Happy Guest-Writer Sunday!
Everyday I have another new story of post-COVID brain fog, that’s just… like when do I get to be high-functioning again?
Anyway, I’m beyond grateful that your friend and mine, Michelle Harrison is here guest writing her Five Things. To know Chelly is to cherish her spunk, you’re not going to spend time with her and not walk away feeling more confident about yourself, and I am so grateful that she is sharing with us today.
For those of you just tuning in, Five Things has a guest writer every month. I love guest writers, and I hope you do too. If you have Five Things you would like to share, let me know, would love to have ya.
This sentence now has links to the my instagram, and old issues of the newsletter. Also my Nuuly referral link. I hope today is beautiful for you.
Chelly wrote her intro in third person and I love it.
Michelle is a 32 year old living in Overland Park, Kansas with her cat, Mango. Trademarked by her enormous and curly head of blonde hair, Michelle enjoys seeking experiences and activities that would “make her future kids think she’s cool one day” which makes her a damn good time. (KC here, can’t help but agree.)
Number One: Closet Challenge
Twenty dollars says your closet has an A Team and B Team. Why? What purpose does B Team serve? What about A Team makes them A Team? I encourage you to conduct a closet challenge. A suggestion: section closet into tops and bottoms, each day choose the bottom and top next in line on the rack, wear it, and check in throughout the day asking yourself “do I feel good in this? I hate this sweater so much”. At the end of the day if good vibes were had, to the end of the rack line it goes, and if bad vibes were had to the donation pile it goes. The key to this challenge format is to 1) systematically wear all clothing in your closet and 2) genuinely be ok with parting from the pieces that you don’t feel good in. Consider utilizing Madwell’s Do Well Recycle partnership with ThredUp to donate clothing.
Number Two: Continuing Education
The memorizing and testing portion of school, albeit necessary to the learning process, isn’t my jam but I do have the mental capacity to absorb new information. Enter: continuing education. Johnson County Community College offers an overwhelming amount of interesting topics in their Continuing Education portfolio. I took ASL I, II, and III in the Winter 2022 semester and found the three month, twice weekly commitment to simply being a student, witnessing information being distilled, and not shouldering the weight of assignments and tests to be holistically enjoyable. Is this extra-curricular free? No but scholarships do exist.
Number Three: Click Here to Decompress
I am on #rugcleaningtok and #makeuprepairtok and never want to leave. Perfect for the post-work-brain-shut-down moment, these clips are consistent, soothing, and leave you with that “well that is just delightful” feeling.
Number Four: We All Want Connection
My singular perception of gaming/gamers has pivoted into a complex appreciation. The juggernaut of this shift was a girlfriend’s sharing of an enlightening conversation with her partner and my being invited (and kindly instructed on how) to game with a partner of mine. My mindset re-directing conclusion: gamers seek connection, decompression, and escapism by way of this hobby* and that’s relatable AF. Their methods and my methods for community are different but our desires are the same. Therefore, I no longer label gamers as numbed-out introverts exclusively**, instead I understand gamers seek to have their needs met, just like me. For those partnered with a male-identifying individual and struggle to comprehend their video-gaming, check this out from Men’s Health.
Number Five: Strong Language
“Just checking in”. “Just wanted to touch base.” “Just need to know when XYZ.” IMHO, we utilize the word just to minimize and make small our requests, in the hope we’ll receive an answer to our question. Whether personally or professionally, I don’t want to be small or curb my language into small bits (shorter, more concise bits, yes, but not smaller). And I shouldn’t make myself small to be respected and answered, my needs are valid in their fullest state. Therefore, I encourage you this week to drop the “just”, and say what you mean. “I’m checking in.” “I’m touching base.” “I need to know when XYZ.”