In 2018 I stumbled across the #last90days movement led by a nice young American couple. Each October the group collectively set goals for the wind down of the year. It really worked for me because our business doesn’t close for the holidays, we just get busier. Plus I am a high-functioning crazy-person who doesn’t know how to rest.
Along with setting goals for the last 90 days of the year, the organisers had their #5toThrive list. Here’s the simple version. Drink more water. Cut out one food group you know you shouldn’t be eating. Get up an hour earlier and use the time for yourself. Do 30 mins of daily exercise. Write down a daily list of 10 things you’re grateful for.
I believe that the nice young couple, Rachel and Dave Hollis, divorced sometime during the Covid blur and I heard on the grapevine that Dave passed away soon after. I sincerely hope that two people who brought so much health and joy and love to the world and to other people managed to find some peace in those final moments they shared. (Rachel Hollis has a couple of books and a podcast for “anyone looking for more joy and purpose in their life.”)
I kind of did the challenge in 2022. I injured my shoulder badly in mid-October and had to learn to be patient with myself rather than flogging myself with must-do lists.
Last year we were in Bali for the first 2 weeks of October then my mum had surgery. Business was crazy then we lost Mum at the end of November. December 9, 2023 was the 30th anniversary of my first husband’s death. The end of 2023 was filled with family and grief and love as we rallied around Dad. Must-do lists are highly overrated.
But life goes on, as life does and I find myself once again face with must-do lists. I’ll do the 5 to thrive because it makes me feel good.
Of course I have a list of things I MUST DO but I think it’s time to do some hard yards after swanning about in Europe for 6 weeks. I have my non-fiction manuscript on critique for creatives to finish and publish, my contemporary romance to finish and send off into the world and my contemporary women’s fiction to edit (AGAIN) and find a home for. I have critique groups to run, workshops to teach and people to pitch.
But I’m also going to take it easy because I can be so overly high-functioning at times that I completely bollocks myself and it’s important to take time to smell the flowers. Oh, that reminds me, I also have a very messy garden to sort out. Add it to the list…
Speaking of gardens, I was amazed to see so many wildflower gardens in public spaces in Europe. In Ghent, Oostende and Bruges, Belgium, former fountains had been filled with soil and wildflowers instead of water. All over Europe we noticed that wildflower gardens had taken the place of formerly manicured lawns and pristine garden beds. I am sure the bees and birds love it and I’m sure it requires much less maintenance.
But “Superbloom” was not just a spectacle for 2022. It was the first year of a permanent transformation of the Tower Moat into a beautiful naturalistic landscape.
