Poem of the Week: The Secret Day

The Secret Day

My yesterday has gone, has gone and left me tired,
And now tomorrow comes and beats upon the door;
So I have built To-day, the day that I desired,
Lest joy come not again, lest peace return no more,
Lest comfort come no more.

So I have built To-day, a proud and perfect day,
And I have built the towers of cliffs upon the sands;
The foxgloves and the gorse I planted on my way;
The thyme, the velvet thyme, grew up beneath my hands,
Grew pink beneath my hands.

So I have built To-day, more precious than a dream;
And I have painted peace upon the sky above;
And I have made immense and misty seas that seem
More kind to me than life, more fair to me than love —
More beautiful than love.

And I have built a house — a house upon the brink
Of high and twisted cliffs; the sea’s low singing fills it;
And there my Secret Friend abides, and there I think
I’ll hide my heart away before tomorrow kills it
A cold tomorrow kills it.

Yes, I have built To-day, a wall against To-morrow,
So let To-morrow knock — I shall not be afraid,
For none shall give me death, and none shall give me sorrow,
And none shall spoil this darling day that I have made.
No storm shall stir my sea. No night but mine shall shade
This day that I have made.

~ Stella Benson

Sources:

• https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/feb/02/poem-of-the-week-the-secret-day-by-stella-benson
• Image: https://deepai.org/

2025 Fine Art Photography Awards: Nature Photos

1st Place Winner: Flower Portraits By Tim Platt

2nd Place Winner: Kanso By Alessandro Tagliapietra

3rd Place Winner: Flow By Hayleigh Beach

Villarrica Volcano By Francisco Negroni

Reflector By Ben Goode

Dream Fulfilled – Japan By Fin Erik Eckhoff

Paradise By Stanislav Bartnikas

The Meeting By Petros Nikolaidis

Source (and more!): https://www.boredpanda.com/nature-winning-photos-fine-art-photography-awards-2025/ / Image credits: fineartphotoawards

Selection of Heartwarming Comics by Joanne Ang

Source (and more!): https://www.boredpanda.com/wholesome-animal-comics-jangandfox-part-3/

Thought of the week – The moment in front of you right now is a good one. Make the most of it!

 Image: https://deepai.org/ 

“Whatever age you are today, your future self would love to be it.

Most people do not consider 65 to be a young age, but when you're 75 you'd love to rewind to 65 and regain those years. Few people would describe 35 as your youth, but in your mid-50s your mid-30s will seem like the ‘young you.’

Today is a great opportunity, no matter your age. Looking back in a few years, today will seem like the time when you were young and full of potential or the moment when you could have started early or the turning point when you made a choice that benefited your future.

The moment in front of you right now is a good one. Make the most of it.”

 ~ James Clear, https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/september-22-2022 

Understanding Your Time Management Style

Greetings all! 

Do you know your time management style? Are you Calm and Confident? Or Frantic and Confused? 

According to author Kevin Kruse, you need to be clear on your Priorities (WHAT you should be doing) and Planning (HOW you can effectively get it done). He identifies these 4 styles: 

1) Frantic & Confused – this indicates ineffectiveness in both Priorities and Planning. You are uncertain as to what you should be working on and don’t have a system for getting things done.

2) Spinning Your Wheels – this quadrant suggests that you have at least above average skills in organization, but are unclear as to which items deserve your attention the most. 

3) Distracted & Frustrated – while you are somewhat clear on what you need to accomplish, progress is slow and you are frequently working off-task.

4) Calm & Confident – this quadrant shows that you are clear on your priorities and consistently use good planning to get it done. You feel confident in your current level of effectiveness, but it’s likely you are always on the lookout for ways to become even more productive.

If you are curious, below are some questions to ponder. You can also take the test HERE. 

• Each day I can feel time slipping away.
• I have clearly defined goals and I review them frequently.
• Each day, I know what my most important task is.
• I say "no" to requests for my time if it doesn't support my goals.
• I think about whether my tasks can be delegated or outsourced.
• I try to batch similar tasks together on my calendar.
• I work from my calendar more than my to-do list.
• I quit working at a consistent time, whether there is more to do or not.
• I don’t respond to calls, emails, text messages or social media when I’m working on a task.
• I’m mindful of when I have the most energy and ability to concentrate.
• I carry and use a notebook daily (paper or digital).
• I don't procrastinate.

What did you think? Drop me a line! 

Source: https://kevinkruse.com/time/

Happiness Calendar: January-2026

Greetings all! 

This January, focus on what matters to you! 

If I had to choose only one thing to focus on, it would be to look for one small thing to appreciate each day (the idea from January 14). What about you? 

January 1 – Make a resolution that feels inspiring.

January 2 – Pause to connect with a stranger.

January 3 – Admit when you’re not sure of something.

January 4 – Appreciate the hardships you’ve avoided.

January 5 – Forgive yourself.

January 6 – Get out into nature.

January 7 – Are you prone to awe? Take the quiz (link below).

January 8 – Spend time with your loved ones.

January 9 – Try to let go of a grudge.

January 10 – Be playful.

January 11 – Talk to yourself the way a loving friend would.

January 12 – Acknowledge your mistakes.

January 13 – Read our best articles of 2025 (link below).

January 14 – Look for one small thing to appreciate.

January 15 – Notice how emotions show up in your body.

January 16 – Break a big goal down into smaller steps.

January 17 – Be an active, engaged listener.

January 18 – Take our Science of Happiness course (link below).

January 19 – Stand up for what’s right.

January 20 – Lend a hand.

January 21 – Cultivate small moments of love and care with others.

January 22 – Listen to our top podcast episodes of 2025 (link below).

January 23 – Remember your ancestors.

January 24 – Reflect on what matters to you.

January 25 – Say thank you.

January 26 – Think about the impact you want to have on others.

January 27 – Tune in to your sense of touch.

January 28 – Read a good book.

January 29 – Follow your conscience.

January 30 – Practice critical thinking.

January 31 – Plant a seed for a better future.

Drop me a line and have a great week! 

Sources:

• https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/
• https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/GGSC_Happiness_Calendar_Jan_2026.pdf
• https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/awe
• https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_best_greater_good_articles_of_2025
• https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/what_we_do/online_courses_tools/the_science_of_happiness
• https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_top_science_of_happiness_podcast_episodes_of_2025
• Image: https://deepai.org/

Choosing Your Word for 2026

Greetings all!

How do you want to feel in the next year? Have you picked your word for 2026? 

It might have already revealed itself to you or it might simply “feel right.” Sometimes your word arrives as a quiet knowing, a sense of “yes, this is it,” even if you cannot explain why. But if you are still unsure, try this:

First, take a moment to reflect, reconnect with your intentions, and start awakening your energy. You do not need to know what 2026 will look like or how things will come together. All you need is a sense of how you want to feel in the year ahead. 

1. When you imagine yourself at the end of 2026, what do you hope feels different inside you?

2. Why does this feeling matter to you right now?

3. Imagine that you do feel this way in your everyday life. What does that look like? For example:

a. How do you begin your mornings?

b. How do you spend your time?

c. What small choices or rituals help you stay connected to this frequency? 

Next, think about what word captures the essence of the feeling you want to live in. This word becomes an anchor for the year ahead, a gentle reminder of who are becoming and what you are welcoming into your life. 

So what feeling do you want to grow into in 2026? Happy New Year!  

Sources:

• https://hhemarketing.com/author/baron-reid_cbr/events/2026/anwtvb/pdfs/A-New-Way-to-Vision-Board-2026.pdf (slightly modified by me)
• It was a lot of fun generating the image at https://deepai.org/