Everyday Magic: Celebrating the Small Steps

I practice magic daily.

If you have ever set out to create a project, you have dared to put something into existence that never existed before.

That's magic.

Creating something from nothing is one of the greatest powers we possess as humans.

Whether it's sending out a newsletter, cooking a meal, hosting a dinner party, or bringing humans into the world, that's creation.

Unfortunately, we often forget just how magical we are.

Over the last six months, I forgot this during my postpartum breakdowns.

I've been hard on myself for not being able to get stuff done. My best friend had to remind me, "You had a baby. That's work!" 

The antidote to my self-deprecation is marinating in my journal writing. 

Journals are data on my past self.

What I uncovered reading my journal from the past few months shocked me about what I accomplished. 

Somehow 16 days after giving birth, I planted my winter garden. 

I closed out the first cohort of my Grad App Academy program. My students got into Harvard, MIT, Yale, Princeton, Berkeley, and many more top programs, with many students getting full scholarships. One student was also awarded a Fulbright. My students came from 16 countries, most from developing nations, and most were first-generation college students. I'm convinced that many of these students will go on to be presidents and CEOs.

I hosted 30+ people for Christmas, Easter, and a birthday party.

I somehow did all this with the privilege of being home with my perfect baby girl. On a good day when I didn't need a nap, I could get in 1-2 hours of computer time and work from my phone while breastfeeding.

Wow, that's some powerful magic. I'm pretty amazed at myself. Like Erykah Badu says, "…if I get off my knees, I might recall I'm 20 feet tall."

Instead of continuing to be hard on myself scrolling through my do list of things I don't do, I'm writing in my journal, "Today I'm amazed that I …." and appreciating myself for every micro and big thing I do daily i.e. 

• Today I'm amazed that I booked an appointment with the electrician!

• Today I'm amazed that I took time to rest and catch up on Ted Lasso!

I appreciate myself for being the powerful bruja I am. 

What magic are you creating and putting into the world?