New Day, New Way – or, It’s Never Too Late to Start Something New

Well, we’re 10 or 12 (or 147!) weeks into the COVID crisis, quarantine, work from home, and other things that have turned our lives upside down. How are you feeling? How are you doing?

I’m feeling very mixed. Some days I feel pretty good, some days I feel down, and once in a while I feel a kind of despair for all that so many people have lost and for the “normal” life we used to know.

Like many people, my sleep has been messed up – I’ve had some weird, vivid dreams, and some nights I wake up and just can’t go back to sleep. During one of those nights recently, this thought popped into my head – “New day, new way.”

What does that mean? I don’t know for certain, but I think that God was reminding me that every day is a new beginning, and that it’s never too late to start something new or start over.

Feel like you’ve “wasted” this time at home, when you could have accomplished so many things? (Raises hand!) First, give yourself some grace – we’re in the middle of a very scary crisis that none of us expected or know exactly how to handle. Second, this is a new day. You can start (or restart) something and move forward, beginning today.

Anything that God is calling you to do, you can start today. Anything that would make your life or your family’s life better or easier, you can start today. Anything that’s been on your mind or heart for a long time, anything that speaks to the gifts and talents God has given you, you can start today.

It’s not too late. You haven’t wasted time. In fact, maybe this is exactly the right time.

New day, new way.

Or maybe the thing you feel frustrated about isn’t so lofty. Maybe it’s something mundane, but frustrating nonetheless. Maybe you’ve stopped exercising during the crisis. Maybe you’ve been baking and eating sourdough bread like a fiend. (Raises hand again…) Maybe you’ve gained weight. Maybe you’re watching too much TV, or drinking too much wine, because it temporarily makes you feel better.

For me, it’s stress eating – too much sugar and too many carbs. And avoiding some things I need to think about and decisions I need to make.

Whatever it is for you, something big or something small, you can change course today. By taking the first small steps in a new direction, you can do something entirely new and different. Or go back to something you want to do again, something you need in your life.

A writer I admire, Tim Fall, wrote about this today. He called it “Late Season Fruit Can Be Sweet,” and reminded me that it’s not too late – in the pandemic or in life – to start anything that God wants you or me to do. In fact, although I had been thinking about writing this post to share some “New day, new way” encouragement with you for a couple of weeks, Tim’s short video inspired me to actually do it!

If you’re feeling frustrated that you’ve missed out or wasted time, or that it’s too late, just remember my late-night thought – New day, new way. Then take one step toward the thing you want to do, the change you want to make. Tomorrow, take another one. And keep going.

If you want to share your frustration or the change you want to make, I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment or email me at gc @ calmhealthysexy.com.