Don Kowalewski
Writer. Ad Sales and Marketing. Social Media Content Creator. Aeropress Coffee. Makes the best salsa in the world.
Lent Stuff, Part 2: 40 Days to a Better Me (and You?)
Way, way, way before people did things like a 30-Day Cleanse or Fast, or did the Whole30 diet plan, or meditated for inner peace, the Catholics were already doing it and calling it things like “Lent” and “Advent” and “prayer.”
I take Lent quite seriously and use it as a time to re-focus, re-invent, and rejuvenate my mind, body, and spirit. They say “40 days makes a habit permanent” (actually they say 21 days, but you know and I know nothing sticks in 21-days …at least not for me). 40 days? Hey, that’s what Lent is.
I’m continuing on with my #ResolutionADay, but I’m also adding a few things more enlightened to Lent …like praying the Rosary on the daily, fully fasting on Fridays and into Saturday (so from dinner time Thursday until breakfast on Saturday, I’m fasting … 48 hours). I’ll use the Rosary time to calm and focus my mind and practice gratitude and humility, and be thankful for my blessings. I’ll use the fasting time to practice discipline and remind myself I can do more than I think I can.
But I’m also doing something else …using these 40 days to Unsubscribe from soooooooo many email Newsletters. I don’t know how it happened, but I find myself in my Yahoo! and Gmail deleting more emails than I’m opening and reading. Like prayer and fasting, it will take discipline and focus. I’ve done this Unsubscribing thing a few times, for a few days, and never remember if I actually Unsubscribed or not …but not this time. This time, I’m keepin’ a list and checkin’ it twice. If I get emails from places I told not to email me after these 40 days of purging, blocking, and Unsubscribing, I swear I’m getting a lawyer and filing a lawsuit (I have no idea if a lawyer would take that case or if I have any grounds for such a lawsuit ….I probably accepted countless terms & conditions without reading).
But it’s necessary. It will give me some time back into my life, will make me less cluttered and more organized, and will rid me of the guilt of not opening those emails that someone worked hard to write – yes, I do feel a little guilty highlighting all the emails and then Deleting all at once.
So, here we are, Day 1 of Lent and I spent a half-hour cleaning up my Gmail Inbox and Unsubscribed from the following. Wow. Look at all those pointless emails I do not read or open. This is a good thing.
What are you doing for Lent? Inspire me.
My Day 1 Unsubscribe List.
- Gazelle Sports
- A Sales Guy
- Fathead
- Cleveland Clinic
- Barsmith
- Ash & Erie
- Domino’s
- Yummly
- Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
- Tractor Supply Company
- MicroCenter
- iHeart Daily
- Whistle Pig Whiskey
- College of Communications (MSU)
- Swanwick (blue light blocking glasses)
- American Cancer Society
- Ryan Serhant (author and sales coach)
- NAIAS
- Down to Earth (Catholic Men’s Club)
- Vimeo
- Reuters Automotive Events
- Pique Tea
- Chopra Education
- Ghostery (web tracking tracker)
- Revenue Development Resources (sales training)
- NY Times Cooking
- Andy Frisella
- Crunchbase
- American Heart Association
Self-Improvement Stuff, Part 6: #RESOLUTIONADAY 2021, Day-6
I won’t Blog about #ResolutionADay® every day. Maybe every other day. Why you ask? Because if I’m spending 15-minutes a day writing and Blogging, I have some other things I want to write and Blog that will get me closer to my goal of writing and finishing a book – or a screenplay.
The Return of #ResolutionADay®, 2021 (Introduction)
Random Stuff, Part 9: Billy Joel (and Vinyl v. Remastered)
My best friend bought a record player, like many middle-aged, Gen-X dudes are doing. I want one, too. I imagine myself sitting in an old metal folding chair by my record player on a Friday night sipping a glass of Southern Comfort and orange juice tapping my foot and looking at the album cover art, turning it over and looking at the back of the album, and singing along, hit and miss, because I don’t quite remember all the words. I’ll be slapping my knee and closing my eyes at certain parts just admiring the genius of the artist and trying to imagine what it must’ve been like way back then (because I’ll only buy old LPs) when the particular album I’m listening to was released. Read More
Self-Improvement Stuff, Part 5: #RESOLUTIONADAY 2021, Day-4
When one of my #ResolutionADay® ideas is to spend 15-minutes a day on my Blog, and when I’m also trying to create a movement and attract followers, suddenly, even if I write exclusively about #ResolutionADay®, I get my 15-minutes logged.
I know, I know …you’re all waiting for me to update you on my sleep quality and how my BLUblox blue-light blocking glasses are changing my life. I’ll talk about that tomorrow but here’s the short version – they’ve changed my life. I fall asleep quickly. I don’t wake up at night. And I wake up before my alarm clock.
