Musings

You know that feeling when you’re rushing around, trying to juggle a million things at once, and then—bam!—you stop and realize you haven’t really enjoyed any of it? I was having one of those “go-go-go” days when I stumbled upon this quote:
“Enjoy the little things in life … for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.” – Unknown.

At first, I kind of brushed it off. I mean, life’s busy, right? Who has time to slow down? But then, the more I thought about it, the more I realized—this quote is a total game-changer.

We’re so obsessed with big milestones—getting that promotion, finishing a book, traveling to the dream destination—things that feel like they define our success or happiness. But what about all the stuff in between? The tiny, almost forgettable moments that happen while we’re on our way to those big things?

I’m talking about the morning cup of coffee that’s just perfect. The kind where the steam curls up, filling the room with that rich, comforting aroma. Or when you’re walking down the street and the sun hits you in just the right way, warming your face like a big, invisible hug. Yeah, those moments.

I know, I know, it sounds a little corny, but I swear, when you really start paying attention, you notice these little things all around you. And suddenly, your day doesn’t feel as rushed. It’s like you’ve hit “pause” and you get a moment to just breathe.

Here’s the thing, though. Life has this weird way of speeding by, right? One minute, you’re planning your week, and the next, it’s already the weekend and you feel like you haven’t fully experienced the days in between. For me, there’s this urge to always be “productive,” to tick things off the to-do list, and it’s easy to forget about those small moments that don’t seem like they matter in the grand scheme of things.

But when you do take a step back, you realize those are the moments that make up life. Think about it—how often do we catch ourselves laughing at something silly? Or remember the last time someone gave you an unexpected compliment? It’s those little slices of joy that sneak into our everyday routine, and they end up being the things you remember when you look back.

I can’t help but think of my favorite bookshops (you know, the cozy ones that smell like old pages and coffee). I’ve spent hours wandering through those aisles, with no real agenda except to get lost in the stories. The quiet hum of the shop, the soft shuffle of pages, the smell of aged paper—it’s one of those things that makes my soul happy. It’s nothing huge, but when I look back, I think that’s what I’ll remember: not the big trips I’ve taken, but the small, peaceful moments spent with a book and a coffee in hand.

And here’s another one—pets. Okay, I think back to when I used to have my cat, but those little moments when he would hop on my lap and snuggles up for no reason other than he felt like it—that is pure bliss. It doesn’t get more simple than that, but when I think about the kind of comfort I’ll look back on years from now? That’s it.

You might be thinking, “But how can these things really matter in the long run?” Well, that’s exactly why they do. They’re the things that make us feel connected to ourselves, to others, to the world around us. These tiny little moments fill in the spaces between the “big things.” They’re the ones that give you that warm, fuzzy feeling when you’re remembering your past.

The truth is, we often get caught up in thinking life is all about the major milestones. It’s like we’re so focused on reaching the “big stuff” that we forget the little moments are what build the foundation for our happiness. One day, you might look back and realize that the happiness wasn’t just in the big achievements—it was in the way the rain smelled after a storm or how your favorite song made you feel on a random Tuesday. It’s those moments that add up and build your story.

So, here’s my challenge to you (and myself): Start paying attention to the little things. Don’t wait until it’s too late to realize what you had. Take a pause, notice the details, and let yourself really feel them. Whether it’s a shared laugh with a friend, the feeling of soft sheets on your skin at the end of a long day, or the quiet moment when you’re staring out at the sunset—you’ll realize that these little things, in all their simplicity, are actually what makes life big.

At least, that’s what I’m telling myself the next time I’m rushing through my day.

So I’ve been thinking about this Bob Marley quote lately: “The people who were trying to make this world worse are not taking the day off. Why should I?” And honestly? It’s been stuck in my brain like a song you can’t shake, especially with everything happening right now in the US and, well, pretty much everywhere else.

I mean, you turn on the news these days and it’s like… where do I even start? Climate disasters, political chaos, social injustice – it feels like the bad guys are working overtime while the rest of us are just trying to figure out what to have for lunch. But that’s exactly why Bob’s words pack such a punch, you know?

The Never-Ending Shift

Think about it – the people causing harm, spreading hate, destroying our planet? They’re not clocking out at 5 PM. They’re not taking mental health days or going on vacation from their terrible agenda. They’re persistent, they’re organized, and they’re relentless.

I was scrolling through social media the other day (mistake number one, I know), and I saw this thread about how certain political groups are literally meeting every single day to strategize ways to roll back voting rights. Every. Single. Day. Meanwhile, I struggle to remember to water my plants twice a week.

