Each day we wake up and we have the chance to do better than yesterday, do better than last year, do better than our much younger selves from years ago. 

Before I step out of bed each morning, I give myself about 30 minutes to just be. The bedside lamp is switched on, the morning radio has begun and I just leisure about in bed. Each day is a little bit different, but the one aspect that is the same is a preparation is occurring. Nothing dramatic or rehearsed, but I am giving myself time to step into the day, rather than push myself out of bed and say "ready or not!". 

For me, the easing into the day, no matter how early I have to wake up, helps immensely as I can make sure I am aware of my schedule, make sure I am mentally prepared for what I need to accomplish as well as what I hope to accomplish, enabling me to step out the door feeling able and ready to do my best. Below, in today's #top100 post from the archives, I share ideas on how to jump start your day, and I encourage you to check it out if you're looking for a way to improve your everydays.

Being intentional about how we begin the day makes a difference regarding our ability to be patient: not jumping to respond to that email we didn't want to receive and just want to be done with, taking a moment to say hello to a colleague and having a quick chat about their weekend rather than rushing to our office because we are short on time, or greeting people with a genuine smile that come to us with a question and creating a tone before the conversation has begun of openness and congeniality. 

How we step into each day makes a difference in the quality of our everydays, and our everydays make up our lives as a well-known quote reminds. However, not just our everyday lives, but our entire lives, even the magnificent moments are amplified by the quality of how we live our everyday lives because if we invest little by little with authentic gestures, we are building a community we want to be a part of. If we extend kindness because that is who we wish to be rather than because of whom we feel we have to be, we create an environment of positive energy that people want to be around. 

Everyday we can do better than before, and everyday we can improve the quality of our lives with a simple taking of a moment before we begin our day to examine what the day needs and give it everything we have at that particular point in our lives. I continue to do my best with this approach, and while I can always improve, I am seeing progress, and I know you will as well. May our everydays be extraordinary simply because we choose to make them so.

In today's newsletter you will find a giveaway as promised. For my fellow foodies and Francophiles, I think you will particularly love this one. Be sure to enter by Sunday December 7th so that Modvin (formerly Lyra Press) can ensure you receive it in time for gift giving this holiday season if you have someone special in mind (that includes for yourself as well). 

Also, last weekend, I ventured to Portland and discovered a lovely French restaurant you will want to stop into for lunch as their pastries will absolutely make you weak in the knees. Check out my post on Måurice below. And that is just a taste of a handful of other posts inspired by the holidays, breaking free of self-imposed limitations, the winter weather and much more. Wishing you a lovely holiday weekend, and until next week, I'll see you on the blog.​​​​​​