Day 30 – “LAST”
During the month of April, I’m writing 30 Words for 30 Days: Thoughts from Six Feet Away, one topic per day. Find out why here.
“LAST”
This is it.
Day 30 of 30 Words for 30 Days.
My last post in this series.
It’s been pretty amazing, as I look back, to see all that has happened over just these 30 days.
Some of it has been related to COVID-19 and how the world is changing.
But there have also been three birthdays this month in our family, Easter and more.
If you’ve never pushed yourself to do something you thought you couldn’t do, I highly recommend it.
There were plenty of days that I just drew a blank as to what word to focus on, what to write, what was coming next.
But one thing was for sure.
The best way to stick with something is to commit to it and let other people know.
And it’s also amazing what can happen on Day 16.
The Day 16 Email
A funny thing happened on April 16th.
Like on a few other days this month, I was feeling down and ready to pack it in on writing for this series.
It had been a rough day in a number of ways and I was questioning whether anyone really even cared about what I was writing (or if I even did on that day).
I was honestly talking myself through the fact that it’s OK to stop. I gave it a good shot. No harm in regrouping and trying another time.
And that’s when I got a notification. From my friend Vincent.
It said that he had tagged me in a post in our private Facebook community.
So I went and checked it out… and my jaw dropped.
In his post, he basically said that he had mentioned me in his email newsletter (that I ironically hadn’t finished reading) and given me a shout-out for writing every day on my blog.
“Oh, crap!” I thought.
Then I sat there and just started laughing.
Don’t give up
You see, as I had battled that day with giving up, I had prayed and basically told God that if I should keep going with the writing, He would need to show me something. Anything.
And then that notification came. And I read the email.
And I laughed again.
It was the kind of timing that only a God who knows everything going on behind the scenes could pull off.
And that email, that shout-out was exactly what I needed right at that moment to get me unstuck and keep me going.
Vincent had no idea (and maybe still doesn’t) how much that email meant and how key the timing was. On that specific day. Exactly when I was packing it in.
I wonder who you know who is on their Day 16?
Who around you could you offer encouragement to today, so that it won’t be their last day?
Who is right on the edge and just needs that nudge from you?
Don’t miss an opportunity to be that voice, to offer that encouragement, to be the one standing with your friend.
I’m thankful for Vincent’s friendship and for that email on that specific day.
For me, it was everything. It meant that at least one person was watching, reading, noticing me trying.
All it takes is one.
So, where do I go from here?
I’m not sure quite yet. I liked writing every day and will continue to in some form, but not sure what that will look like yet.
For you, why not take a similar step.
Can you create art for 30 days or do 30 days of push ups?
Could you try smiling more for 30 days or sending encouraging texts?
Whatever it is, let me know about it.
I want to cheer you on, especially at Day 16.
-shawn