A SIMPLE WAY TO SQUEEZE MORE JOY FROM YOUR DAY 🍊

Started a new bedtime ritual w my (now 4yo!) baby girl a few months ago, {first_name}.

Once the lights are out and we’re snug as bugs with her assortment of Squishmallows and glow-in-the-dark unicorn blanket, we share our three favorite parts of that day.

If it's a pretty late night (after big bro's football game, for example), I could be trying to rush to hush mode, and she’ll say:

“No, Mama, wait… we haven’t talked about our three favorite things!”

Does that sometimes make me roll my (closed) yes while also filling my heart with undeniable warm fuzzies?

YES, yes it does. 🥰

It's not a ground-breaking new idea and maybe you already do a version of it with yourself or your people, but I couldn't ignore the nudge to share it with you today in case this simple exercise / prompt could help you squeeze more joy from your everyday life. 🍊

As an idea bank, here’s a roundup of sparky moments that brought me to life this week:

• an hours-long birthday brunch w all three of my sisters 🍳

• the return of my minimalish Halloween decor, complete w this spooky colorful fireplace on our TV (via YouTube)

• getting all kids to sleep w enough time to enjoy an ep of Shrinking season 2 w my boyfriend* (*husband of 16 years as of next week - remind me to share my "boyfriend goggles" concept w you soon bc it's a gamechanger!)

• coworking at our local library - uninterrupted focus for hours! - with this uplifting jingle jam in my earbuds 🎶

• multiple days of actual sweater weather (vs the SWEAT weather we’ve had for months)

• a hilarious and informational family bedtime convo started by my 8yo

• going live in my private FB playground for the first time in forever to start a new creative diary / documentary process 🎨

• publishing FB lives daily to our private On Her Terms® podcast feed (tap this magic link to request a personal invite and lmk if you don't see an instant email via HelloAudio)

• biz-nesting in motion, prepping show notes posts for all 80+ episodes of On Her Terms

• CLARITY in decisions on how and when I’m bringing my new program to the world (spoiler: very soon!) ⚡

This is, of course, a highlight REEL, not reinforcing the more challenging moments of the week (like when I snapped at my tween before I had a chance to chill myself, lacked patience in the before-school rush, likely bc I swapped extra scroll time for extra sleep time, etc.).... because my brain does a great job of that automatically.

Those more negative-leaning neuropathways are well worn.

And they're not the full story.

This “three fave things” practice is a very intentional decision to focus our four-and-almost-40-year-old brains on what we ENJOYED and found fulfillment in so that we can 1) see the day as a win (The Gap and The Gain style 📕) and 2) auto-search for more of that the next day.

I notice I'm now starting to look for and note more of these moments in real time as they’re happening, and that in itself is a gift. 🎁

More presence and awareness, more gratitude for the full-spectrum highlight REAL.

As we were growing up (and still to this day), my dad often encouraged my sisters and I:

✨"Lock this into your memory banks, girls."✨

With all that's going on in the world - and how easy it is to overwhelm ourselves trying to hold it all at once - this simple practice is one way I can increase my personal power so I can keep showing up for myself, my people, and my work.

Instead of focusing only on what breaks my heart, I'm re-sourcing with what fills it.

Hopeful this share may help you do the same.

Sending love from TX sweater weather,

P.S. Did I share enough links or what? I especially recommend one-click requesting your private podcast link or joining the playground on FB if you like behind-the-scenes vibes, bc I'll be sharing lots there in the days and weeks to come.

Still working out the kinks w my new email software, so if any links don't work or lead where they probably should, just hit reply to let me know so I can get you what you're looking for. I'm solo parenting this weekend and welcome the adult interaction. 😛