But here’s the thing that gets me fired up about Marley’s quote – it’s not about guilt-tripping us into becoming workaholics for good causes. It’s about recognizing that making the world better requires the same kind of dedication that making it worse does.

Small Acts, Big Impact

You don’t have to quit your day job and become a full-time activist (though if that’s your calling, go for it). Sometimes “not taking the day off” looks like calling your representatives while you’re waiting for your coffee to brew. Sometimes it’s having those uncomfortable conversations with family members at dinner. Sometimes it’s just showing up to vote in local elections that nobody talks about but actually affect your daily life way more than presidential races.

I remember this one time, I was feeling completely overwhelmed by everything wrong with the world. Like, paralyzed by it. My friend Sarah told me something that stuck: “You can’t save everyone, but you can save someone. And you can’t fix everything, but you can fix something.”

That really shifted my perspective. The bad actors aren’t trying to destroy everything all at once – they’re chipping away, bit by bit, day by day. So why shouldn’t our response be the same? Consistent, persistent, relentless good.

The Privilege Check

Now, I have to acknowledge something here – not everyone has the luxury of not taking a day off from world-changing. Some people are barely keeping their heads above water, working multiple jobs, dealing with health issues, caring for family members. The quote hits different when you’re in survival mode.

But I think that’s part of what makes it so powerful. Marley wasn’t speaking from a place of privilege – he lived through poverty, violence, and oppression. When he talked about not taking the day off, he was speaking from experience about what it takes to push back against systems designed to keep people down.

What Does “Not Taking the Day Off” Actually Look Like?

For me, it means staying informed even when the news makes me want to hide under my covers. It means donating when I can, volunteering when I can’t donate, and speaking up when I witness injustice – even when (especially when) it’s awkward.

It means remembering that every small action matters. That text you send checking on a friend who’s struggling? That matters. The local business you choose to support instead of the big chain? That matters. The time you spend listening to someone whose experience is different from yours? That definitely matters.

Sometimes it’s as simple as choosing hope over cynicism, which honestly feels revolutionary these days.

The Marathon Mindset

I’ve started thinking about social change like training for a marathon. You don’t run 26 miles on day one – you’d burn out or injure yourself. But you do show up consistently, build your stamina, and keep your eyes on the finish line.

The people working to make things worse? They understand this marathon mentality. They play the long game. They’re patient. They’re strategic. And that’s exactly why we need to match their energy with our own sustained effort toward justice and healing.

Finding Your Rhythm

The beautiful thing about Bob’s words is that they’re not prescriptive. He’s not telling you exactly how to spend your energy – just that you should spend it. Maybe your thing is environmental activism. Maybe it’s education reform. Maybe it’s supporting local artists or feeding people experiencing homelessness.

What matters is showing up consistently in whatever way feels authentic to you. Because the alternative – letting the destructive forces have the field to themselves – just isn’t an option.

So yeah, the people trying to make this world worse definitely aren’t taking the day off. But neither are we. And there are way more of us than there are of them.

That’s something worth remembering on the hard days.

Stay strong, stay engaged, and keep showing up.

---

Are you looking for an exciting adventure? A new magical world filled with hunky werewolves, gay protagonists and an epic quest?

This may be the paranormal novel you’re looking for!

Norian’s Gamble (The Wolves of Norbury)

So I stumbled across this quote by Matt Gemmell recently and it made me stop mid-sip of my overpriced oat milk latte and go, “YES. THIS. FINALLY.” Here it is:

“It’s OK to cut out negative people from your life. Everyone has a right to their opinion, but people don’t have a free pass to be heard by you, particularly if their manner of expression is consistently unpleasant or unproductive.”

I’m not saying I got it tattooed across my chest in Comic Sans, but I did scribble it on a Post-it and slap it on my fridge next to a magnet shaped like a screaming possum. Because let’s be real: some people are walking thunderclouds who never bring snacks or decent conversation to the party. Okay, onto the rant!

Opinions Are Not VIP Tickets

You know that person in your life (or maybe just on your Facebook feed) who thinks “just saying what everyone’s thinking” is an excuse to be a relentless buzzkill or an aggressively loud conspiracy theorist? Yeah. Them. They love to scream “FREE SPEECH!” like it’s a golden ticket to the Chocolate Factory of your attention span.

But here’s the thing—and it’s a big one, like family-reunion-potato-salad big: they have the right to speak, sure. But you also have the glorious, soul-saving, peace-restoring right to not listen. Freedom of speech doesn’t come with a built-in megaphone that points directly at your face 24/7. It’s not some magical force that requires you to sit politely while someone insults your intelligence, identity, or basic sense of decency.

Cutting the Cord (Emotionally, Not Like… the Cable. Unless You Want To.)

