So, I’m three months into my Stretchy November Project.

I decided to name it that because 1) why not? it’s fun to name things, 2) it was a “stretch” goal when I made it, and 3) I thought the next Good Life Halfsy would be in November 2024.

It’s not. It’s at the end of October this year!

I actually felt a tiny stab of panic in my gut when I found out. Oh no! The month before?! The name makes no sense now! I’ve lost precious, precious days!

What a lesson in anchoring, huh? I got myself attached to a notion and a framework, so the truth surprised me. You’ll also notice the flash of all-or-nothing thinking there, the way that part of my brain wants to say, “It’s ruined!” and throw up its hands at a whiff of trouble.

But big picture: it’s no trouble at all. I still am approaching my training flexibly, so it’s not like anything is changing now that I have the real date.

My approach is a gradual one, so I’m practicing some nudges and some exploration. One of the lessons I’m learning so far is the joy of building on what’s here. I was already exercising pretty regularly (aerobic activity at least two or three times a week) and getting in some on-purpose movement most days of the week. It was a great foundation. So I’ve been stretching those workouts a little longer, mixing in a few run-walks here and there, and playing around with free weights and some other activities.

Playing. Low-stakes. No promises to break—just new things to try.

Then one day in early January, I realized that the elliptical in our basement has bluetooth capability to pair with a fitness app that my husband happens to have a family plan for. I’ve been using this thing for four years! It’s lived with us three different places. I didn’t notice the feature, didn’t care.

If this were an obnoxious rom-com, this would be the moment where the elliptical takes off its glasses, shakes out its hair, and I realize The One has been here, under my nose and my tennis shoes the whole time!

I’ve put off investing in any wearable tech or smart trackers or any new equipment, really. With my slow and steady approach, I figured I wouldn’t know what monitoring or logging or nudging assistance I would want. And then these things clicked, so we’ll see what happens next!

Isn’t it funny how once you start to focus on something, your life can conspire to help you piece it together?

Now that I’ve made movement so normal for me, I’ve shifted my thinking away from whether I’m going to do it to when I’m going to do it. The days and rhythms in a week for us are different enough that I don’t exercise the same times or days every week—and I don’t sweat that. I’ve got the mental space to keep it flexible. It still happens, and I’m not beating myself up in my head about not doing it, or not doing it sooner, or whatever.

That’s the part I don’t have time for anymore.

What about you? Where are you nudging things forward and letting life conspire to help you?

Cheers, xoxo

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