OK – Monday was majorly enlightening. I had to go to the mall to pick up some See’s candy (the downside? It was a gift for someone else.) and help Roger pick out some new glasses. (I have a total Danny Gokey of American Idol fixation when it came to glasses, and Roger and I have an agreement about picking out frames. As we are the people who have to look at our husband/wife the most, we get to help with the buying decision.)

I had some time to kill, and money burning a hole in my pocket. This happens about as often as I wake up and say to myself, “Wow, this feels like a great morning for a hike.”

You see, my good friend and amazing speaker, Cheri Gregory gave me a sweet gift: $150 in Visa gift cards. Nice friend, huh? I spent $50 taking Roger out to dinner (before the 30 day challenge), but the other $100 was right there, in my wallet, waiting to be spent.

Now I could have spent it at Target on the light bulbs we needed, or a new shower curtain for the kid’s bathroom, but really? I wanted to spend it just on me.

So I wandered the mall, and tried to think of something that I really, really wanted.

Nothing.

I have to tell you, that is so not like me.

Usually at the end of a chaotic work day, I feel like I deserve to go out to dinner. And, if we happen to be at the mall, then I can always find a reason to hit Macys or Bare Essentials or something.

But Monday? I had spent the day working, yes, but also reading all of your great comments, and taking very good care of myself. I spent time in the morning praying, watering my garden, reading and such. I took lots of breaks from work to read your posts, and looking forward to seeing some friends that evening.

And that was enough. Retail therapy not required.

Part of this 30 Day challenge is to find out what enough is for me. Yes, some of that has been making sure that I work hard to be able to continue to do what I love. But part of it is the realization that I don’t need to reward myself with a dinner out 4x a week. What if my daily life was reward enough? What if, doing what I believe God has designed me to do, serving others, learning to love Him, working to love my family better, being a part of a community, was enough?

I want to be more purposeful in my living – physically, emotionally and spiritually – and part of that is slowing down and taking very good care of myself.

So here are 10 things I am doing this week to do just that:

  1. Planning a week of healthy menus that also taste amazing (fingers crossed)
  2. Reading an excerpt of Praying God’s Word by Beth Moore
  3. Reading a book for 20 minutes that has nothing to do with my work. (This week’s book? Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell)
  4. Walking to the lake and back
  5. Praying at 1:00 (I have a timer on my cell phone that reminds me to stop and pray)
  6. Slicing up a flat of strawberries
  7. Sending the See’s candy to a friend of mine in Atlanta (yes, this does make me happy.)
  8. Taking my computer out to our back patio to write
  9. Researching herb gardens online
  10. Talking with my friend Angela

I used to think that I didn’t have any time to take care of myself, but everything I have listed here (excluding writing on the back patio – which is part of my workday,) takes less time than an episode of couple episodes of Oprah.

I know most of you would (like me,) will have a hard time coming up with 10 things, soooo…

Here is my question for you: What is ONE thing you are going to do to take care of yourself today? Commit it here – commit it loud and allow us to hold you accountable.

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