and you’ve been failing at the 3 new daily habits that you told everyone that you wanted to form.

It’s OK. You’ve made a start, so you’re not a complete failure. And stop condemning yourself, because you’re not a terrible person. And you’ve had a nap this afternoon, so you might have enough energy to get something (even a little baby step) done this evening.

Be kind and gentle with yourself.

You’re up early this morning, and you could spend at least some time now, at the start of this day, sorting through some papers. You didn’t get much done yesterday, but today is a brand new day.

See if you can set a timer, and keep at it for some period of time. Let’s say, a half hour for starters.

---

Update @8:45am

Hey self,

Congratulations! You did get some sorting done. Oddly enough, you were listening to one of your favorite radio programs this morning, “Speaking of Faith,” as you were working, and they were talking about how all human beings have “scattered minds.” And, sure enough, your mind was scattered at the time. That’s what happens when you try to deal with your piles of paper. Your mind scatters with a million different thoughts of things that need to be done and things that you would like to do and regrets about things you haven’t done and fears about the future.

Let’s get back to this again later today, after you get home from church. OK?

It’s 10am, and you’ve been cleaning the kitchen for an hour, and you’ve made some progress. The counters are clean and the dishes are under control and the garbage is ready to take out. You’re taking a well-deserved break right now.

But there is one counter that’s not so clean—the one with the mail piled up on it. So keep going! KEEP GOING! Stick to it! STICK TO YOUR GOAL! NOW’S THE TIME! NOT LATER, BUT NOW!

So, you didn’t get yesterday’s list done until just now. So, you waited until the very last possible minute. So, you’re a procrastinator. A slacker. So, your thinking isn’t too clear these days and your judgement isn’t always too great. So, you spend time on things that don’t need to be done and avoid things that really need to get done and risk serious or at least inconvenient and uncomfortable consequences.

So, this is You. This is where you are, right here, right now. Forgive yourself and start again. Make a new start to your day. Do the best you can. It’s OK. You’re a lovable person in spite of your many flaws and imperfections and mistakes.

really go.
Let’s fight, let’s fight, let’s really fight.
Let’s win, let’s win, let’s really win.
Let’s go, fight, win.

(One of the few cheers I can remember from my high school pep squad days.)

Just do it.

NOW

You had a reward this morning. Now, shut off the computer and go back to work.

You go, girl. You can do it. Keep trying!

CHEER!

This morning the painters are here.

This morning M. is coming to here and bringing her work. We will work side-by-side.

This morning is a good morning to clean up the papers in the kitchen and pay some more bills. (And not spend so much time on the internet.)

The painter is working until 5pm. You can, too.

Keep going. Push yourself. After 5pm, you can go out and play.

gave out all my cheers.

Now, back to work on the cards. I know a sticking point with them is that I feel guilty about not sending more cards in return to people, and I feel like I owe thank-you notes to several people.

Maybe I’ll have to make a decision about who I can realistically respond to and let go of the rest.

OK. Just keep at it. You’ll figure something out.

has come for the painter and for me.

But now, back to work. Nose to the grindstone! You can do it! Keep going!