to you—slice and dice it. One step at a time and the mountain is climbed—now, doesn’t that feel great?
—DEENA PATEL-WINE
I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes.
—SARA TEASDALE
Never rely just on your smartphone or a file on your computer to safely store your mailing addresses, numbers, and email addresses. Just one computer crash or loss of your smartphone can render you helpless if you lack backups, whether to the cloud, a hard copy, or thumb drives in safe remote locations!
—SUZANNA HARWELL
Less Can Truly Be More
You should only have possessions you really love; don’t let your things possess you. I have a neat-looking “outbox” on my front porch that I fill during the week with items I can take to the Reuse Center at my neighborhood recycling location. As the days go by, magazines, extra pots and pans, odd cups and dishes, old electronics, and any things that no longer have a place in my home go there. My partner and I go there at least twice a month, and it simply feels wonderful. The center has a lot of regulars, and we are now recognized as purveyors of 100 percent discount bounty, such as scented candles, barely-worn scarves, office supplies, crockery, and superb magazines, as we are a household of voracious readers. I have seen amazing trades at the Reuse Center, and I witnessed a musician sitting down and playing a free sitar with virtuosity while a family with young children got a sorely needed washing machine and dryer. Moments like this remind me of a novel by the visionary teacher and writer Starhawk; The Fifth Sacred Thing depicts a future where people return to a barter system and live harmoniously in community.
Take only what you need and share anything extra with your own neighbors.
Self-Care: Love Yourself So You Can Love Your Life
Be kind to yourself, too. Make a commitment to yourself to refrain from negative self-talk. Be kind to yourself and focus on the traits you like rather than the ones you don’t. The extremely wise Dawna Markova, the author of some of my favorite books, including I Will Not Die an Unlived Life, says, “Your soul remembers when you put yourself down; it imprints upon you. Never do this. Self-compassion is key to a life well-lived.” How can you take better care of yourself?
You know the feeling too well: you’re worn out. The rope you’re dangling at the end of is frayed and about to snap. But you can’t stop. Your to-do list is longer than the beginnings of that novel you’ve been working on, and every second that ticks by is gone forever. STOP! You’re no good to anyone in this state—not to your boss, your best friends, your family, and most of all yourself.
In high school, I was a bit of an overachiever, wearing myself to the bone to get good grades and participate in every extracurricular activity I could. Overall I enjoyed it, but I remember waking up one morning and having my mother tell me I should stay home from school. I wasn’t really sick, but I was exhausted. I didn’t know what to make of it—most parents would punish their kids for trying to get out of going to school. But her lesson was partly about perspective. If I was sacrificing my health and my sanity for things that were meant to be fulfilling and fun, what was the point? And she knew better than I that some downtime would refresh me, and then I could hit the ground running the next day doing what I loved.
Naps. Walks. Quiet time. Meditation. Breathing. Daydreaming. Baths. A good book. Or maybe best of all, doing nothing. When’s the last time you took a step back and really took a moment for yourself? It’s about time. Here are a few famous quotes as well as some tried-and-true suggestions from ladies like you and me for taking good care of number one.
Slow Down
If you realize too acutely how valuable time is, you are too paralyzed to do anything.
—KATHARINE BUTLER HATHAWAY
To achieve the impossible dream, try going to sleep.
—JOAN KLEMPNER
Like kids, adults need time-outs too, but it’s usually to keep from doing something bad rather than as punishment.
—KATHY FREEMAN
A good rest is half the work.
—PROVERB
Relaxation is an art that has been made very difficult to practice by the conditions of modern civilization.
—ALANIS MORISSETTE
For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.
—LILY TOMLIN
Regardless of your religion, go inside a local church, temple, or synagogue and sit for a half an hour when there is no service happening. Simply sit and enjoy the company of your thoughts, the mellow lighting, and the reflective atmosphere.
—JAY KHAN
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