PEBBLE
Aim to flow, not to finish.
~Michelle Boyd, shared by Laurie in Champaign, IL
BOULDER
There will always be something in your inbox, even when you die. No matter how hard we try to get everything done in one day, there will always be things left undone, and that’s okay. We just do the best we can every day.
~Ray Williams, shared by Chelsea in Chicopee, MA
PONDER
I immediately connected with today’s pebble when my childhood pal Laurie sent it in (shoutout to the many other Carbondale folks who are part of the Ripples Community!). I asked Laurie why this quote landed so well for her, and her response was just as ponder-worthy:
“I’m often so focused on finishing the project, the essay, the repair, the goal, the day. Michelle encourages me to focus on the process—the flow state. This helps me feel more ease, more enjoyment of the present, and shifts me from go-go-go into simply being. And I still get things done, just more from a place of flow than from anxiety.”
And when Chelsea shared the wisdom she used to hear from her friend Ray (who has since passed away)? Well… the two quotes were obviously meant for each other.
They were also meant for me.
A decent chunk of my success in work and life has come from that go-go-go energy Laurie described. And… it took me a while to recognize just how depleting that energy can be.
Adding mindfulness practices to my daily life has helped me discover something surprising: I don’t have to choose between effectiveness and enjoyment. There’s a middle path where both can exist at the same time—a steadier pace that makes room for presence, even if it means leaving a few things undone.
On the days I find that groove? Well… it’s pretty groovy, indeed.
Any chance I could convince you to try leaving one thing undone…on purpose?
Peace,
Paul
P.S. I’ve freely offered these little weekly splashes for 1,404 weeks (over 27 years!). A huge shout-out to the 200-ish members of the Team Ripples Patreon Community who each pitch in a few bucks a month to keep Ripples free and ad-free for everyone. If it ever feels like your turn to pitch in, there are a few bonus treats waiting for you… along with some opportunities to connect a little more with The Ripples Guy.