Earlier in the week I felt a bit blah – aimless, untethered from routine, and not particularly motivated to tackle the projects on my to do list.
Some of it was due to grieving our summer plans. We’d arranged a 3 week trip to Turkey, and I’d spent the past week canceling the airbnb accomodations we’d rented.
Cancelling the flights was more of a challenge – hours on the phone, multiple representatives from the airlines and the credit card company whose reward points we’d used to book the flights, lots of frustrating miscommunication.
I was finally able to suddenly overcome the doldrums yesterday. Last night, MotE and I discussed what specific elements made it such a pleasant day together. Here’s what turned out to be our components for a great day:
- Venturing outdoors. I suggested a brief hike after lunch, and everyone was up for it. Fording tadpole-filled streams by balancing our way across fallen logs, reveling in spring flowers bursting lush green vegetation.
- Social time with adults. Friends called to say they were in the neighborhood, asking if they could stop by to say hello from a distance. They pulled up to the curb, we stood on our deck, and the half hour we spent catching up left us all feeling great.
- Shared sense of purpose. In deciding to do a family blog, the kids have rallied around the task with enthusiasm and excitement. Everyone has something to contribute, and the prospect of learning together is leaving us giddy with excitement.
- Gratitude. At dinner, our daughter astutely observed that everyone has been contributing to keep the household running, but that much of the work and effort had been unintentionally overlooked. She suggested that we start dinner by recognizing the work different people have been doing for all of us. This left everyone at the table feeling appreciated by the end of the meal.
I’m going to try to include these elements in our daily routine going forward.
What components help you turn a “meh” day into a great day?