Yesterday, in my February recap, I mentioned that being two months into the project has given me some insight into the importance of timing and being selective when it comes to my monthly themes. I hadn’t committed to the order I’d be following throughout the year at the outset, but privately, I did pencil out an outline. As I approach the third month, I’ve totally rethought what I was planning for March.
Here are the remaining themes. Since Happiness Boot Camp applies to December and adopting all the goals to date, that one has been omitted.
- Sleep soundly.
- Find peace.
- Eat with intention.
- Be mindful.
- Get clean.
- Spend out.
- Keep it simple.
- Streamline.
- Connect.
In the end, I decided to go with the goal of spending out. I’d initially planned on going down the path of Get Clean or even Eat with Intention, but ultimately, I chose Spend Out because it includes one of the practices I need the most right now.
I don’t know if Spend Out is a phrase that was created by Gretchen Rubin, but my first exposure to the idea came through her. When I googled the phrase, her website was the top suggestion so perhaps it is hers. She wrote about what it means to spend out here.
The vital notion behind spend out is that by spending, I create more gain.
Gretchen Rubin
I’ve been feeling somewhat miserly this year. I feel like I have a lot more to give, but that I’m struggling to let it out. So, in an attempt to loosen up some of what feels stuck, here are the tasks that I’ve adopted for the month.
- Be generous of spirit. This is where I need to tone the most muscle. This is where I feel like I have the most to share, but have been limited in execution. This is cheering others on and lending a helping hand, it’s stepping forward to contribute and believing more wholeheartedly in others.
- Explore volunteer opportunities. I’m not totally convinced that we’re at the point in the pandemic where I am comfortable being in optional places doing optional things, but I’m willing to consider it.
- Set up monthly donations. I have talked about this for almost a year now and still haven’t taken the time to act on it. I know at least one charity I want to contribute to, but will assess whether there are others as well.
- Let things go. Things, yes, but also negative thoughts, imperfections, grudges, misgivings. One of my favourite doctors I’ve ever known once gave me the advice to “hold on tightly, let go lightly” and it wasn’t until a few minutes ago that I realized those were the lyrics to a John Denver song.
- Give things away. Not the same as letting things go, this is actually giving things away – literally in the things that I have, but that could find a better home, but also figuratively in delegation or not taking on the concerns of others when I don’t have to.
I’m really feeling this monthly theme so I’m very much looking forward to the next few weeks.
What do you have in your plans for March?
