This morning I got up early for the first time in 2 weeks. I know, I feel like I’ve been keeping a secret from you. Well, it has to do with the fact that my husband had to leave uber-early every day for a week and also that I cut the heck out of my foot last week. So. Those are not excuses for not getting up early. But there they are.
Now. This morning. At 5:55am I glared at my clock. But then I tried to think about my book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. {Really, really interesting, by the way.} I thought about my new Keens. I thought about the fan making me a little cold. I thought of anything that would motivate me to jump out of bed. And somehow I did it. I was up at 6:00am on the dot.
I walked. I listened. I noticed how crazy dark it is at 6am. Then I snuck back into the house and added something NEW to my morning routine. After reading this AMAZING post by Kat about low and unimpressive goals, I decided just walking and listening to books about whatever struck my fancy wasn’t going to actually motivate me for very long. So, I grabbed my Bible, my 2010 journal and a pen…and hid in my closet. Les was up getting Asa and I didn’t want Asa to jump on the Mommy-train until I was out of the shower.
So, I sat in my closet and opened up my journal. I like a new journal for every year. I love the new pages. I love wondering what they will hold. Of course, I don’t journal like I used to (obviously: BLOG.) But I still NEED one if the urge hits. Apparently the urge hasn’t hit much because here it is August and I’m only 10 or 15 pages into this journal. The first entry was January 27. And it said,
I did it. For the 1st time ever I got up before the kids. It’s 6:05 but kinda feels like 4.
Then I went on to explain why I’m up and how a sermon called Taking Responsibility for My Life. Really. and a little ebook called Maximize Your Mornings inspired me to get up early and read my Bible among other things.
Next entry?
February 1st. Not bad–that’s less than a week. And a few encouraging words from that entry?
“Really? Do I have to get up?”
February 2nd.
“Oh my. It’s not hard to be up–just get up.”
February 23rd.
“Oh, hello 21 days later. How did I fall off the wagon so quickly?”
And that my friends was the last entry. Four days I got up early to read my Bible.
Not very motivating is it?
As I grabbed my pen to write this morning, I had a new outlook. Those January and February mornings were my first attempt at figuring out how to take control of my day. It took me months to figure out I need to be out of the house. I need some quiet wake-up time. I need something that motivates me (for me, an interesting read) and absolute ALONE time. After months of these quiet walks (and as we all know, I really mean WALKS), I was ready to add something else. The real thing I’ve been wanting: to read my Bible.
And don’t be too impressed. I’m not doing a Beth Moore Bible study. I’m not pulling up some exegesis from my Bible College days. I’m just reading the book of Matthew. I just read until something is interesting and then I write it down. That’s all. I might write down the fact that Jesus said something in an interesting way or that there was some amazing detail in the description. No big conclusions or “go-and-do-likewise” moments. Just reading.
And by 7:30am I was done with a walk, a chapter of Barbara Kingsolver, 7 verses in Matthew, a 5 sentence prayer, a shower, hair, makeup and a real outfit in place. While Lydia was still getting up, Asa and I made french toast sticks and started some meatballs for dinner. It’s not even 9am yet and I’m feeling a different kind of motivation. I set a little goal (just add the Bible to the morning) and I accomplished it for one day. Maybe in 6 more months I’ll add 15 more minutes in the morning, or start a load of clothes or do yoga. Or maybe I’ll add it next week. Regardless, today I motivated myself.
What have you done today that’s motivated you? What little goal can you add to motivate you to do more?
linked to Kat’s Motivation Monday
Kat @ Inspired To Action says
I love your blog. Your honesty mixed with wisdom.
You inspire me. 🙂
Tim Weston says
My motivation for today was that it’s day one of 140+ of training for the Walt Disney World Half Marathon in January. This is WAY out of my comfort zone, but I received a mailing from Team in Training (part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) a few weeks back and decided to sign up. I’ve never even attempted a 5K, so 13.1 miles might as well be walking across the continent!
I woke up at 5 a.m. as usual, but instead of easing into the day with some television or music, I put on some workout clothes and headed to my apartment’s gym to do 25 minutes of cross training. When I finished I felt absolutely incredible. I felt better at 5:45 a.m. than I have most days at 7 a.m. I felt energized and ready to face the day, which, IMHO, is impressive considering it’s a Monday. I’m sharing my progress with my friends on Twitter, so they’re my accountability group, something I desperately need right now if I’m going to walk a half marathon.
I think my next goal is the same as your current one: to add some Bible reading to my day. I confess that I’m downright terrible at keeping that commitment, so maybe a plan similar to what you’re doing will work for me, too.
Lisa~ says
Great post…baby steps my friend. 🙂
I always encourage myself by reminding myself that while I may not be at my goal, at least I am moving in that direction.
It’s hard not to let an injury get you down, but you’ll be fine before you know it! That morning Bible study will help. Lisa~
Leigh says
fabulous! I’ve learned that spending ANY time with God in the morning helps my day so much!!!
holly says
I can totally relate to your feeling. I have found when I can get up earlier to have that quiet time, I ultimately end up being MUCH MORE productive throughout the day. It’s kind of weird how it works, but it does 🙂
Crystal says
LOL! That sounds exactly like me! I get the itch to change things up, be good, get up early before the kids do to read, to exercise, and actually be dressed for the day before I get them up, but it only lasts a very fews days! And I have like a billion notebooks that only have like 10 entries!!
Natalie says
I could use a good dose of motivation for sure. When I get up early I love it (it almost is like there are magical little elves like Kat joked), yet somehow there’s always a reason it doesn’t work out.