Today’s Day4 of #ResolutionADay® and I’m still keeping it pretty simple. Keeping with the basics. And when you’ve got 300+ more days and resolutions to do, it’s OK to make them simple.
Here’s what I added Day 3 and Day 4. And just like that, we’re off and running and my life is getting better by a little bit every day.
- #ResolutionADay®, Day 4: Reduce Coffee Intake to 2 Cups Per Day (all before 9am) – This is a big one because caffeine messes with your sleep. I’m obsessed with sleep and the restorative powers. I think it’s the most important of all the self-help, health, and habits. If nobody’s written a book called It Starts with Sleep, maybe I’ll write it.
- #ResolutionADay®, Day 3: Drink 1-Gallon of Water Per Day
- #ResolutionADay®, Day 2: Read for a Min. of 15-minutes each day. (2/6/2021)
- #ResolutionADay®, Day1: Spend 15-minutes #Blogging each day. (2/5/2021)
Previous #ResolutionADay posts:
The Return of #ResolutionADay®, 2021 (Introduction)
Random Stuff, Part 8: Microwave Your Mug
When we lose someone important and close to us, we try to capture the essence of their lives in a eulogy or stories. I’ve been flattered to have given quite a few eulogies at the funerals of people I loved and lost. My Mom. My best-friend Matt. My Grandpa and Grandma. We focus on big things they did. Things that everyone can agree on that made that person great, and that make us all nod our heads in agreement thinking, “oh, yes, that was totally him …I thought it was just me.”
However, we should also remember the very small things we know about those people if we were lucky enough to peak inside their private life and enjoy the subtle things these people did that made them happy in little happy moments. Today, on a morning in Michigan where I woke up to 11 degree temps and a house clocking in at 57-degrees (before I turned the furnace on), I enjoyed a tiny-joy moment shared with me by my Uncle Jerry.
Self-Improvement Stuff, Part 4: #RESOLUTIONADAY 2021, Day-2
Oh, boy! The #ResolutionADay® army is really picking up steam. There’s me …Robin M. … and Chris W.
Think about that. I want this to become an online trend, the basis of my “coaching” side-hustle, and eventually a book. If I get 3 new people every day for the 328 days remaining in 2021, I’ll have 984 devoted members of the #ResolutionADay® Army …or Club …or Movement …or the #ResolutionADay® Gang. I think I like “gang.”
The point? This is about starting something. It’s about starting many things. It’s about taking small, daily steps to massive self-improvement. #ResolutionADay is about the “power of now” and taking immediate action. Read More
Self-Improvement Stuff, Part 3: #RESOLUTIONADAY
As I wrote previously, it doesn’t matter when you start something, as long as you start …now. So, it’s with much excitement I’m re-launching #ResolutionADay …my brilliant idea of adding a new resolution every day for a year. Previously, I made it to Day47.
I was on a Zoom recently and everyone was sharing their resolutions, and most had one or two. All but one person on this particular Zoom laughed about having already failed followed by the typical, “well, now I have something to look forward to in 2022.”
When I got to talk, I (obnoxiously) listed 12 New Years Resolutions I made and said, even with the resolutions that tripped me up, I wasn’t giving up. I could’ve gone on and on listing things I want to do that would absolutely improve my life. And so …I decided to start #ResolutionADay, again. Read More
Self-Improvement Stuff, Part 2: #FreshStartFebruary #FixUpFebruary #ForgivenessFebruary
We’ve arrived on the eve of February and many of us crashed and burned on our New Years Resolutions. Studies say 80% of people abandon their resolutions before the end of January.
So, that’s it, right? Wait until next year to improve, right? It’s OK. Nobody actually makes good on the things they promise themselves at the beginning of each year.
No, I say. What’s that old proverb about the best time to plant a tree?
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
So what! I know what happened in January. You were good for a week doing whatever you were going to do, then skipped a day. But you got back to it. Then you were good for a few more days and before you knew it, you were completely off track. I know. I’ve been there. Oh, wait. I’m there, now.
The best time to start a new habit or take steps towards a dream is 20 years ago (or 31 days ago). The second best time is now.
It’s OK. I’m giving you full permission to forgive yourself for your failings and if you failed at Dry January or Veganuary, or you didn’t get on that treadmill for 20-minutes each day, or you ate a cookie or twelve …me too. I was going to kick some butt at #75Hard. I was going to really start writing, daily, and finally finish my romance novel (don’t ask …but I have a GREAT story and for some reason it felt like the right thing to build around a romance). I was going to roll up my sleeves and recommit to my day-job for the entire 9-5 day. I was going to end the bad habits and sloth-like behavior around my early mornings and evenings and focus on my writing and marketing clients. I was going to pray with purpose each morning and journal to organize my thoughts.
Guess what I did instead? Woke up to my alarm at 5:15 a.m. and put on my favorite humorous Podcast and laid there listening.
