Right, today is the day. No more excuses. You’re going to get shit done. It ain’t gonna be pretty, but it’s gonna be worth it. When you go to bed tonight, there’s going to be one less weight on your shoulders. One less worry on your mind. So let’s get to it.
What’s the one thing that’s been bugging you the most lately? Maybe it’s the mess in the kitchen. Maybe it’s that niggling pain that you’ve been meaning to get checked out. Maybe your other half is driving you up the wall and you’re two seconds from stabbing him in the leg with a fork. (For me, it’s been a resounding YES on all three recently.)
Basically, you want to figure out what bugs the living snot out of you, and then set about slaying it. (Not literally, like. There are laws against that sorta thing.) And you’re going to do it today. Not tomorrow, or later in the week, or after you get something else done. TODAY.
Because that thing that’s bugging you never leaves you. It rattles around your brain — sometimes consciously and sometimes unconsciously — until you can stick a big checkmark next to it and move on with your life. So, while you’re dawdling, it’s draining brain energy that could be used to learn a new language or stay upright on a unicycle. Oh, the possibilities!
It’s like deleting a document on your computer. Sure, it may not be in your face all day anymore, but it’s still sitting there in the little bin. It’s still taking up space, and your computer still has to use resources to store it there. It’s only when you empty that bin that you finally rid yourself of it. The same is true for you. Until you do something about your problem, it’s going to hang around. And, if you’re unlucky, it’s going to get a lot worse. (In my case, it turned into an ulcer.)
So today’s the day you clear it out of your consciousness for good. Maybe it’s something massive, like deciding to move abroad, or maybe it’s something trivial, like tackling the weeds in the garden. Only you know the answer to that one. Whatever it is, take affirmative action now and sleep easier tonight.
Clear out your cupboards, make that doctor’s appointment, start working on that project, fill that hole in the wall, return that faulty appliance, book your car in for a service, have the awkward conversation, sew the button back onto that shirt, post those letters, clean the windows, go for that run, sign those documents, apply for that visa, examine your finances, clip your toddler’s toenails, oil that squeaky hinge… Do it. Don’t let it drive you mad anymore.
Note that I’m talking about things that have been bugging you for a while — you’re not just doing things on a whim. It’s that thing that you’ve been meaning to do something about for a long time but you kept putting off because it was painful, or overwhelming, or you didn’t know where to start. (And if you’ve been here for a while, you’ll already know that not wanting to do something is no excuse for not actually doing it.)
It may be something small, but I can assure you, it will make a big difference. I don’t need to tell you how much relief comes with completing something that’s been hanging over you for a while. Clear out the crap and make room for the merry.
You’re not going to solve the world’s problems in one day, but you can solve your biggest one today by rolling up your sleeves right now and getting stuck in. Don’t let tasks take up space in your head and heart —you’re worth so much more than that. With a bit of grit and resolve, you can overcome that overstayed-its-welcome obstacle.
So go ahead and empty that little bin. Delete those mental files and climb into bed congratulating yourself on a job well done.
Do it once, and do it right. Because today, you’re a damn hero.
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