In order to go on our little holiday last week, we left a very anxious Obi with one of his favourite aunties, who has definitely been a dog whisperer in at least one previous life.
Not only has his play-biting habit vanished, but she had him out in the park at 7am for a few days in a row, which we have literally never done because 9am life is so nice for us.
But on returning to a very chilled and easy Obi, it was immediately obvious that the earlier time was much nicer for him.
So I’m a 7am person now, and today it made me wonder what else is due for review.
I pulled out all my favourite thinking tricks: pottering around, followed by a hot shower, followed by some journalling.
And BOOM! Several things shot up to the front of my mind and out onto the page.
There were some small things and some big things, ranging from to-do items (text the vet) up all the way up to some big mindset shifts (restructure my ideal working day, based one where I am now, instead of where I was when I first mapped it out).
It’s very comfortable to avoid these life-changing reviews. Change is uncomfortable and it means work: shifting your habits is not easy.
But writing never changes, and because it’s so constant, it actively helps when you need to make a change.
It’s always there: it will hold you accountable, certainly, because you can’t undo what you wrote in the past. But it will also give you something to hope for, reminding you about why you decided to make a change in the first place.
It’s the great record-keeper of your life. It’s the unflinching mirror that shows you where you need to go and who you need to be.
Writing is humbling, a lot of the time. But it’s also a place to celebrate your wins, record your milestones, and give yourself the space you need to grow. It’s your history, written by the only person living it.
So if it feels like a change is on the wind, or something isn’t fitting quite right anymore, make your own ritual to get to the heart of it.
Maybe it’s a run, then some meditation, then journalling. Or it could be a swim, then a walk in the sand and then journalling when you get home.
Whatever it is — get in your body, calm your mind, and then get some words on paper.