do list, to see it for what it is; a secret record of failure, disguised as a high achievers rigorous planning tool….” Oh this was so me (and dare I say Mom’s everywhere)
“It’s a control thing….” Sure.IS.Full Stop!
“How do you want to feel come bedtime…” -Like I’ve impacted this (or someone’s) life for the better. Shouldn’t that be 1 on everyone’s list?
But for now? A satisfying day… is one where I woke up. To try again.
Now there’s a Random Walk!
I didn’t mean it to be random. Sorry.
That one is easy. I feel it has been a good day when I’ve accomplished something positive, or creative. Something productive that does some small bit of good in the world (starting in my own little world). If it’s something creative – great. If it’s something as simple as baking bread – that’s good too. Basically, I want to go through life doing no harm to others and improving life in general for myself and my circle of friends, family, and community. Easy goal to achieve every day.
Gees Anneli. Beautiful. You earned Comment of the Day!
Aw, now you’re going to make me acknowledge that I’m vain enough to like what you said.
Laughing. I will NOT.
Whew! Okay, it will be our little secret. Just you and me and the Internet.
Perfect!
So I’ve been intent on practicing gratitude when I wake up every morning. Just one thing (don’t wanna put too much pressure on myself right now) but something I can carry throughout the day. Now I have a practice for the end of the day. Probably will do it the same way – If I can think of one thing that would be a good place to start. Thanks, as always.
Gratitude. Yes! So important! Thanks for sharing.
I have only two questions a day. When I wake up and before I go to bed.
1. What good can I do today.
2 What good did I do today.
A prayer: Lord, let everything I do begins and ends with you.
No ruing.
Bravo Maria!
Not quite. Only took me 67 years to understand🙄
Better late than never…
at the end of a day, I want to feel that I’ve really lived it. it may mean relaxing into it, getting things done, doing unexpected things, or discovering a tiny miracle.
Now that is a beautiful perspective. Thanks for sharing Beth.
Preach!
A really satisfying day would be one with no plans but lots of nice things happening on their own!
Now that would be a great day!
And your thought reminds me of this:
Almost nothing important that ever happens to you happens because you engineer it. Destiny has no beeper; destiny always leans trenchcoated out of an alley with some sort of Psst that you usually can’t even hear because you’re in such a rush to or from something important you’ve tried to engineer.
— David Foster Wallace, “Infinite Jest”
This is so inline with what I have been thinking and am writing a post as we speak sort of on the subject. Just took a break to try to catch up 😉
so glad Dale!