We can see the impact of editing in our daily lives. From perfect selfies to perfect soundtracks, we can’t escape the ever-popular (or infamous) edit. For some, editing is a  matter of merely swiping a screen in one direction or another, but it involves incredible skill and precision for others. Despite its modern profile, editing is something that most of us have a lot of experience with in our daily lives. We donate clothes that no longer fit, delete invalid phone numbers, change jobs and hairstyles, update fashion choices, and learn to enjoy different kinds of music. The ‘edit’ is an ever-present part of life.

Other things in our lives require editing that don’t make the headlines. Habits, practices, and beliefs also require re-evaluation and editing from time-to-time. We tend to hold on to what is no longer healthy, valid, useful for two primary reasons: comfort and fear. Phrases like: “It’s always been this way,” “My (insert person) did it like this,” or “This is just who I am” are used to justify any resistance to change. Why is change so hard? We’ve heard it many times: we’re creatures of habit. What we know tends to be where we’re most comfortable, but that doesn’t mean it is what’s best for us.

Many years ago, I asked my mom for her pound cake recipe. My great-grandmother had given it to my great-aunt, who gave it to my mother, and in turn, she shared it with me. If you’ve ever made a pound cake, you know that it is very rich but made from pretty simple ingredients—butter, eggs, sugar, flour, etc. The recipe my mother shared with me required five cups of sugar. Five! That’s a lot of sugar. I immediately reduced it to three cups, which is still a lot, but far less than the original. Over the years, that amount has been reduced even further with no impact on the cake’s flavor. I have no idea why the recipe initially required so much sugar. Maybe the effect of excess sugar on one’s health was unknown in my great-grandmother’s era. Whatever the reason, I use an edited version of the recipe now.  It’s still a fantastic cake, but it contains far less sugar.

Periodically editing parts of our lives is not only necessary but helpful. Maybe you used to eat whatever and whenever you wanted, but now your body requires some limits. Perhaps you were once free to spend wildly on whatever you chose, but now your responsibilities require a budget and planning. If you were like me and could hit the snooze button several times before bouncing out of bed in the morning and have found it to be anxiety-inducing now, an edit is probably in order. As time and knowledge move us through life, managing self and life requires regular maintenance. Not unlike a vehicle, website, or budget, our habits and choices require periodic evaluation.

Only you can evaluate what is or is not essential to the life you have right now. Edit what isn’t crucial or what no longer works. It is sometimes difficult to sit quietly and listen to the inner voice that guides us because life’s noise is so loud. I encourage you to find the time and a place to let your inner voice reign. When you do, life will begin to look more like one that has been custom-made for you.

There’s something special about receiving a gift, but getting something unexpected is the best. Because we’ve come to expect gifts for birthdays and other special occasions, receiving a surprise gift seems even more exciting. But there are some gifts we receive and quietly wonder, “What am I supposed to do with this?” You know, the ones you might get at a White Elephant or Secret Santa gift exchange, or even from that relative (you know the one). The feelings that come from receiving one of those tend to be a little different, though we’d never admit it.

It was just a few months ago when we exchanged gifts during the holidays and celebrated the dawn of a new year and a brand new decade. ‘Twenty-twenty Vision’ was on minds everywhere. Goal setting was on everyone’s mind, and the joy that comes with almost anything new filled the air. Positivity bubbled over like freshly poured glasses of champagne. It was an exciting and hopeful time of year.

Now, with the first quarter of the decade already behind us, it seems like the first three months of 2020 have been a long YEAR. The world received the ultimate White Elephant gift in the form of the Novel Coronavirus/COVID-19. You probably think I’ve been isolated too long. I understand but hear me out. The gift I’m talking about isn’t the actual virus. It is the benefits we’ve received as a result of it.

How many times have we complained about one more business trip or not having enough time at home with our loved ones? When did you last mention not having time to do X, Y, or Z around the house? How often have you dreamed of taking a break from the busyness of life? Well, we’ve got it!
It may not have come the way we hoped, but it is here nonetheless. With our movements curtailed and access to common distractions eliminated, we’ve got plenty of time to do the things we need to do. In some cases, some of the things we want to do.

This surprise gift has given us the time we need to re-focus. We have a chance to re-prioritize things. Clichéd comments about “20/20 vision” from just a few months ago have given way to thoughts of preserving health and helping neighbors. Stuff we forgot we loved has re-emerged. For me, it’s dancing! Thanks to Debbie Allen and DJ D-Nice, I have danced more in the past month than I have since college. Even our goal setting has been re-purposed with less focus on hustle mentality and more attention to relationship building.

