Give Yourself a Break and Add it to the List

Does your to-do pile look like this?

I am a big list person. I love lists; so much so that I wrote an entire chapter in my new book about creating successful lists and strategies to use lists to boost your confidence. Writing a "to-do" list and checking things off is a visual and tangible way to record moving forward progress.

I am going to add things to this list
as I accomplish them

I especially love those days when I have a full page of things to do and I can just check them all off, I get such a rush of accomplishment when I can see what I actually got done during a day. However, I have been spending a lot of time lately focusing on the final editing and formatting of my upcoming book and so the daily to do list has consisted of only one thing; “publish the book” and because that process is much longer than one day, I have not been able to check it off leaving me with several weeks of daily lists left unchecked. This is not a set-up for success, so today I am going to test a new list and see how it works – while I am testing it I would also love to get feedback from you about how it worked for you – so let’s try this together…

Did I mention that I have been consumed by one thing for weeks now? And yet, as an engaged and active professional I have had more than one item, one project, one assignment land on my desk in the last month and I have been doing my best air-traffic controlling to deal with urgent matters and park most everything else into the overflow lot. And now the pile-up, literally, in my overflow lot is crashing down around me so I am going to get it done today. But if I were to sit down and make a list of all of the things in the pile I have to get done, it would take all day so I am going to try a different strategy. A backwards list.

One thing done!

I am going to start at the top of the pile and get one thing done each hour. As I accomplish, finish, or process each thing, I am going to write it down on my backwards list. Today I am going to get at least 12 things done from the pile – I think this is going to work, in fact, I think it is going to be a lot of fun! First thing accomplished…write a post for my blog. Check…only 11 more things to do today…what’s next?

Give yourself a gift today and add something to the list.

My book 100 Days of Giving is about these kinds of gifts exactly, sharing our gifts with others and ourselves so that we can be creative and intentional in giving. If you found this exercise to be helpful - I would love to hear about it and I know my readers would love it too - so please post your experiences and I will post them so that others can continue giving, one simple gift at a time.

100 Days of Giving is available as an e-book you can purchase it for $2.99 at Smashwords: 100 Days of Giving e-book at Smashwords or for your Kindle at 100 Days of Giving e-book at Amazon and get all of the daily experiences, journaling exercises and stories.

Kathy Stutzman is a creative connector, writer , consultant, and all around cockeyed optimist. For more about Kathy Stutzman go to: @KathyStutzman, www.KathyStutzman.blogspot.com www.onehundreddaysofgiving.blogspot.com or contact her at kastutzm@smig.net. 

It really is the thought that matters...

These flowers decorated a pavillion in rural Nicaragua
making me feel like royalty

Today, I was reminded how powerful the gift of kindness is and what it feels like to be the recipient of a very simple and effective gift...by a total stranger.

The Best High School Graduation Party Idea...Ever!

This t-shirt quilt was one of my daughter's favorite
graduation gifts (made by my other daughter), but it was a
simple activity at her graduation party that impacted her
for months after the party was over.

The best high school graduation party idea ever!

Last year was my final year to host a high school graduation party and wouldn’t you know…that the best idea for any high school graduation party came to me then. I filed it away waiting for the perfect time to share it with others and today that event happened while I was dropping off some work to a colleague. I am so glad that the administrative secretary shared with me that she is preparing for her final high school graduation party so that I could be reminded of this fantastic, simple and really super-impacting idea for all involved. Are you ready? It is so fun and easy that you will be amazed that you hadn’t thought of it sooner…here goes…

Dream...It's All About The Gift of Giving

Day 75 of 100 Days of Giving offered a turning point in the experience - the realization that the sheer act of giving was giving me a focus, a point, a purpose and it was on this day that I realized I was part of something really important. To read more about the experience go to Day 75

So today - I am focusing on creating that same experience - of just being grateful and thrilled about giving...can't wait for the morning to come so that I can have that special moment again. I can't wait to hear about your experiences too...

Each day of the 100 Days of Giving includes a daily reflection for you to consider. Included within the 100 days are interludes, bonus times to stop and reflect. While you are reflecting...be sure to remember to LIKE 100 Days of Giving on Facebook

100 Days of Giving is about hope, healing and simple gifts in times of difficulty and creating opportunities for each of us to have fun with unique ways of giving.

Today's reflection is about dreaming and giving Day 75 enjoy!

All 100 Days of Giving are available as an e-book you can purchase it for $3.99 at Smashwords: 100 Days of Giving e-book at Smashwords or for your Kindle at 100 Days of Giving e-book at Amazon and get all of the daily experiences, journaling exercises and stories.

 Your daily reflection: Give yourself the gift of giving and dream.

For your daily giving journal: Day 75

• What did you give today?
• How did this impact your life?

To write your comments on 100 Days of Giving on Facebook click here

Please feel free to write about your experience in the comments section, share with someone else, or keep to yourself...whatever works for you, just keep in mind that one of the most important part of giving is being open to receiving and the more you share with others, the more you will receive in return. As difficult as receiving may be for you, it is an essential part of giving, so challenge yourself and give receiving a try, or a "do...there is no try, only do."

LIKE 100 Days of Giving on Facebook

Now that 100 Days of Giving is available as an e-book you can purchase it for $2.99 at Smashwords: 100 Days of Giving e-book at Smashwords  see coupon in sidebar for Smashwords and get all of the daily experiences, journaling exercises and stories.

To read about all 100 days's giving experiences you can download the e-book in a variety of formats at:

 100 Days of Giving at Smashwords

or through Amazon for your Kindle: 100 Days of Giving e-book at Amazon

And now available "From The Eye of The Hurricane" eBook a collection of short stories and poems that sets the stage for, and provides the back-story for "100 Days of Giving"

From The Eye of The Hurricane available at Smashwords
From The Eye of the Hurricane