Like a swift kick in the pants is how the first week back to school after break feels.

I had the best intentions to check every single thing off my to-do list this week but was more than blindsided by the inevitable whirlwind that is created by this kind of transition.  The older I get, the more I realize that it isn’t that I detest change completely, it’s that I’m just a little slow to adjust.  But now that the week is behind me, I am happy to report that – most importantly – I survived, and also, I think I’ll find my rhythm in no time.

Not too long ago, it would have been so easy for me to get down on myself for all of the things I did not do this week that I had planned to.  I’d be discouraged by the fact that I missed (and ate!) things I said that I wouldn’t, discouragement which would have most likely lead to endeavors being abandoned altogether.

Luckily, I’ve learned that executing a to-do list flawlessly is never the goal.  I often get more accomplished during the weeks when my list is left incomplete because I find that I am fueled by productivity.  I tend to get more done when I have more going on to begin with which might not make a lot of sense but that is just the kind of mystery I am.

Instead, I focus on the progress I make as opposed to the perfection of my efforts.  As a lifelong perfectionist, it has taken me quite a while to understand the incredible value of this simple mind shift.

There’s a full moon in the sky tonight, the first of a new decade.  I’ll be gathering all that lunar light and wisdom and pouring it into the candles which are my first Handmade of the Month product.  I’m thrilled about this project of mine.  If you haven’t yet, be sure to enter the giveaway on this post.