One of Those Weeks-And Why it Still Counts

Well, it’s been one of those weeks!

There was a lot going on, and I got off my game in every sense of the word. I know that’s just life, but I'm always amazed how quickly a fall can happen—and yet getting back up always seems to take so much longer. So, I thought this would be a good opportunity to focus on those tiny movements forward that James Clear talks about. Even though it was an “off” week, maybe it’s not as bad as it feels.

From the bookshelf

This week I finished Cal Newport’s Slow Productivity. His work focuses on three core principles for getting more done:

• Doing fewer things

• Working at a natural pace

• Obsessing over quality

A quote from a 2010 interview with Pulitzer Prize winner John McPhee really stood out to me:

“And if somebody says to me, ‘You’re a prolific writer’—it seems so odd…. On a certain scale, it does look like I do a lot. But that’s my day, all day long, sitting there wondering when I’m going to be able to get started. And the routine of doing this six days a week puts a little drop in a bucket each day, and that’s the key. Because if you put a drop in a bucket every day, after three hundred and sixty-five days, the bucket’s going to have some water in it.”

Love that. It dovetails nicely with the philosophy of James Clear that we’ve been talking about. Here’s to putting a drop in the bucket today.

A good purchase

Merit Beauty’s The Minimalist foundation stick — link here.

I’ve noticed a big change in how my skin looks with foundation. The one that looked fabulous on me for my oldest daughter’s wedding in 2022 made me look a lot older for my younger daughter’s wedding last year (haha—and not just two years older!). While the idea that “less is more” can feel counterintuitive, wearing less makeup as I get older has definitely been the way to go.

Instead of applying a full face of foundation, I use this only on my T-zone. I love how blendable it is and how natural it looks. With a bit of finishing powder, it wears beautifully. There’s a wide selection of shades, and I got it right on the first try. I also love how easy it is to travel with—no worries about spills in my carry-on.

Working on Style Self-Trust

Last month we talked about Kristen Cain’s Style Self-Trust—that is, the confidence we have in our style decisions and how perfectionism and self-limiting beliefs can get in the way. I’ve been practicing taking a step back and listening to the thoughts that swirl around in my head when I’m getting dressed, especially for church (for some reason, that’s never a straightforward event!).

Today, for the first time in I-don’t-know-how-long, I went with my first choice. I didn't allow myself any second-guessing. I survived—and actually, I more than survived. I enjoyed what I was wearing.

Thinking ahead

I was asked recently if I had my cold-weather clothes out—and I do! I still have a pile to try on and a few decisions to make, but I’m in a good place. I just need to keep going.

I’ve been thinking about creating some kind of inventory system to help me keep track of wish lists and shopping lists. I’d love to share that here soon. Stay tuned!

So, although I didn’t seem to move the needle much this past week, it’s been encouraging to look back and count my blessings. Even when our efforts feel small—just a drop in the bucket—each and every one of them counts. I hope you will find that to be true as well.