Monday, 5/17/21: Talking about changes, graduation and recent books

Happy Monday!

It’s a new week, which means it’s time for your next Monday motivation newsletter. Read on below for some steps to a happier Monday, a short story and a roundup of positive thoughts to get your week started.

Three Steps to a Happier Monday

Each newsletter starts with three prompts to inspire gratitude and simple intention setting. Take a moment and jot down answers to these three questions. To give an example, I share my answers below.  

Step 1: What are three things I appreciated from the weekend? 

Step 2: What is one thing I can be excited about today?

Step 3: What is my intention for this week? 

GRATITUDE: From my weekend, I am thankful for being able to run outside, great conversation with a friend on Saturday, and my new desk! 

TODAY: Today, I am most excited to start my new book. (More on that below!) 

INTENTION: My intention this week is to do some prep at night for the next morning. Whether it’s setting the coffee, picking out my workout or writing a to-do list, want to try to set myself up for success. 

Okay, your turn! And if you want to share your three steps, I am all ears. 🙂

Meaningful Musings: So, What Now? 

Last Friday, I was running out to get a coffee, and out of habit, I grabbed my jacket, phone and mask. But then I paused.

“Wait, do I wear the mask? Do I not wear the mask? Mask? No mask?” I thought to myself, as I stood frozen in my entryway, lifting my mask up and hesitantly putting it back down. I can imagine it would have been pretty funny sight to see, and I’m thankful that none of my neighbors walked out of their apartments during this dance. 😊

The CDC’s announcement last week about vaccinated people being able to resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart feels like a major step forward. So major, that it can almost feel… well… overwhelming.

The past 15 months have been tough on all of us, to say the least. Life as we knew it was uprooted and turned upside down in an instant. We all faced our own struggles and hardships, even though our individual experiences differed greatly based on circumstances.  

As someone who gravitates toward structure and predictability, in the wake of all the change, I clung to the fact that our directives were straightforward: wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart, don’t gather in large groups, wash your hands. But – as demonstrated by my mask charade moment – I find myself wondering, “So, what now? What is it actually that I’m supposed to be doing?”

It may be promoted by it being that time of year, but the “what now?” question reminds of a feeling I felt during my college graduation. When I think about it today, college was also a time when I was able to cling to straightforward directives: pick a major, take these classes during this semester, get some experience for your resume. I remember sitting in the commencement (one that was delayed several times due to lighting strikes – yay for Florida summers!) and marveling at how much had changed in just four short years. The friendships made, how the once-massive campus now felt intimate, and the hard/fun/messy life lessons learned. A place where everything had felt so foreign at first had become a comfortable home four years later. How was I going to start all over again? 

As I was running errands this weekend, I came across an adorable graduation gift section. I ended up flipping through a book of advice (because I’m a sucker for kitschy things like that) and thinking about what advice I wish I could go back and tell my 22-year-old self who was asking “what now?” at that commencement address.  

Here’s what I came up with: I decided my advice would be two-fold. First, I would tell myself to put blinders on and second, to focus on just doing the next right thing. What I know now is that after college, you go from being in somewhat similar situations as your peers to all different playing fields. You have some friends still in school, some starting full-time jobs, some getting married, some traveling around the world, some living at home to save money. It’s extremely difficult to not compare yourself to others, but the truth is, you have to do what feels right to you. And, at times after graduation, the sheer number of different paths you could take will feel overwhelming (What job? Grad school? What city? Who should I date?), but the great challenge is to recognize that all that’s in your control is the right now. Instead of trying to define a perfect five-year plan, try your best to focus on what’s the next right thing for right now.  

The ironic thing is that as soon as I formed this thought in my head, I realized that present-day me could benefit from this advice as much as freshly graduated me. So, that’s my focus this week, and I’m sharing this morning in case it resonate with you too.  When my head starts to spin about “what now?,” I’ll give myself grace and remind myself of my blinders and my focus on figuring out the right next thing. One thing at a time. Starting with something as simple as if I need the mask to leave my apartment. 🙂 

What do you think? What advice would you give a younger version of you wondering “what now?” 

On My Monday Radar

Sometimes we just aren’t ready to jump into our Monday to-do list right away. In case you want some content to procrastinate with, here is a roundup of a few positive things on my radar:  

• Loved this charming book I finished last week. Most Likely is a YA (young adult genre) title by Sarah Watson that follows a group of four friends navigating their senior year of high school. From the opening of the book, you know that one of the friends will go on to become President of The United States, but you aren’t sure which one until the end. I love how the book was set up and the focus on female friendship. I received this book as a gift from a friend because the author is also the creator of The Bold Type (a TV show which we love). So, if you like shows like that, you’ll love this book! 
• And this is the next book on my list! This book, The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, seems to be everywhere right now. So, when I saw it was one of the May selections for my Book of the Month subscription, it was a no-brainer. It’s also the May pick for Reese Witherspoon’s book club and the Bad on Paper podcast, and according to this article, Julia Roberts has signed on to star in a series adaptation for Apple Plus. Let me know if you read it too!
• This podcast was a delight to listen to. I was excited and intrigued when I saw that Prince Harry was a guest on Dax Shepard and Monica Padman’s podcast. I saved the episode for my weekend runs and really enjoyed listening. It made me laugh and made me think!
• I felt seen by this New York Times Instagram post. Even though I’m in a different city, glad to know I am not the only one who is awestruck by the blooming flowers this spring. Loved reading the accompanying article too.

That’s all for today! I hope you found something in today’s newsletter that sparked motivation, made you smile or inspired a positive Monday thought. Don’t underestimate the power of starting small… a fulfilling week starts with just one fulfilling day. You’ve got this! 

Let’s make it a great Monday!
Megan

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