The daily card, week 33: notes to self edition

On Sunday of this week, Austin and I were listening to Weekend Edition as we worked on some writing (him) and made muffins (me). In between segments on dying villages in Galicia and dogs who can detect cancer, a French swimmer came on to talk about his upcoming swim across the Pacific Ocean. Speaking to how he handles the mental challenge of such a daunting physical task, he said, "I try not to think about the entire ocean. Instead I pretend I'm swimming in a pool, and the pool is moving with me."

It's one of my favorite things I've heard in a while - it's hard to think of a more poignant way to talk about not getting overwhelmed by an entire project but instead just getting started and taking one step at a time. And he had a shark follow him for five days once, so he has definitely earned the right to come up with motivational sayings. It reminds me of the E.L. Doctorow quote: "Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way."

Otherwise this week is full of notes to self- the little themes and lessons each day holds that may or may not stick with me in a lasting way but, taken together, are what's going on in my head these days. Also inspired this week by: my Rifle Paper Co phone case and my Method hand soap. (Neither of which furnished any promotional consideration.)

As a creative challenge, I am decorating a playing card every day in 2015. More context on this project is here and you can see all past card posts here.