So, what do you do if you're experiencing uncharacteristic ambivalence, detail-overwhelm, or ennui? I thought you'd never ask. (In fact, several of you did ask; you read last week's missive and more-or-less responded, All right, Helen, aren't you supposed to be in the business of transformation? Why, yes. Yes, I am.) If you're looking to transform those February doldrums, here's where I recommend starting:
CAN'T DECIDE? Then it probably doesn't matter what you choose. This sounds dismissive, I'm sure, but it's true. If you find yourself inexorably torn between two things (in my case, getting the pixie cut versus leaving my hair as is), and neither option is revealing itself to be even slightly better than the other, then your choices are equal. You might as well flip a coin. A decision, any decision, will always feel better than waffling. (I get my hair cut Thursday. Boom.)
OVERWHELMED BY BEING HUMAN? This is no time for creativity. Routinize! Rachel has long inspired me by doing a bang-up job of meal-planning (these days, she's even experimenting with a month-at-a-time approach), so, when I find myself vexed by mealtime, I decide that a schedule of basics is a-okay. Monday is breakfast-for-dinner, Tuesday is tacos, Wednesday is curry, Thursday is sandwiches, Friday is dine-out—and you get the idea. Oftentimes, I think we seek permission to turn on autopilot and cut corners during our tough weeks. Consider this your go-ahead.
TEDIUM GOT YOU DOWN? My Love Interest pointed out that, as adults, we encounter many fewer opportunities for 'firsts' in life than when we were kids. I think my last, truly new undertaking was learning to drive stick back in December. So, to mix things up a bit, I've started considering activities I've never done and experiences I've never had. My plan? Complete a 'first' every month to add to my curiosity vitae (I just made up that phrase—feel free to use it!). Thanks to the leap year, we have a full seven days left in February, the month everyone seems to agree is hateful. A week is plenty of time to conquer a 'first'. What about you? Are you up for it? Hit 'reply' and tell me what new-to-you thing you'll do before March. I'll hold you accountable.
Take heart, you're on the right track. (I say this as much to myself as to you.)
'Til soon,
Helen
Notes from the week of February 14
DISCOVERED
+ salads that work well for winter (fresh inspiration for the season when my salad game is pretty weak)
ADMIRED
+ 50 ways to say "good job" (though I'm not yet a parent, I do like to know how to interact with children in meaningful ways)
MEALS EATEN, DRINKS DRUNK
+ frozen lasagna
+ passionfruit (my first one)
INTERESTED IN
+ hand lettering
+ learning how to use watercolors
LISTENED & NODDED MY HEAD
+ "Emotion gets the first crack of making sense of what happens" (The Lively Show has swiftly become my favorite podcast, esp. the above episode with Brené Brown)
LOCAL COLOR EXPERIENCED
+ in speaking with a native Texan this weekend, I quickly picked up a bit of her southern drawl and felt equal parts phony and lovely
FRIENDS MADE
+ Kayla, the mother of the tantrum-throwing four-year-old across the street (finally!)
+ Kipper, the tantrum-throwing four-year-old
+ Zeke, the baby