Doing You in 2025

"Doing You in 2025", is clearly a line I heard somewhere. I had a bit of trouble deciding what "Doing You" meant and how does one make that happen. I googled it and pulled together some ideas to share. Some you will say, "I'm going to do that", or "I already do that" or "are you kidding me".   

1. In the morning, find something that will center you and set the intention for the day. Determining how you want your day to unfold is helpful in making it happen. When I have my game on, I use tried and true practices that I have from the past. Knowing what I am going to eat that day centers me. I am a person that loves to clean out the fridge or purge the freezer. I can make something out of nothing, just so I don't have to go to the store. For me setting an intention is to know what I have to do that day. The things that I need for those activities are on the table ready to go out the door. I plan three tasks for the day, and I close it out with something that is going to bring me joy.   

2. Have no expectations. The biggest disappointments come from expecting something from another person that they are unable to do. Make sure you extend no expectations to yourself. You can only do so much and expect so much of yourself. 

3. Listen more and judge less. It takes work to be a good listener. When you listen intently, you don't speak or interrupt. That is the only way you will get the whole story. The whole story will help you to understand the situation and lessens the chance to judge. As we know it is very easy to form an opinion and shall I say, "judge". 

4. Determine a personal mantra. Choose a mantra that resonates with you and repeat it to yourself. As you know I am a big mantra person, and I always have one handy for when I need it. It is often, "you can do this".

5. Eat well. Years ago, I adopted the idea of shopping only on the outside of a grocery store. I still shop like that with the exception of baking items. It works great. The sale items are on the ends of the rows. The fresh items such as produce, meat, eggs and milk circle the outside. I'm in and out in no time. I know I eat better when I have vegetables and fruit cut up into serving sizes. I love leftovers and I have no problem eating the same thing over and over again.

6. Stop complaining. Be mindful of what you love and less on what you loathe. It will bring abundance into your life. We all know the people that have nothing good to say, they are difficult to be around. It is suggested to either fix the problem or stop talking about it. 

7. Show appreciation. Who is your support system or your village. That quick thank you text, email or call goes a long way. Checking in on a friend shows them you appreciate their friendship. Think about taking the time to send a thoughtful note of appreciation to someone today.

8. Do something you have never done before. This simple act will enhance your life. I am past the age of jumping out of an airplane or learning to ski. I have been in Brandon for 20 years; I have never helped at the Soup Kitchen or supported the Bear Clan when they walk. That will all change shortly. I am not going to patrol with the Bear Clan. I'm not very brave in situations like that. But I can make sandwiches and cookies. I can provide a hot meal. I can make a difference and do something I have never done before. 

9. Read more. To me people that read transform into a world of calmness. Many books are lessons in life, geography and history. When I read, I am lost in the world I am reading about. For those people that read all of the time, you must be steeped in knowledge.  

10. Write more. Journaling has always been one of those activities that releases emotions. Pouring your emotions onto paper releases them in a way that can be difficult with words. Write your heart out for 5 minutes a day and witness how your energy shifts afterward.

11. Set goals and make them happen. I think when doing you, you need to set goals that are directed at you. The thing about goals is that it's the small actions you take which add up to accomplishing whatever you set out to do. Break your goals down into daily bite-sized chunks and you will succeed.  I had a nice head, scalp and foot massage in January. As I was lying on the table, I decided I need to do self-care at least once a month. I like to support home business, and I like new therapies. So, my goal is to find them and book them.  

12. Enjoy nature. We simply never get tired of seeing wildlife, especially a tiny newborn. Some people enjoy being in nature by walking or skiing. Nature changes up your energy, the sights and sounds ground us.

13. Learn something difficult. So many people say they want to learn to knit. Knitting is rewarding, but it takes lots of practice. I suggest when you are learning to knit, you have to knit every day so you can develop the muscle memory that is needed. I had lunch with my gym group, one of the members takes Spanish lessons. People that only speak Spanish are paired with a person that only speaks English, and they teach each other. Another member plays a Viola with a musical group. She took up learning the Viola later in her life and describes it as her personal Alzheimer prevention. Currently, I have nothing come to mind that I want to learn, but it will happen. 

14. Put yourself in someone else's shoes. There is no way we will ever know what someone else is truly feeling, we can only imagine. By showing empathy, it is a powerful lesson in kindness. 

15. Embrace alone time. You must be comfortable with being alone to embrace time with just you. 

16. Don't assume. Assumptions cause suffering and they're rooted in ego, not truth. Let them go and find freedom in releasing the burden of assuming. 

17. Find good in every situation. It seems it is so much easier to focus on the negative. We all have those people in our lives that insist on dragging their black cloud everywhere they go. I have always believed that people deserve others to be in a good mood. Bad moods shouldn't leave the house. Switch the energy into finding the good in each person, place and situation you encounter.  

18. Laugh more. It is so much fun to be with someone that makes you laugh. There is nothing like having sore laugh muscles. 

19. Find your purpose. Seek out what you are truly passionate about. Make sure every day you recognize that purpose. My happiest days are the ones where I have been busy helping others. The next happiest days are when I am organizing something on paper.  

20. Pay it forward. Do kind things for others without expecting recognition. Sharing from your heart will help you thrive. 

So many of these things we do without even thinking about them. Others will take work to create a habit of making them part of us. As women we are never sure of what role we are going to perform at what moment in time. It could be wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, best friend, and the list could go on. Rarely, does the moment mean "you". Doing you in 2025 may take some work, this may take you some time, but I feel encouraged that we can do it. Women can do anything they set their mind to do. 

Next Blog will be February 26th. Taking a wee holiday!