Before I go to sleep at night, I turn the lights out, settle in just so, put my trusty sleep mask on, take a deep breath of the lavender I've sprinkled on my pillow, and reflect on my day.
Did I survive? At the basest level, I define every day by me still being there at the end of it. No matter what happened, even if it was awful, it's over. I can take the sleep cure and wake up to a brand new chance. In that sense, every day truly is a good day.
Was I grateful? Every day, not just on bad days and near Thanksgiving. It is not happy people who are thankful. It is thankful people who are happy. There is always something for which to be grateful.
Was I productive? Did I cross most things off the to do list? If not, did I at least take care of the important items? Did I work hard at work? If I didn't, chances are I won't sleep soundly that night.
How did I treat others? I can totally be a snarky asshole with my BFFs and tell it like it is, which is sometimes not a nice way to be. I need to balance that by being kind to people where I can. Did I help anyone today? Was I open to offering some supportive or encouraging words to someone who needed them?
Was there laughter? There has to be laughter. Every day, even in situations that aren't funny. I can't get by without it. If I feel like I haven't laughed enough, I'll think of something that always makes me laugh so I can get it in.
Was there time to just be? Was there time when I wasn't working, doing, reading, looking at my phone, cooking, cleaning, exercising, driving? That's not to say I don't do some of my best thinking during those activities...but to me, just being implies stillness. Just being lets my mind wander where it will, glossing over things and snagging on others. Out of all the ways to define a day, this one is most crucial to refueling. Time spent just being, sitting outside and watching the sky go by, thinking of everything or nothing, is time well spent no matter how busy the day was.
What are some ways you define a day?
Was I productive? Did I cross most things off the to do list? If not, did I at least take care of the important items? Did I work hard at work? If I didn't, chances are I won't sleep soundly that night.
How did I treat others? I can totally be a snarky asshole with my BFFs and tell it like it is, which is sometimes not a nice way to be. I need to balance that by being kind to people where I can. Did I help anyone today? Was I open to offering some supportive or encouraging words to someone who needed them?
Was there laughter? There has to be laughter. Every day, even in situations that aren't funny. I can't get by without it. If I feel like I haven't laughed enough, I'll think of something that always makes me laugh so I can get it in.
Was there time to just be? Was there time when I wasn't working, doing, reading, looking at my phone, cooking, cleaning, exercising, driving? That's not to say I don't do some of my best thinking during those activities...but to me, just being implies stillness. Just being lets my mind wander where it will, glossing over things and snagging on others. Out of all the ways to define a day, this one is most crucial to refueling. Time spent just being, sitting outside and watching the sky go by, thinking of everything or nothing, is time well spent no matter how busy the day was.
What are some ways you define a day?
Did I survive? Some weeks are like that, for sure. But here we are, on a sunny Friday. Life is good. Have a great weekend! :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree there has to be daily laughter. I define my day by did I accomplish something. I need to work on the stillness however I while I walk in the woods that could count as it is with nature. As long as I am not screaming at a dog.
ReplyDeletetotally agree on the laughter errday. bitches take things too seriously! some folks at work (i work at a big Telco company) were getting their panties all in a twist and getting angry when i said GUYS: IT'S JUST TV. IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE SOLVING WORLD HUNGER. if i were typing, i would've added #firstworldproblems. they actually laughed at what i said which diffused the situation and we went on about our business.
ReplyDeleteLaughing everyday is essential, even on days when we are just surviving. The stillness for me is like breathing, I crave it. Even if it is just before bed or while walking the dog.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree about the laughter...and as I get older I feel like I need it even more. There's nothing better than crawling into bed at night feeling like it was a great, productive day.
ReplyDeleteLove all of it. Grateful is so important and important to convey to the people in my life. When things are amiss and seem to upset our apple carts, something pops up that reminds me/us, that this, too, shall pass and all of the 50 million blessings that we have in our lives. Love starting my day with thanks and ending my day with reflections and thanks like the above. Laughter is really the best medicine.
ReplyDeleteMy days were way more productive for many years than they are now and I am fine with it. Content, happy, fine with my life now. It's the best.
Happy pre-weekend day to all.
Love your MOMMA
Great list, especially the laughter! Even if I have an awful day, I always try to find one good thing. It can change your whole outlook!
ReplyDeleteI'm really bad at taking time to do nothing. I need to work on that because it is nice just to have five minutes a day with no distractions or a phone in my face or whatever. I like to see how I was productive at the end of the day, and lately, how I acted not like myself in a good way. Where was I more mature than I wanted to be, or where did I hold back when I wanted to say something a little too honest? I think reflecting on what I'm working on will only make me better.
ReplyDeleteCheer to being positive! And to Friday! I hope you survive today :)
ReplyDeleteSo you know recently I've been reading/studying the science part of happiness and of course trying to put some of those things into practice. Gratitude is one of the top things on the list that bring joy and happiness, so I've been trying to practice daily gratitude in my own way.
ReplyDeleteI need to do better at being productive, I'm a horrible procrastinator!
I'm not gonna lie, when I started reading this post I was humming rent "525,6000 minutes... how do you measure, measure a year"/ I definitely reflect on my day by how the day felt.
ReplyDeleteThis is so perfect!!! These are going to be the questions I ask myself everyday - including Did I Have fun!? Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!
ReplyDeleteLaughter is definitely a must. This is one of my favorite posts I have read from you. Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteSleep Cure!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great way to reflect. I think we all just need to learn to take things day by day. A bad day always ends when we sleep!
ReplyDeleteI've never really thought too deeply about it. But I guess at the end of the day I look back and see if I got everything I needed to be done on my mental checklist.
ReplyDeleteI define them good, bad, and indifferent. If I've worked hard, then I'll hit the pillow with my eyes shut. If I have worries, I'll be up all night. I need more time to just BE!
ReplyDeleteYes, end every day thankful. No matter what kind of day it is... Happy Friday!!
ReplyDeleteyeah i need to start thinking these things. especially #1. nothing else matters if you aren't alive.
ReplyDeleteI love this list, it's a great way to put a day into perspective. Thank you for sharing, I'm going to start asking myself these questions!
ReplyDeleteAs always, another fantastic post. Someimes I'm only able to get to the first question, but this is such a good way to reflect on your day. Laughter and having something to be grateful for are obvious musts in my book.
ReplyDeleteI like this. Laughter is very important.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend!
Such an awesome way to define a day. :) I definitely make sure to laugh everyday. Luckily, my students are always saying crazy things that have my cracking up during class.
ReplyDelete"Did I survive" :) What a great way to look at your day and reflection. I think I focus a lot on what I "accomplished", I should throw some other criteria in there :)
ReplyDelete"It is not happy people who are thankful. It is thankful people who are happy." - What a beautiful thought!! And it is so true - I just love it!!
ReplyDeleteIt is Saturday morning here and I am looking forward to spending some time outside!! It is great to be alive!!
Have a great weekend!!
Constance - http://foreignsanctuary.wordpress.com/
I REALLY needed this yesterday. I'll try and do better going forward... I love this though!
ReplyDeleteI think these are great questions, esp how you treat others and was I productive. I ask myself that daily; I also monitor my mood and habits - so I tend to ask myself "was I more moody than normal?" and "did I rest enough today?" - I have to keep on the lookout for PMS and imbalances in my sleep, lol. :) Have a great weekend Stephanie! -Iva
ReplyDelete"It is not happy people who are thankful. It is thankful people who are happy." So wise, SMD... so, so wise! :)
ReplyDeleteGratefulness and laughter ... thats how I measure a good day!
ReplyDelete