There’s a weird guilt that comes with cutting people off, especially if you were raised with that whole “be nice no matter what” kind of vibe. But sometimes? Being “nice” to toxic people just gives them a comfy seat on the couch of your life, where they can kick off their muddy boots and spread negativity like glitter at a toddler’s birthday party. And glitter, as we all know, never leaves.

So let’s just say it out loud: You don’t have to keep someone in your life just because you’ve known them since high school or they’re your second cousin or they once lent you a lawn chair in 2009. If someone constantly makes you feel like trash wrapped in tinfoil, you are not obligated to keep giving them access to your emotional bandwidth.

Especially Now

Have you noticed how everyone suddenly has a podcast or a TikTok where they’re just… confidently wrong? Like, proudly peddling conspiracy theories they found in a Reddit thread written by a guy whose profile picture is a lizard smoking a cigar?

There’s a lot of noise out there right now. Political bile. Unfounded rage. Deep-fried misinformation. People using “opinion” as a shield for racism, bigotry, and just plain being a jerk. And if you’re anything like me, it starts to feel like walking through a crowded room where everyone’s yelling into a megaphone made of static.

You don’t owe your mental health to every loudmouth with a hot take. You are not a public service announcement. You are not a debate moderator. You are not legally required to “hear both sides” when one side is spouting hatred wrapped in the American flag and the other side is just trying to, you know, exist.

My New Mantra: Block, Mute, Repeat

Let’s normalize saying “No thanks” to garbage energy. Let’s normalize muting people who drain us. Let’s normalize unfollowing the guy who thinks the moon landing was faked and that oat milk is a government mind-control serum (okay, I might listen to that one just for the entertainment value).

Cutting someone out doesn’t make you cruel. It makes you the bouncer at the club of your own sanity.

So yeah…

There’s a weird kind of freedom in reminding yourself that your attention is a privilege, not a guarantee. You can walk away from people who turn every conversation into a rage-fueled monologue. You can reclaim your headspace. You can choose joy, quiet, curiosity, love, literally anything other than someone else’s performative rage.

So here’s to turning down the volume, unfollowing without guilt, and leaving toxic folks on “read” forever. Your peace of mind deserves a little VIP treatment.

P.S. If someone’s ever told you “you’re too sensitive” just for asking to be treated with basic respect… they’re the problem, not you.

“Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” – Jim Rohn

Let me tell you a story.

A few years ago, I found myself staring at the blinking cursor on a half-finished novel. Again. Same cursor, same blinking, same doubt. It wasn’t just a writing rut—I was in a full-blown life rut. You know the kind: every day starts to feel like a photocopy of the last. Wake up, scroll on my phone longer than I should, eat the same breakfast (oatmeal with just enough cinnamon to pretend it’s interesting), and convince myself that tomorrow I’d finally get my act together.

Except tomorrow kept standing me up.

And then one morning, while mindlessly scrolling through a rabbit hole of “motivational” quotes—because that’s what you do when you don’t want to actually do anything—I came across this Jim Rohn quote: “Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.”

Now normally, I roll my eyes at stuff like that. Too tidy. Too Pinterest. But that one? That one smacked me in the face like a cold wind through a broken window. Because it called me out. No cosmic lottery was coming to save me. No magical inspiration fairy was going to whisper the ending of my novel into my ear while I watched YouTube. I had to change something.

That Nagging Need for Comfort

Here’s the thing: change is awful. At least at first.

Comfort zones are like old sweatpants—fraying, stained, maybe a little smelly, but so familiar. I was clinging to habits that made me feel temporarily safe but were slowly smothering my long-term happiness. I told myself I was “waiting for the right time.” Spoiler alert: the right time is just code for “never.”

But I started small.

I got up thirty minutes earlier. Not to be one of those annoying “5AM Miracle Morning” people, but just to carve out time to write before the world could interrupt. I swapped doomscrolling for journaling. I even said “yes” to a Zumba class, which was both terrifying and weirdly fun. (Still can’t shimmy properly, but hey, points for effort.)

The Sneaky Power of Small Shifts

Something interesting happened once I started changing tiny things: I began to trust myself again.

When you keep breaking promises to yourself—like I’ll start the novel next week or I’ll finally leave that toxic job after the holidays—your self-confidence quietly erodes. You stop believing your own voice.

But when I stuck to a single promise, even something as basic as “I will write 200 words today,” I felt a tiny flicker of pride. I wasn’t waiting for inspiration. I was showing up for myself.

Those flickers grew. One small change led to another. It was less about overhauling my life and more about tweaking the dials. I didn’t need to burn everything down—I just needed to stop sleepwalking through it.

