Light for the Week of February 7, 2010
I once remember a former boss saying, “The only consistent thing in life is change.” Twenty years later, I have a deeper understanding of what she meant.
The biggest change for me right now is my absolute commitment to doing only what makes me feel good. So there are some things I thought I’d be doing that I’m choosing not to pursue.
What I am doing is working on my third novel. I’m selling my house because I want to live in an apartment overlooking Tampa Bay. I’ve approached a literary agent who I feel would make a great partner and expect to sell the work I’ve done over the last few years.
I’m also writing for the Lazy Days RV center and learning lots of interesting things and meeting the most fantastic people. I invite you to check out their site at www.betterRVing.com.
As of next week, I’m returning to the old blog format, so you’ll see the new blog immediately when you arrive. For now, it’s below. Thank you for letting me share my thoughts and experiences with you. I look forward to hearing about yours.
staci
The Significance of Insignificant
For years, I struggled to find the discipline to wash my face every night before bed. I know it may sound silly, but it’s been one of the tiny battles in my life – the kind that don’t require the general and all the troops, but one that has consistently redirected energy without my awareness.
When I’m in the groove, there is no doubt how much I love the feeling of a steaming hot washcloth laid over my face and the fresh smell of facial cleanser. It is a symbolic “wiping away” of the day and allows me to retire for the evening feeling good because the last thing I did was take care of me.
There always seems to come a night, however, when I say I’m too tired and convince myself that missing one time won’t matter. But it does. Because somehow, one night turns into two, then seven, and before I know it, I’m back in the middle of the struggle wondering how I let it happen . . . again.
Recently, something shifted and for several months now, I’ve washed my face every night. When I didn’t want to or felt too tired, I reminded myself how good it felt to crawl into bed knowing I’d taken the time to do something that made me feel so good. I didn’t give myself any “outs.”
It wasn’t long before something interesting began to happen. In the mornings, I noticed that regardless of how I slept, no matter what happened the day before or what I was facing next, I smiled – because I knew that I had taken five tiny minutes to feel good and nothing could ever take that away from me.
What continues to amaze me is how this relatively minor decision turned out to be the linchpin that created enormous change in my life. Changes that were waiting to happen, but required me to turn around and walk confidently in the direction of what I wanted.
They say that change happens in an instant. It’s resistance to change that takes a lifetime. Who knew that keeping the commitment to wash my face each night would gradually erase the resistance that has prevented the change?