Keeping the promise(s) I made

Beautiful, isn't it?

November is coming to an end and there is 1 month left before we all leave 2021. At the end of the month I usually make a list of the good and useful things and the bad things that I have done for the whole month. I do this so that I can get rid of the bad things and continue to do the good things. So that I can start the new month with a more positive feeling. That is one of the promises I made to myself.

I like to start a new life on the first day of each month. A new month means another commitment to many things. Things that I think will have a good effect on me if I do it continuously. I realized that there are simple habits or activities that consistently make me happier, healthier, more productive, or more creative.

Honestly, when we're trying to create a good habit, starting is hard, and starting again is harder. So, if there's a habit we don't want to break, we should try never to stop. Totally agree. Knowing this fact, I try as much as I can to not break the good things that I did. So, I called it a promise. Now, these are small promises or, rather, promises to do small things. The three main promises I've made and (mostly) kept are:

1. Read for an hour (or more) every day

To use my leisure time to read heaps of wonderful books! I started reading again since the pandemic hit the whole world. You can see my full story I'm Feeling Stressed Due To Pandemic But That's Totally Okay! After a couple of months I definitely see an amazing improvement in 6 months by reading a book. By reading I try to know myself better. I think a good book can be everything that we wish to pursue, experience and understand in this life. But even so, sometimes I don't understand the whole book I read. The main factor may be because of the meaning that I do not catch and sometimes there are some elements that make me unable to understand the context of what is described in a book. But that didn't stop me from reading.

Reading Beautiful World, Where Are You written by Sally Rooney

Sometimes a question arises from inside my head, “I have read a book but it didn't stick to my memory. What is the purpose of reading then?” it took a long time to find the answer to this question actually. I think every book I read helps me to build new vocabulary, learn new information, improve my writing skills, as well as my critical thinking skills, understanding of the world and the list goes on. Reading makes me a better human being regardless of whether I am conscious of it or not!

Two weeks ago I read A Simple Life written by Desi Anwar. In her book she writes Reading for me has become a true source of joy. Until now, it still is. It is the truest form of pleasure we can have because the act of reading is to give ourselves over to all the senses and the reaches that life and living in this world can endow us with. Moreover, it is a pleasure that is ours alone and we need not share it with anyone. The act of reading is at once solitary and yet far from lonely. A simple act that opens our mind up to complexities and unlimited possibilities; a stillness that takes us on journeys beyond our imaginations. A statement that makes me happy and I don't have to worry if I feel that I am alone in this world.

2. Walk for an hour a day

I have made a promise to myself that I have to take a walk at least one hour per day since starting working two years ago. I used to hate it at first, but now I really enjoy taking a walk everyday. My walking time is my thinking time, my planning time, my time for making long to-do lists in my head. Somehow, no matter how dire things seemed (and they often seemed pretty dire), everything always seemed better after walking outdoors. It made such an enormous difference in my state of mind that I have kept it up. Walking outdoors always makes me feel better.

I feel so lucky to live in an area near the university, though the absence of sidewalks and the presence of speeding cars means that getting completely lost in a reverie can be treacherous. I walk in the park in the university area most every day and when I don’t (when the siren song of Netflix is too strong) I really feel it haha. But, if I feel too lazy to move or the weather is bad, I’ll just do walking at my neighborhood for at least 20 minutes, with the fresh air on my face and letting my thoughts wander invariably answers the moment’s need, whether it be trying to feel a little happier and healthier, finding inspiration for writing creatively, or solving a problem. That’s really a nice thing to do every day!

3. Do workout (at least) 20 - 30 minutes every day

Since starting work I rarely move or do sports, so I thought it would be better if I at least did some light exercise in my room. I'm sure it will be good for my health. Last year, I found a workout I loved doing, and that helped me set the tone for how I treated myself. I think it became something I did for myself because it felt good. It wasn’t easy, I know. But I (try to) do it everyday because I love my body and I want to be as healthy and strong as possible.

😶✌😀😛

Well, that’s the things that I (try) to do every day. Do I ever break those promises? Yes, I break these promises frequently, but I keep them more often than I break them, and I'm able to keep them precisely because they require only less than three hours out of twenty-four. Because I believe small things done faithfully produce astonishing results.

Keeping the promises I make to myself has made a huge difference in my life. Because once I have kept my promises to myself, I can be cheerfully generous for the rest of the day to others. And also, keeping my small-but-mighty promises to myself has freed me to do a better job of keeping the promises I make to others.

Xoxo

Deb :)