Making the most of our days

“The realization that I may have only a few good years remaining has hit me with real force, and I have done a lot of thinking as a result… I try to figure out what I really want to do every day. I try to say to myself, ‘If this is one of the last days of my life, am I doing exactly what I want to be doing?’” ~Nora Ephron

Last month, I wrote several posts about habits, rituals, and routines. As I looked at my own, I realized that not all habits are unhealthy. Just because you do something “routinely” doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Quite a few of my favorite rituals — lemon water in the morning; a daily walk with my dog — are healthy routines or positive choices. Likewise, I make a habit of looking for opportunities to compliment people and to express my gratitude every day.

Along these lines, Nora Ephron’s quote hit me where I live this week — especially since I’ve been battling a wicked virus that sent me to an urgent care clinic yesterday. As I recover, I’m asking myself how I want to spend each day. And I’m reminding myself that life isn’t merely a correction facility. I need to affirm the positive actions I take — and not just scold myself for behavior that misses the mark. ~CL