52 Small Changes: A Year and Life Project

Re: How a book made me make 52 Small Changes

You know that old adage that is supposed to deter you from choosing a book to read, based solely off of how it appears. You know the one? Of course you do.

~Don't judge a book by it's cover?~

The same one your friend might use when encouraging you to find some new friends?

Scenario with Your Friend Scene 1

"Don't judge a book by it's cover [your name here]. You just gotta get to know them!" Insisted [friend's name]. "Here look, this is their instagram."

...your friend hands you their phone.

The 'angel/devil' combo on your shoulder, Introvert and Extrovert, are busy playing tug-o-war for your reaction. One of them is excited, the other one is wilting, "Holy shit. Please no, dude. I can tell [based on their Instagram] that we just aren't going to get along."

You turn to your friend, placing the phone back into their hand. Already having formed your first impression based on what you just saw.

"...I think that..."

Fade to black.

What will you decide?

End Scene 1

Again, this is something you could know just by seeing a photo, right?

Obviously, no. You'd never know.

Same premise... "just take a bite, you might like it."

Okay, sigh. I rest my case. I'm sure you get the point.

tdlr: Don't choose something based on looks.

Well.

Well... funny story.

I, myself, actually sorta of made a similar "mistake" the other day.

I had some free time you see, a solo date if you will, and I enjoyed it in a public library.

It. Was. Exhilarating.

It's not exactly easy finding some time to yourself where you can do whatever you want. If you have it, make sure it is well spent.

(Sleeping is also very slay and well spent. Just enjoy it in a way that is stress free and serves your self development... more on this later.)

During my time, I went aisle by aisle soaking in the titles, running my fingers along the spines, stopping to read the "Librarian & Staff Picks" titles and blurbs of the books.

Allowing myself to take a book, when it inspired me, into my growing pile. One of the books I grabbed was on indoor cats, part two to a romance novel I read last year, and lastly, the book I fell victim.

The book in question? 52 Small Changes.

Reading the cover, I was intrigued. Seemed simple enough. 52 Small Changes.

I thought, "Cool, I'll flip through this tonight and read all the things it says that can help "fix" myself." Or whatever that means, eye roll.

So yes, as you can see, I chose this book solely based off of what was on the cover.

What I discovered when I opened this book at home, is that this book is to be completed in a minimum of 52 weeks. (Remember this is a library loan... am I just supposed to renew this book for a whole year? To be continued...)

52 weeks. Each week a new change. (Or however long it takes you to establish this new change into your life. Still not moving faster than one week, one change.)

So I read the first chapter, right?

I mean come on, look at the cover of this book that started all of this. Something about it was so enticing, promising and full of knowledge. Tell me it wouldn't have piqued your interest at first glance.

52 Small Changes for the Mind: Improve Memory, Minimize Stress, Increase Productivity Boost Happiness by Brett Blumenthal

The first chapter was the first "small change" of 52 changes. 51 more changes, 51 more weeks to come... and a lifetime to go, I suppose.

The change was simple, start journaling. (And do it every day.)

Journal about anything and everything. It synonymous with, just write it down.

This isn't an easy change, this is a commitment. But isn't all change?

This is a change that you are held accountable because it is measured definitively.

Did you journal that day? Or did you not?

Yes or no? And if you didn't, you didn't uphold the small change.

I was already starting up a website because I have dreams, and ideas that I would like to see come true for my lifetime, my family and community. I figured I would just incorporate that small change, i.e journaling (for the rest of my life... think of the potential lore) into my website and growing online community.

And to think, this could've all been avoided if I had only opened and read a sentences of 52 Small Changes.

So here I go, starting the first small change. “Writing it down”. This blog isn’t serving as a journal, but an opportunity for me to fulfill a long-time goal of mine to be a published author. In turn, this experience is going to refine my writing and make the task less intimidating.

Cheers to continuing 52 Changes, judging a book by it cover and it working out positively. (I hope!)

51 more weeks of small changes, here we go!

Author note: Good rule of thumb if you're on the fence about finishing a book you've started to read that you’re just not sure if you enjoy... finish the first chapter. If you're still not feeling it, "dnf" it. (Did not finish)

Life is too short, to waste time on something you do not enjoy.