Happy 1st day of a new month!

I posted this picture on my Instagram page with the message: Focus on the good, set your intentions, and do your best.

My focus this month is going to be on being thoughtful. Often times it feels like we easily fall into the trap of complaining, criticizing, and forgetting to count our blessings.

This morning as I was finishing up blow drying my hair my oldest daughter, Celeste, suddenly came rushing to the bathroom door with the brightest eyes and biggest smile on her face. She said I needed to come see what she’d done in the kitchen. I smiled and told her okay I just need another minute here.

Soon as I was done she took my hand, asked me to close my eyes, and she guided me to the kitchen. Along the way she described to me what we were passing by. It was so sweet of her to verbalize that so that it would create a visual in my mind since my eyes were closed.

Then she stopped me in front of the kitchen counter and cheerfully said, “open your eyes!” And then I saw the sweetest thing.

On the counter she had carefully laid out the small cutting board, a cutting knife, a bowl, a napkin, and the cottage cheese container from the fridge. She had also added a glass filled with a small amount of milk.

You see, every morning I have cottage cheese with cut up apple for breakfast. She said she noticed I hadn’t prepped it the night before and she wanted to be helpful and set everything out for me. The glass of milk was because she thought I might enjoy having some when she served herself a glass.

Her thoughtfulness completely filled my heart. I gave her a big hug and told her how thoughtful that was and thanked her. She in turn was glowing. So was my heart.

And I thought to myself, we could all use more thoughtfulness in our lives. When negative little things creep in, why not redirect your thoughts to what kind gesture can I do instead? Often times it’s so easy to fall into the trap of keeping tally. Of all the things you’ve done versus what the other person has done for you. At the end of the day though, what good does that mentality do? Has it brought you the warm and fuzzies? Connected you closer to the person you love?

And I get it, not every day or moment is rose colored. But we can certainly focus our intentions daily on doing our best, being thoughtful, complimenting someone and seeing the good.

Especially now that I have two pairs of eyes looking up at me, seeing everything I do and listening to everything I say. I am by no means perfect and often feel like I fail or take a step or two back, and then I get right back up and try my best again.

So here’s what I’m going to do and maybe you’ll join me and try it too. Take this new day and new month and reflect on where you were and where you want to go. What negative things can you work on getting rid of and replacing with something positive? Try it for the next 28 days. You have nothing to lose. If you don’t get what you want, don’t complain or run the other way or find something to distract you until you find yourself in the same situation again. Instead adapt. Focus on the good. Be intentional.

I’ll see you back here in 27 days with an update on how things went. ❤️