What This Quote Actually Means (To Me)

Jim Rohn’s quote isn’t telling us to hustle harder or become productivity cyborgs. It’s a wake-up call. It’s a reminder that hoping things will improve is not the same as choosing to improve them.

It’s not about chasing some glamorous ideal. For me, it was about reclaiming a little agency. About saying: Okay, I may not control everything, but I can control something.

If You’re Still Stuck…

If you’re reading this and thinking, Yeah, but I don’t even know where to start, I get it. Truly. That space between wanting to change and knowing how is foggy and frustrating.

Start messy. Start unsure. Start with something you’ve already been thinking about for way too long. Rearrange your furniture. Unfollow someone who drains your energy. Sign up for that class that scares you a little.

Just don’t sit there waiting for your life to magically glow up on its own. That’s not how it works. Or if it is, I’ve never seen the memo.

The part where I get all reflective…

When I think about that version of myself who felt stuck and tired and weirdly hollow, I don’t feel shame anymore. I feel gratitude. Because he finally did something. Not huge. Not dramatic. Just something.

And that’s when life started to feel better—not by chance, but by change.

I was standing in line for coffee, sweating like I’d just sprinted through a marathon made entirely of awkward social encounters. Nothing dramatic had happened. No screaming toddlers. No spilled oat milk. Just me, alone with my brain, convinced I’d somehow messed up the simple act of ordering a latte.

“Did I say it too weird? Did the barista think I was rude? What if I said my name too softly and now they’re going to call it wrong and then I’ll just stand there like a total idiot while everyone stares…”

If that sounds familiar, congratulations—you might also be playing Seth Godin’s anxiety game: “experiencing failure over and over again in advance.”

And wow, that quote hit me like a ton of emotional bricks wrapped in passive-aggressive to-do lists.

Living in the “What Ifs”

The thing about anxiety is that it’s sneaky. It wears different outfits depending on the day. Sometimes it’s dressed as perfectionism, whispering that if I just do everything flawlessly, I’ll be safe. Other times it’s a full-blown doomsday prophet in my brain, predicting terrible outcomes to things that haven’t even happened yet—and probably never will.

Like, I’ll be about to hit “send” on an email and suddenly, my brain’s like:
“You’ve definitely used the wrong tone and now they’ll hate you and you’ll be blacklisted from polite society and also probably die alone.”

Cool. Thanks, brain.

It’s wild how vivid the mind gets when it’s scared. It paints entire failure montages—job interviews where I say something stupid, parties where no one talks to me, dentist appointments where I somehow offend the hygienist and she never flosses me again out of spite.

I’m not just worrying. I’m mentally rehearsing disasters like a Broadway understudy for disaster scenarios that don’t exist.

Fear Without a Trigger

What’s especially frustrating is that nothing needs to happen for anxiety to show up. It doesn’t need a cue. There’s no “and now presenting: the stressful event!” It can kick in while folding laundry, checking the fridge for the fifth time, or walking through Target trying to remember what I came for (usually deodorant, always forgotten).

And then comes the guilt loop:
Why are you anxious?
You have nothing to be anxious about.
Other people have it worse.
Get it together.

Which, by the way, never helps.

Because anxiety isn’t always logical. It’s not always triggered by trauma or current stress. Sometimes it just is. And that’s okay. It’s not a character flaw. It’s not something broken in you. It’s just your brain trying to protect you by showing you the worst-case scenario on repeat, like a glitchy PowerPoint.

The Mic Drop of the Seth Godin Quote

When I first heard Seth Godin’s line—“Anxiety is experiencing failure over and over again in advance”—I felt like someone had cracked open my head, peeked inside, and nailed it in one sentence.

It reframed things for me. Made me pause. Made me realize that I was running disaster drills for fires that weren’t even smoldering.

What if I just… didn’t?

Not in a flippant, “just stop being anxious!” way (if only), but in a small, curious way. What if I noticed the fear spiral before it swallowed me and said, “Oh hey. I see you. You think we’re going to fail. That’s sweet. But maybe let’s wait and see?”

Sometimes I even write down my worst-case scenario and then, right below it, the most realistic one. And below that, the best possible outcome. It’s weirdly grounding.

A Tiny Bit of Peace

Here’s what I’ve learned—and I’m saying this both to you and to future-me who will 100% need to reread this:

Anxiety is trying to keep us safe. It means well. But it’s also not a prophet. It’s not fate. It’s just a loud narrator with terrible timing and a flair for melodrama.

You don’t have to rehearse failure to protect yourself.
You can just show up.
You can let life surprise you.
And maybe, just maybe, you can order your latte without mentally planning your exile from society.