mindful monday : elvis, my muse.

October 17, 2011 in Uncategorized

I've been resting.

And reading.

And enjoying my new orange desk. I may have mentioned that once or eleven times.

I walked around Beaver Lake this morning with my friend, Andrea. It was, as she said, like walking in a postcard.

I ate fruit for breakfast.

I am clearing my head, and my body. More love.

Here is one tool I'm using to clear out, clarify, make simple:

iDoneThis is a simple "here's what I did today" program that I've been using for a month. I love it to pieces. So simple. Respond to an email every day with what you did that day, and it puts that info on a calendar for you. Sometime later, you'll be reminded what you did on October 4 or September 27 and it will ask how you felt that day. There is something so comforting and additive and memory-making about this program. A reminder, a beautiful accumulation of actions and thoughts, a recognition that it is usually the tiny moments that make up a life, not the big events, a way to capture things that might later serve as writing prompts. I hope you might like it too. I find myself noting the simple:

Tue Sep 27 2011

Flew to Chicago.
Got a hair cut.
Had a delicious raw vegan lunch at Karyn's with JD and Lynne.
Worked in O'Hare airport for hours.
Skyped with John and Tess from Gate F12 in O'Hare.
Let people use plugs on my power strip in O'Hare.
Used my iPod to drown out the constantly talking Mr Loud in the plane to Lincoln.
Drove to Hastings, Nebraska.
Ate my traditional baked potato and oriental slaw at Murphy's Wagon Wheel.

Sat Oct 08 2011

Slept late.
Went to the library with John and Tess – and to Kim's Oriental market.
Made Vietnamese coffee for me and John.
Watched John and Tess paint her bookcase bright, beautiful purple.
Ate veggie dumplings.
Put Tess to bed.
Went to bed early.
It felt great to be home.

Clarity, restfulness, remembering.

Your results will differ. And that is fantastic.

(p.s. I never mention programs or products because I'm an affiliate with them and will earn income from mentioning them. Long ago I decided not to say yes to any of the many people and companies who offer affiliate links to me–if you see something featured here, it is simply because I love it. No ads, no affiliate links. That's outside my intention with 37days.)

About Patti Digh

Patti Digh is an author, speaker, and educator who builds learning communities and gets to the heart of difficult topics. Her work over the last three decades has focused on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and living and working mindfully. She has developed diversity strategies and educational programming for major nonprofit and corporate organizations and has been a featured speaker at many national and international conferences.

7 comments to " mindful monday : elvis, my muse. "


KimMailhot

October 17, 2011 AT 12:57PM

Took a walk this morning, around the neighborhood with a friend – my dog, Chica. It was like a million postcards. Helps put you in the now so well, doesn’t it ?
Happy Monday, Beautiful Writer-Lady !

Harry Hamel

October 17, 2011 AT 2:07PM

Cool idea. A “Have Done” list is better than the typical “To Do” guilt-inducing reminder of what one meant to do but didn’t. Instead, today?

“Drank hot tea.”
“Sat at the Blue Moon and watched people while pretending to grade papers.”
“Wandered home for a nap on our one-day fall break.”
“Chased threatening squirrel out of backyard.”

Much better.

winsomebella

October 17, 2011 AT 7:47PM

Love your words and ideas and will use them to inspire me as I sit at my gorgeous red desk.

Sally

October 18, 2011 AT 11:26AM

Ooooh. It’s an iPhone app!

Whitney Till

October 19, 2011 AT 11:08AM

OMG Patti!! I used to waitress at Murphy’s Wagon Wheel in College!!!!! I had a lot of fun there before I graduated from Hastings College in 2002.

I recently got turned onto your webpage via your piece in the World’s Biggest Summit. I love it when my online sources of inspiration become more personal (it was already relevant and believable!)

Glenda Watson Hyatt

October 20, 2011 AT 8:16PM

Intriguing idea. Likely more rewarding and satisfying than to-do lists that feel so heavy at times. Thank you for sharing.

lauren

November 3, 2011 AT 11:14PM

Really like this idea, sometimes when I get overwhelmed or too tired to sit and write in my journal for a long period of time, if Ive got out of the habbit of it it, I limit myself to one single sided page of my journal to write about my day- makes you simplify and really reflect on what you did that day, will give idonethis a try!!