Day of Hope #141 - Friday September 13, 2024
Goal: Slow down, appreciate everything I've accomplished, and intentionally plan for the life I want to create in 2025.
Quote: “It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?” – Henry David Thoreau
A Morning Filled With Gratitude
Today was my Day of Hope, and I started it in one of my favorite ways. Lying in bed doing absolutely nothing.
I woke up around 8:00 a.m., but I wasn't ready to get out of my nice, comfortable bed. So I didn't. I just lay there thinking. Thinking about my life. My family. My health. My accomplishments. And all the wonderful things that had happened so far in 2024.
I had published my book, A Day of Hope. I had been doing book signings and meeting incredible people. I had traveled to London and Paris. I was continuing to build Hopes Highways. And I had so many exciting things happening in my life. I couldn't help smiling.
Sometimes I get so focused on what I'm working toward that I forget to stop and appreciate how far I've already come. But not today. Today, I wanted to enjoy that feeling.
I was grateful for the life I had created and excited about the life I was still building.
No Rush. I Have All Day.
Eventually, I got out of bed, got dressed, and did some exercise. Then I headed to Starbucks for my tea. I took my time. No rushing. No worrying about what time it was. I even stopped to get my car cleaned inside and out. There's something wonderful about getting into a freshly cleaned car. It just makes me happy.
Once I got home, I was ready to spend some time working on my goals for 2025. Yes, I know. Working on goals during my Day of Hope? But here's the thing. I actually love doing this. I love dreaming about the future, creating plans, and figuring out how to turn my ideas into reality. For me, that can be just as enjoyable as spending an afternoon at the spa.
A Day of Hope isn't always about doing nothing. Sometimes it's about doing something you genuinely love. And today, I wanted to dream a little.
The Universe Says, “Do Less!”
Before getting started, I listened to my meditation for the day. The message was simple. Do less. Relax. Slow down. Stop feeling like you have to rush through everything. I loved that. I reminded myself that I had the entire day. I didn't need to hurry. I could take my time and enjoy the process. So I sat down at my desk, opened my computer, and got ready to work on my goals.
And then... BANG! BANG! BANG! Sawing. Hammering. Machines beeping as they backed up. Oh, good grief! There was construction happening right outside my townhouse.
They were building a new firehouse, and apparently today was a great day to make as much noise as possible. Now, don't get me wrong. I think it's wonderful that we're getting a new fire station. And you know what makes it even better? It's Firehouse 13! Of course it is. Ha!
But as much as I love the number 13, I was getting a little tired of listening to all the construction. So I closed my computer and moved to the living room. Surely I could get some peace and quiet there.
Are You Kidding Me?
I settled onto the couch, ready to begin again. And then... More sawing. More hammering. Seriously? Apparently, someone was having their patio wall replaced. Right outside. On my Day of Hope. I couldn't believe it.
I had moved away from one construction project only to find myself listening to another. I had to laugh. Here I was trying to follow a meditation about doing less, and the universe seemed determined to make sure I wasn't going to get much done!
But then I remembered something. I wasn't in a hurry. I had all day. So instead of getting frustrated, I decided to do something else until the noise stopped. Sometimes the best way to enjoy your day is to stop fighting what's happening around you.
A Little Organizing Before My Next Chapter
Since I had an upcoming move, I decided to spend some time organizing and packing. I cleaned out parts of my office. Did some laundry. Sorted through things I needed to keep, pack, or get rid of.
And you know what? It felt great. I was preparing for another change in my life, and getting organized helped me feel ready for what was coming.
Sometimes clearing out a physical space helps clear out some mental space, too. I wasn't rushing. I wasn't trying to finish everything. I was simply taking care of a few things that would make life easier later. And eventually, the construction noise stopped. Finally!
Popcorn, Movies, and a Little Inspiration
With the house quiet again, I decided to take another break. I made myself some popcorn and watched The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. I have always enjoyed the message about being intentional with your thoughts, focusing on what you want, and believing in possibilities. It was the perfect movie to watch before planning my goals for the coming year.
Then I watched a Hallmark movie. Because, of course, I did. Ha! I love my Hallmark movies. By the time I finished relaxing, I felt refreshed and ready to focus. Now it was time to start planning 2025.
My 13-and-13 Goal-Setting Process
Every year, I take time to think about what I want my life to look like in the coming year. And naturally, my process involves the number 13. Would you expect anything else?
I start by writing down two lists. 13 things I want to accomplish. These are new goals, experiences, projects, or changes I want to make. Then I write down: 13 things I already have that I want to keep or enhance.
I love this second list because it's so easy to focus on what we don't have. What we want to change. What we want to improve. What we still need to accomplish. But what about all the wonderful things we already have? Our relationships. Our health. Our homes. Our routines. Our friendships. The things we've worked hard to create.
I don't want to spend so much time chasing something new that I forget to appreciate and protect what's already good in my life. So I make room for both.
Creating something new and appreciating what I already have. Watch Out for the Hope Stealers!
Once I have my lists, I move on to something I call my Hope Stealers. These are the things that might get in the way of accomplishing my goals. Excuses. Distractions. Fear. Other people's expectations. Unexpected responsibilities. Or simply falling back into old habits.
I try to identify those obstacles before they show up. Because if I already know what might derail me, I can make a plan for how to handle it. I don't want to wait until something gets in my way and then decide my goal is impossible. I want to be prepared.
The goal is to recognize the Hope Stealers before they steal my hope! And if I can squash a few of them before they even get started? Even better.
Turning Dreams Into a Plan
After identifying my goals and potential obstacles, I start breaking everything down. First, I divide my goals into quarters. Then months. Then weeks. By the time I'm finished, I have a detailed plan showing what I need to work on each week to move toward my goals for the year. It takes time. But I love this process.
It helps me turn those big dreams into manageable steps. Instead of looking at a goal and thinking, How in the world am I going to accomplish that? I can look at my weekly plan and think: Okay. This is what I need to do next.
One step at a time. One week at a time. And before I know it, those small steps begin adding up. It's a process that has worked well for me over the years. And I love having a clear direction for where I want to go. Of course, life doesn't always follow the plan. Just ask the construction workers outside my house! Ha!
But having a plan gives me something to work toward while still allowing room for a few detours along the way.
A Productive Day That Still Felt Relaxing
By the time I finished, I had completed my goals and plans for 2025. I was so excited! What had started as a noisy, interrupted afternoon had turned into a wonderful day. I had slept in. Enjoyed my tea. Gotten my car cleaned. Organized some things for my upcoming move. Watched a couple of movies. And completed my entire goal-setting process for the coming year.
All without rushing. All without feeling pressured. And all because I had given myself permission to take my time. To finish the evening, I treated myself to a wonderful bath that lasted more than an hour. Then I headed to bed early. Relaxed. Grateful. And excited about the future. What a great Day of Hope!
You Can Slow Down and Still Move Forward. You don't have to rush to make progress. And you don't have to fill every moment to make a day worthwhile. I was proud of everything I had accomplished in 2024. And now I had a plan for 2025. But most importantly, I had enjoyed the process of creating it.
My Lesson of Hope: Take time to appreciate what you've already accomplished before rushing toward the next goal. Dream about the future, make a plan, and identify the Hope Stealers that might get in your way. But remember that life will always bring interruptions and unexpected detours. You don't have to fight every one of them. Be flexible, enjoy the journey, and trust that small, intentional steps can lead to wonderful things. You have time. You don't have to do everything today.
