Yesterday was challenge day 1. At some point I caught myself: running around making sure everyone around me had what they needed, and realizing I hadn't even made my own tea yet. That sounds small. It's not. For me - and maybe for you too - putting myself last is so automatic I don't even notice I'm doing it. It's not sacrifice. It's just... the default setting I'm often running on. The challenge isn't just about the habits we track. It's about the moment you catch yourself mid-pattern and choose differently. So right now I'm making my tea first. Then I'll show up for others. What's your "tea first" today? 🍵

Just started the ADHD Awakening Assessment and already realized something wild: I can prep for a hurricane in hours, but I can't start the courses sitting on my computer that could change my financial life. Turns out my brain doesn't run on routines or willpower. It runs on urgency. And there's a reason I keep avoiding the things that matter most. Also, something Jim said today really stuck with me. He talked about making small, consistent changes, like putting in just 1% each day. I realized that this has always been a challenge for me. It’s really hard for me to put in effort and not see results quickly. Logically, I know that real change doesn’t happen overnight, but emotionally, it’s tough to wait. When I don’t feel like anything is improving, or it’s not happening fast enough, I get discouraged pretty easily…and then I end up giving up. I have to believe I’m not the only one who struggles with this.

Day 1 Done! Biggest insight: I'm actually on the right track already. I felt like I was off-track (as usual) on the journey to getting better, but it turns out I'm already implementing some of the things now. My open loop is: Sage told me: Open one piece of mail today. Just one. Not all of it. Not the scary one. Pick the easiest envelope in the pile, open it, and put it down. That's the whole assignment. You're not tackling the mail. You're proving to your nervous system that the step before the step is survivable. 🙂 One word to describe how I feel: Accomplished!

The reason I gave up conventional teaching is because I just got burned out! Completely & fully. I grieved deeply (crashed), and then as I started to come out of my bed a lil, I started taking online classes - which led me to realizing that I could start on one of my life goals: to write and publish :) I don't think I'll ever be able to go back to a fixed schedule, nor would I want to ;)

Just finished the first section of my ADHD Snapshot and realized something wild: I've been writing tender letters to my 7-year-old self while still adjusting myself daily to stay "on the good side" of everyone around me. The compassion I'd give her, I've never once given the adult version of me.