Treat Yourself Tuesday

I have decided to declare Tuesday the day that All Parents must 'Treat Themselves' to something-anything that they wish. Go ahead, do it. It will be okay and we can enjoy the activity chosen, too.

I have this little system I have been using for about 7 years now and it is really dandy except that it left one person out of the system...ME! Treat Yourself Tuesday will now allow me to also take care of myself as well. Here is how my system works, each day I wake up and try to do one nice thing for all the people around me and for the causes I find important. When I was working 50 hours a week, I would list everyone and important group in an Excel spreadsheet, have a column for what the good deed would be and a third column to check off whether the good deed was achieved. I have gotten somewhat lazier in my old age and do not use a spreadsheet anymore, but the end results are probably very similar. The system is very efficient and makes you get things today that you might put off for another day. I have a mind that wonders off course more frequently now, so the system keeps me on track, too.

For example, yesterday, Monday, September 8th looked like this:

Children:

Andy: Invite Kim and Andy for dinner; pack up his remaining items for his new apartment.

Jonathan: Call him and find out if his fall fraternity dues are due, then send check.

Laura: Mail the exercise clothes and socks she forgot to pack for college.

Husband:

Finish letter he has requested for donations we gave last year, for our taxes backup.

Pet:

Take Wrigley for long walk in the morning and practice our "homework" given by the trainer.

Charity and Volunteer Work:

Make contact for Christine with the framer to donate for this year's school auction.

Of course, it goes without saying that I do not always complete my list, but I do feel good about the ones that I did accomplish.

So, today is Tuesday and I have my family and friend to-do list complete, but I also have a line especially for me. (I am thinking I will get my nails done). The lady I go to is fun and upbeat and we try to figure out men and children and what to make for dinner after work while she makes my hands look and feel so much better.

Now, you make sure you do something special for yourself today and let me know what you did, through your comments. Go crazy.

Thanks to my daughter for use of her picture from her collection found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lsphotography.