52 Lists, Week 11: List Your Essentials.

This week's list is very adaptable to wherever your life is at right now. Whether your greatest focus right now needs to be on seeking health, happiness, strength, balance, patience, or whatever is most powerfully calling you right now, make this list all about the essentials that you need in this moment in life. Last year at this point in the year, I was buying my mom lots of essentials and treats as she began her long journey of cancer treatments. I also was about to fly out to my grandfather's funeral. My mental health at this point last year was definitely being stretched and my stress level was high with worry for my mom, my family, and for my own future. Taking time to just refocus and rest my mind, with all my intentions set on the essentials of being, really helped me gather my thoughts and feelings with all that was on my plate.

This year, I am at another important turning point in my life. My store front is set to open in just 3-4 weeks. And a big magazine is coming to photograph it in just two weeks! Holy moley! I can feel the stress growing bigger and bigger. But I just need to rest a moment and think about the essentials, the essentials of what I need in my life to be content, and the essentials of what I need to do for my store before it's the day of our grand opening. Slow down and get to the basics.

I encourage you mull over the work "Essential" in your mind for awhile before you put pen to paper, starting this list. What are some things in your life that feel essential right now? Do you see some sort of theme between them? If not, just start writing down all of the things that feel essential to you on your list. And as your list grows, look for a theme or a link. If a theme really jumps out at you, circle that theme as the mantra for your week ahead. I am seeking to balance my life this week and I am choosing to fill my life with the essentials I need to bring me balance. In the image above is my "essentials" list for last year at this time. And below is this year's list of essentials paired way down:

Balance
Taking time to enjoy the sunshine while it's here
Rest while being awake
A full night's sleep
A day off each week
Being mindful that I invest in my boyfriend as much as I invest in my work
Love
Training for my 16-18 mile walk for the Out of the Darkness walk. (I'll be posting about this soon!)
Finishing the last building projects for my store
Deep cleaning my apartment!
Taking time to invest in my friends and family who live far away
Having new experiences

DOWNLOAD WEEK #11

What is something essential that you need to do or embrace this week? What are the essentials in your life that not only help you live fully but make you thrive? I'm really looking forward to reading your lists this week and I think they will be really inspiring for me to see all of the different "essentials" in our different lives.

PARTICIPATE:
Download and print out Week 11's list above or write out your list however you may like. Then leave a link to your Week 11 list in the comments so we can all check out each others lists! If you post your list on Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest, use the hashtag: #52lists and be sure to include @mooreaseal so I can be sure to come say hello :) Happy listing!
You're welcome to join in the 52 Lists project at anytime. Visit the 52 Lists page to check out all the lists!