Anyone who knows me knows about my love/hate relationship with November. This year, I seem to have gone darker and deeper into the grey than ever before. I need vitamin B, or iron. I need a week off. There’s never enough sleep, never enough time. The leaves are hanging on longer because even they seem to know that I need the added brightness of their outrageous colours. The good news is, it’s nearly over.
Here’s a to-do list for today. It will likely be extended to tomorrow as well. These are big days for me, these two. Big enough that without such a list, I might just sit here and stare out the window and not get anything done at all. Feel free to borrow this list, any time you need to. You’re guaranteed to feel at least 3% better if you use it.
Today I will…
- Eat an entire bar of chocolate. Well, almost. But, it’s fair trade and sugar free. Plus it’s dark, 70% even, so I’m okay with this.
- Cry over nothing.
- Cry over some really big things.
- Write.
- Try to work. Mostly suck at this.
- Make an entire thermos of tea and sip it slowly all afternoon.
- Listen to Leonard Cohen.
- Miss my kids.
- Colour.
- Read for pleasure.
- Eat soup for dinner.
- Wear my slippers at work because I need the extra cozy.
- Wear lipstick, or something else that makes me feel better.
- Finish all my work so I can do whatever I want all weekend.
- Send lovey emojis to my cousin-sister.
- Call my mom.
- Hug my kids after school.
- Go for a walk.
- Try not to cry in front of people who barely know me.
- Avoid the news, because sometimes I have to.
- Sing.
- Have a glass of wine, but only one.
- Make a fire in the fireplace.
- Add some frankincense to the diffuser.
- Watch a funny Christmas movie.
- Eat popcorn.
- Light a candle.
- Remember the spectacular depth and breadth of love.