Who Are You Giving Your Best To?

It’s February—the month of love. As a Romance and Suspense Writer, this is an incredible month for my muse. It’s a short month but a busy month. Like all of you, I have a lot going on.

Have you ever thought, if I only had one extra day in my month, then I could . . . you fill in the blank.

Would you make it a catch-up day? And spend your day cleaning the clutter out of that space. Or spend your day FaceTiming with old friends? Or spend your day with your kids and catching up on their lives?

Would you make it a low-key day? And spend your day reading? Or spend your day planning out your garden? Or spend your day walking in the woods listening to nature?

Would you make it a creative day? And spend your day painting a picture? Or spend your day writing a short story. Or spend your day snapping pictures of your children and creating memory books?

Would you make it an adventure? And spend your day taking a riding lesson? Or spend your day flying across the sky in a hot air balloon? Or spend your day learning the mechanics of skydiving and tandem jumping from a plane?

Take a beat and decide what you would do with an extra twenty-four hours in your month.

Let me toss another thought out to you. My dad used to say, “Don’t let it get the best of you.”

Usually, he told me this because I was complaining about my siblings.

 He was trying to make the point that if I let someone’s actions bother me or derail me from my purpose or goals, then I’ve given them power over me and allowed them to take my best from me.

The best of me, because I’ve allowed them to control my thoughts or my actions.

Last week, after a night of my hubby and I staying up late and binge-watching television, I remembered my Dad’s phrase. 

Past midnight, we’d clicked off the TV. I’d mindlessly consumed extra calories. Dumped the popcorn bowl in the sink and soaked dinner dishes instead of washing them. 

The next morning, I slept past my alarm. I snoozed through my early morning writing time, missed my exercise time, and woke to a messy kitchen.

I’m supposed to be an adult. As an adult, I know that if I go to bed late, then I won’t be able to get up early and start my day off right with writing and exercising. I know that my evening activities are really set up for success for the next day.

But, the excitement of the show and the cliffhangers sucked me into saying, “Just one more.” And an hour later, “Just one more.” And an hour later, “Just one more.” Until I’d allowed the show to get the best of me not only that night but also the best of me for the following day.

I gave my best away to a silly show.

A silly show?

Do you give your best to your girlfriends and come home too tired to share with your husband? Do you give your best to the driver who cut you off and allow the rest of your day to be tainted by a bad mood? Do you give your best at work and come home empty?

Look, I understand you’ve got to work to feed the babies. But can you come home with a little to spare?

Like your family. Like yourself. It’s okay to say yourself. Giving your best to yourself often flows over to those you love. If you are not taking care of yourself, you won’t be around to care for your loved ones.

I get it. We are all tired. We all zoom in different directions, trying to be all we can be to everyone and every situation. To work, to the kids, to our friends, to church, to the housework, to the school, to the kid’s activities, maybe to the gym, to our pets, to our community, to that piece of cake in the fridge.

But if you had one extra day this month, who would you give your best?

I have great news for you. This February, we have an extra day. This year, there are twenty-nine, not twenty-eight, days in February.

What will you do with that extra day? Did your decision change from when the thought of an extra day went from wishing to reality? If so, why?

Why can’t you take one day this month? It doesn’t have to be the last day of the month, it can be any day, and do what you want. What you need to fill your cup.

Who will you give your best to on this extra day?

Thank you for spending time with me. Until next month, you’ll find me writing on the porch.

Sending you a great big HUG!

❤️ Dee

DEE ARMSTRONG

Romance & Suspense Author

Leaving a fingerprint on your heart

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