I was telling someone about something that happened, and then I realized it was earlier this month. Oof. January always feels like the month that never ends.

A few days ago, my partner was talking to his mom on the phone. She asked him what’s been going on, then he turned to me and asked me what’s been going on, ha! I told him we had friends over for dinner two weekends (and all the requisite cleaning and cooking that goes along with hosting), prepared for winter storms and were just generally getting back into our routines.

Afterwards, I started thinking about progress, and how a good portion of our time is spent getting ready for the actual work.

I watch a ton of cooking videos, and you can watch how to make something delicious in under 2 minutes. It makes it all seem so easy. That’s because they don’t show you going to the grocery store or prepping ingredients, and they don’t show the dish cooking in the oven for an hour. Those aren’t the most appealing parts, but they are all part of the process.

I’m trying to embrace that. I’m looking at how I do things at a meta level to see where I can make improvements. I’m also challenging myself to appreciate the parts that aren’t glamorous, are time-consuming and even frustrating. There’s a saying that the only way out is through. Isn’t that the truth!

It’s not easy to build new habits, making improvements or otherwise adjusting what we’re already doing. But, if we have to do it all anyway, why not make it better for you and for others. January isn’t yet over, so there’s still time to set some resolutions for the new year. What do you want to make better in 2024? Let me know in the comments below.

Until next time, stay safe and be well!

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