We have houses and air conditioning, can get our groceries brought to us and can watch any movie at the click of a button while we eat microwaved food that took 5 minutes to make. We have it pretty easy in the grand scheme of things.

I felt the tickle in the back of my throat on Labor Day right after we ate lunch and went to the movies. The throat soreness steadily got worse in the afternoon and by the time bedtime arrived, I felt like I was swallowing knives.

We played hours of games and laughed until our cheeks hurt. I started a new Bible study at church. We encountered our first mouse in the house. Paul got his closet organized and we started on the bedroom wall that I’ve had in my vision for a long time. We booked our first CRUISE!

I have literally never done that before at any place I have lived. I’m not sure if it’s Texas or if it’s just the fact that I’m older and more interested in actually getting to know the people who inhabit the same spot on earth that I do, but either way, I’m kind of enjoying it.

And in the process it prompts lots of uncomfortable situations and awkward conversations trying to explain what you are doing to other people and then (most likely) having to defend your decision to do these weird arbitrary things to strangers.

The mental challenge of doing something knowing you will get no recognition for it….that you are doing it solely for yourself…it’s sad to say but it just doesn’t feel as good. Of course not! We all want accolades and recognition for doing hard things. It may be sad but it is true.

…there is just something about people sharing knowingly divisive things that just makes me feel sad and disconnected from people which is the opposite of what social media is supposed to be.

The desire to give up because “what does it really matter anyway?” is really starting to set in which leads back to those two things I mentioned above.

I’m really beginning to think that it’s not necessarily the things you are doing every day…its the doing it every. single. day. that is where the real challenge comes from.

That means that I have to focus on getting it done in the morning but getting up at 6am has never been a strong suit of mine. Like ever. I’ve always been a night owl and not a morning person.

Sometimes it can be really difficult not to “follow through” on something you said you were going to do, but I think there is value in learning from things and making adjustments based on rational and logical decisions. As long as you don’t get in the habit of lying to yourself…you should be good.

I’m officially over it.

But “it” isn’t necessarily what you think.

I used to have more of that type of relationship with Facebook and Instagram was the fun place to be but ever since the start of Covid..Instagram transitioned into becoming a place I loved and also loathed.

We missed our walk this morning. Slept in a little bit and then had to get ready to head into church. I knew this would happen from time to time…especially if we stay in bed until 6:30 or later.

It's something that I struggle to explain, my desire to write. It feels antithetical to what drives most people today - short, fast entertainment that doesn't offer a lot of connection.

…but the thing about this challenge is that it's not necessarily the level of difficulty to do each of the things individually...the difficulty lies in the continuous nature of the challenge.

I went back and forth for a while on wether or not I needed to do a “formal” statement on Instagram about my 75 day absence.

I love a good challenge. I’ve done quite a few “hard” things in my life which I have 100% voluntarily decided to do. Maybe I’m crazy but I think there is something magical about deciding to do something really difficult and then completing it.