The shift from what was to what is has been swift and shocking. With our lives and routines disrupted, the discomfort of the unknown could send us into frenzied anxiety. Don’t let it. Look at what you’ve got. Identify the areas where you can put your gift to good use. This time and these circumstances aren’t going to last forever. They haven’t occurred for naught. Take advantage of this gift. Put it to good use. When the restrictions are lifted, and we’ve mobilized again, let’s move more intentionally, with more kindness and substantially better than before.

…got enough sleep?
…ate better?
…exercised regularly?
…let go of negative self-talk?
…worked diligently on your business?
…faithfully pursued your goals?
…let go of self-limiting behaviors?
…got serious about your finances?
…made health and wellness a priority?
…talked less and listened more?
…stopped procrastinating?
…pursued personal development?
…stepped outside of your comfort zone?
…were easier on yourself?
…were kinder to others?
…asked for help?
…practiced gratitude?
…did the thing you least want to do?

Growing up, the song “The Question Is” could be heard playing at our house on any given Sunday morning. It is a simple, soulful song made great by gospel music royalty, The Winans. It asked three questions and provided three answers. That’s it. The impact, however, was powerful. Recently, as I sat quietly contemplating the year to come, I thought about the power of questions. Their thought-provoking, reflection-inducing nature is an essential tool in planning, research, understanding, and even correction.

As we blaze through the remaining days of the calendar toward 2020, I find myself thinking about the habits and choices that serve me well and what should be left behind. The process requires real honesty with oneself. After all, who knows you and the impact of your choices as well as you do? The process involves intention. It requires us to be intentional about making the necessary changes needed and in seeking the answers that will truly effect the changes we desire. Because we are each as unique as grains of sand, our questions and choices are too. No matter our individuality, there are always things that we can begin, improve upon, or eliminate. In the list above, there may be a question or two that resonate with you. Maybe yours isn’t listed, but you know what it is. Perhaps you haven’t taken the time to discover your question.

With little more than three weeks left until the new year arrives, there is a bevy of decisions to be made. What if the best choice you can make is the one that will help to improve your future? What if we each took an honest look at our own list and began to work on it consistently? How would it change our lives? What kind of impact might a single, positive decision have? I encourage you to carve some time out of your schedule, find a quiet corner, and have an honest moment of reflection about the things that will move you blissfully forward.

A few days ago someone asked me what I’d been doing for fun lately. My reply reduced my life’s activities to work and responsibilities. I lied. I’m sorry. It wasn’t intentional. Somewhere along life’s journey I got an errant message that sharing the good things about my life should be limited. Maybe I feared it would be perceived as bragging. Maybe because I felt unworthy of the many blessings I’ve received. Whatever the reason, it is a bad message that will be ignored from now on. As I reflected on the things I’ve been doing, it was clear that I’ve been busy with really great stuff!

A couple of years ago, I promised myself that I would seek adventure in everything. Whether during business travel, dining out or investing in my passion. The promise was made and it has been kept. We tend to get stuck in routines. I’ll speak for myself. I get stuck. While some routine is necessary, switching things up can be exhilarating. When I made this promise I was preparing for a business trip. After years of the same old ‘flytodestination-work-grabdinner-checkintohotel-repeat’ routine, I was bored. Dramatically! So I crafted a plan to break out of the norm and enjoy some new stuff. It began with staying some place new and was followed by dining somewhere new. No carry-out allowed. Next was to visit a historical or special attraction in the local area. Then I started to intentionally engage in conversations with fellow travelers and strangers (no stranger-danger). Before long, the business travel experience I had become so bored with, evolved into something exciting. This change had real physical benefits too. I was no longer dragging myself to the airport or waking up to the same mass-produced hotel furnishings I’d slept in a million times before, feeling blah. My energy level improved along with my attitude.

Today adventure-seeking is a regular part of my life. In true adventurer form, I recently celebrated my birthday by learning how to stand-up paddle board. It was a fantastic experience that left me smiling for weeks. The next adventure led to one of my favorite places: New York City. I went there to attend a wellness conference to learn the latest and greatest in the wellness community (to share with you, of course). I also participated in my first cool-temperature (50°F) group fitness class (more to come on this). Of course I added more to the itinerary during the trip. I connected with friends; visited an herbal apothecary; participated in an impromptu photo-shoot; found the perfect Stetson to accommodate my big hair; joined the masses among the lights in Times square; trekked to DUMBO on a dark, rainy evening to capture the gorgeous Manhattan skyline on camera; explored the wonder that is Brooklyn; rested my head in a gorgeous AirBnb; ate fabulous food; got lost on the subway; witnessed dance acrobatics on the train; and walked over 15,000 steps each day. Whew!

Here’s my point: Choosing to seek adventure in life doesn’t mean we have to be thrill-seekers jumping out of planes or some equally death-defying activity. It means we intentionally look for and do things that turn our ordinary into extraordinary. Likewise, sharing the fun and exciting things about our lives is a good way to inspire others to seek their own adventure. Lesson learned.