#FreshStartFebruary #FixItFebruary #FuckedUpFebruary
80% of people fail at their New Years Resolutions. But what percentage of people start again in February? There’s probably not even studies on that because nobody thinks Febuary 1st is a notable date …but let’s change that.
Studies also show that, sometimes, it’s easier to focus around a single, central anchor. So pick one of mine, or make your own?
- Fresh Start February – take a look at your New Years Resolutions and start again (plant that tree NOW)
- Fix Up February – OK. So you broke some things …like promises to yourself. Fix that and promise yourself, again.
- Fucked Up February – Well …we fucked up in January. Apologize (to yourself?) and don’t F’ up again (I used curse words specifically for reader Nick G. He likes curse words in his self-improvement stuff.
- Forgiveness February – Forgive yourself. We all make mistakes. Guess what? You’ll mess up and fail, again. You will. We alllllll will. Failure is OK if you learn and improve from it. Use any metaphor you want (baby learning to walk, kid learning to ride a bike, person learning to drive, etc). Mistakes and missteps happen. Work to avoid the same missteps. Don’t beat yourself up (easier said than done …I’m 47 years old and I still don’t do the best job of it)
So, join me in #FreshStartFebruary. Let your critics roll their eyes and think, “oh, here he goes again.”
Let’s do this. Tomorrow …we re-introduce #ResolutionADay. See you then.
Self-Improvement Stuff, Part 1: #75Hard
What crazy thing is Don doing now, you ask? Oh, I’m gonna kick my own butt for 75 days. I always do something during Lent that challenges me, so now I’m adding the infamous #75Hard to the 40 days of Lent and, basically… it’s my way to prove I’m better than you.
#75Hard is something my super motivated friend N.G. introduced me to, invented by foul-mouth self-help guru Andy Frisella. If you want to be ridiculed and yelled at for why you’re not doing stuff, Andy’s your guy. Not my cuppa tea, but motivation is different for everybody. However, his #75Hard is a genius (f’ing) concept that, as my buddy C.W. put it, is about proving to yourself you have the discipline to stick with something.
I like that Andy just has this out there for free. He doesn’t make you join an email list or pay $9.99 to get secret training tips. Nope. It’s just an idea. Do it if you want. That’s kinda genius, too. It creates a community of people hashtagging things with #75hard and keeping each other motivated and then, if you wanna listen to Andy’s podcast or buy his book or follow him on Twitter or buy his supplements, so be it. Guess what? He’s gotten some of my money, even though he didn’t want it.
My #75Hard (along with my buddy C.W.) starts today. My diet is the classic “No S Diet”, another brilliant and FREE idea from a guy named Reinhard Engels. He’s another guy. He just made a website years ago. Hasn’t changed much. Wasn’t selling anything. Yet, some people weren’t satisfied with his simple idea so he actually wrote a book, even though it says what his website already says (not to mention the “No S Diet” is pretty simple and barely needs a whole website).
Join me, won’t you? Or at least cheer me (and C.W.) on in our quest.
I Want Stuff, Part 4: Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Not sure if this is Dad Stuff, Self-Improvement Stuff, or just an old-fashioned I Want Stuff post.
I’m obsessed with quality sleep. I feel if I get 7 hours of sleep I’m Superman. If I get 6 or less, I’m Wile E. Coyote – meaning no matter what I do, everything blows up in my face. Lack of sleep, I think, is the most detrimental thing people, and our society, has done to itself. For thousands of years, humans went to sleep when it got dark. We worked 9-to-5 and didn’t average 45-minutes on our commutes (meaning we could watch the 11 o’clock news, get to bed at 11:30, sleep until 6:30 or later if we stayed up for Johnny Carson, and we had lots of time to get to work by 9.
Now? We don’t. We have a million distractions, we have blue and artificial light. We have phones that shine in our faces constantly (don’t say “not me” because we’re all guilty …if I text you at 10 o’clock at night, you’ll very, very likely text me right back and we’ll text back an forth a half-dozen times.
So, I’ve finally given into the hype and sponsored ads and promotions I’ve seen on social media, as well as the various self-help gurus I follow, and I got (what I believe are) the top-of-the-line blue light blocking glasses from BLUblox. They arrived yesterday and, like I’m supposed to do, I wore them for the 2 hours before bed. Yes, they are red lenses and, yes, they caused my three teenagers and wife to laugh at me, and, yes, they darken the world and are exactly like you would think it would be like to wear sunglasses, indoors, at night. That said, and I know it could be nothing more than placebo effect, but I fell asleep at 10:45 p.m. and slept through the night and woke up, almost surprised, at 5:45 a.m. and I felt amazing. If you’ve been thinking about this, trust me that I spent way, way, way too many hours reading articles and reviews and I’ve concluded BLUblox are a leader in this product category.
More analysis to follow.
Don Kowalewski 