Sometimes the difference between living a life with intention and one without intention is the difference between re-filling the ice cube tray with water after it’s empty or putting it directly back into the freezer.
Sound strange? Stick with me.
I hate to admit it, but sometimes when I use ice cubes for ice tea or wine (lame, I know – but it’s great in the summer), I will return the tray back into the freezer without re-filling it with water. Which means that hours later, I’m stuck filling the tray with water and drinking lukewarm tea.
If I just fill the tray each time that it’s empty, I will consistently be stocked with fresh ice and cool drinks.
This is true for so many areas of my life. For example,
If I just wake up when the alarm goes off and start reading right away, even when I’m tired, I’ll accomplish my daily intention to read for 20 minutes without having to worry about making time later when things get hectic. [Intellectual Life]
If I just bring a snack to long meetings, I won’t be tempted to dive head first into Forever Yogurt cheesecake bites on the way home. [Financial Life and Health & Fitness]
If I just get the mail and immediately go through it, I won’t be annoyed by the pile of envelopes and mailers sitting on my kitchen counter. [Career Life]
If I get a text and answer it when I read it, I won’t forget about it and end up responding two days later. [Social Life]
Not that these things are specifically a big deal to most people, but to me, they are all tiny little habits that when properly executed, help me function in my life according to many of my larger intentions. When I do these mini habits consistently, I reduce the amount that I annoy myself and leave room to focus on bigger life changes.
Sometimes life just clicks when there is fresh ice in the freezer.
Sweet sponsored Streetwear.
July 13th, 2011 at 9:58 am
Well said Jess. I had that exact thought this morning when I went to hit the snooze and thought better of it (love those moments-hello super inspirational start to the morning!)
ps i L-O-V-E your blog!
July 13th, 2011 at 10:02 am
I love the way you put that – it’s always easier to just get things out of the way. I know that if I just lay the mail on the front table, I’ll forget about things (and those things may be bills – eek!).
July 13th, 2011 at 10:05 am
So true! I like how you read in the morning. For the month of July I’m working form home and it’s made it hard to get my reading in. I used to have a solid 30 minutes every day on my commute, but now I don’t have that built in time anymore!
July 13th, 2011 at 10:26 am
This is such wonderful, practical advice (not that I’ve come to expect anything less from you). Despite my typically-organized nature, I’ve really begun to let my ice tray go by the wayside most days. (Forgotten texts? Piles of mail? Those are all too familiar scenarios.) Thanks for giving me the push/reminder I need to get back on track in a tangible way. Your posts never cease to be helpful and practical!
July 13th, 2011 at 10:42 am
I’ve found that tackling these little habits can make me a lot happier. It’s really incredible.
Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest impact on how my day goes. Thanks for the reminder!
July 13th, 2011 at 10:57 am
I have really struggled with the getting up and reading in the past few weeks. I keep pressing snooze, and then it’s too late for me to read. Yikes. I think I just need to gain some self-discipline, grow up and do it?
July 13th, 2011 at 11:13 am
This is very true.
For me, those little things sort of reflect a bigger picture. BTW…I do need to go fill my ice tray ^_^
July 13th, 2011 at 11:16 am
Great annalogy! Have you read Burnt Toast by Teri Hatcher? I really like her annalogy to burnt toast
July 13th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
Could not agree more! I just need to put this into practice for myself. Sometimes it all just seems too overwhelming, when really, if you break it up by little tasks, anything can be accomplished!
July 13th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
this is great, and spot-on (even down to the ice cubes in the pinot gris!). once i started looking at chores like refilling the brita, putting dirty dishes in the dishwasher instead of letting them pile up in the sink, or putting things away instead of down as ways to take care of myself and my husband, i stopped resenting them and now kind of enjoy doing the little things that make our lives a little bit easier/neater. it’s amazing what a tiny shift in perspective can make in things.
July 13th, 2011 at 6:10 pm
Well put, Jess. This really resonates with me right now, because I’ve had the same kind of realization this week. I just found myself fed up by how dirty and unkempt my apartment was because it was getting in the way of my life. I’ve been really focused this week on streamlining my life by throwing things away and organizing the things I keep. Ice in the freezer is one of those things that I’m working on, too. Glad I’m not the only one.
July 19th, 2011 at 9:06 am
Hi Jess! Love your blog, your jewelry website, AND this post! Live with intention. Great! I, too, must remember to fill the ice trays. I have 3 empty ones sitting on my kitchen counter right now. My glass of wine will be missing an ice cube if I don’t get to it!
February 7th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
That is so true! There a ton of little things, that eventually become big things or just really inconvenient, if you don’t take care of them right away.
March 26th, 2012 at 10:09 am
Wow Jess,
so simple, but so true. It is a powerful message and one I will really try to implement from now on. Small changes really do make a big difference.
Thanks for sharing.