I Allow Myself …
A bucket list for every day — not just someday
The big trip, the adventure, the dream — they’ll come when the time is right. And oh, how lovely it is to have something to look forward to.
But what about all the days in between?
Do I really have to wait for something extraordinary to happen before I let myself enjoy life?
Maybe joy isn’t something I have to save for later. Maybe I can be excited about what’s ahead and still enjoy what’s here right now.
Because life doesn’t only happen in the big moments.
So I asked myself:
What would I allow myself today? Tomorrow? The day after?
And then I started writing …
wake up without an alarm
smile before I get out of bed
say thank you when my feet touch the floor
laugh until my stomach hurts (that one’s been a while)
block off an afternoon in my calendar — and actually keep it
pick some flowers just because they make me happy
wear my favorite outfit on an ordinary Tuesday — New Year’s Eve falls on a Tuesday sometimes, too …
make myself a cozy corner — a tidy table, a candle, a pretty picture …
enjoy a croissant and a cappuccino — without feeling guilty. And if it turns into two croissants: pas de problème.
say no without having to explain myself
write a card by hand to someone I’d normally just text (I know, old-school)
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put my phone away for a couple of hours — maybe someday for a whole day
watch the stars in the evening
start a little conversation with a stranger (no flirting! But if it happens … )
sing along out loud — in the car, in the shower, even when I only know half the lyrics
feel the sun on my face and breathe in the fresh air
stay curious — and finally go to a museum again
try something for the first time (no bungee jumping!)
plan something small to be excited about — a coffee date, a new book, a Friday night in
hug someone I love for longer than three seconds
give myself a compliment — and give others one, too
listen to my favorite music and dance — loud enough for the neighbors to wonder what’s going on
set off without a destination — and skip along the way, no matter who’s watching
take a break before I’m exhausted (even when I’m exercising!)
let the little mountain of laundry simply be a little mountain of laundry — it’s not going anywhere
curl up under a blanket and read a book
do something for no reason at all — just for the fun of it
fall into bed at night and think: That was a really good day.
So there it is — my little list for all the days in between.
May they feel just as special as the big trip I’m still looking forward to.
And maybe something on it belongs on yours, too.
Allow yourself.
This story was written for #BeyondClarityOctober. 🍂
