The "Lemons to Lemonade" Entry

Happy new month, everyone!

We are 59 days to 2025! Can you believe it? This is the final lap of the year, and what an awesome lap it’s going to be.

But let’s put that excitement aside for a moment. Take a second to consciously check the date: yes, it’s November 3rd. Look at the time, say it out loud, and let it ground you.

Today, let’s talk about mindfulness.

Quick Story:

I remember when I first decided to hop on the “start your day at 5 AM” train. The initial shock was realizing just how much I could accomplish by simply waking up early. I had days that I would have all my work done in the morning, leaving the rest of the day wide open to read, explore hobbies, or just relax. That was when I truly understood that 24 hours is actually a lot of time, if you use it well.

It did not stop there. I started seeing a week as a lot of time, then a month, then even a year.

And I realized that this epiphany wasn’t just about early mornings; it was about mindfulness, about being intentional with every hour.

I realized that I could do things tomorrow, but I chose to start today. I was living fully in each moment, rather than constantly looking ahead. It made my work a lot easier.

Now, let's rewind a bit to how I started this entry with counting down the days till the new year.

It’s natural; a lot of people are already in this mindset, thinking, “2024 is basically over.”

But here’s the thing: there are still 59 more days left in this year. That’s 59 sets of 24 hours; 1,416 hours until we step into 2025.

Now, let’s consider how much can happen in just one hour. What could you accomplish with 1,416 of those? That is so much potential we can tap into.

It's like one of my favourite sayings: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” But what if I told you that life did not give us lemons initially?

Random Fact of the Week: Lemons are not completely natural! Lemons are a hybrid of bitter orange and citron, cultivated by ancient horticulturists. It is unsure if lemons were created by natural evolution or if humans have a hand in crossbreeding. But one thing is sure, Nature did not originally give us lemons; they were created.

This shows that sometimes, we have to create the opportunities we want from what we’re given, even if life doesn’t hand them to us on a silver platter. Just like lemons were brought into existence, our success, fulfilment, and growth are things we can create.

How do we “make lemonade” when life gives us something other than lemons? It starts with being present and making the most of what we have right now.

• Appreciate the Present. Yes, the year is almost ending but the month is just beginning. And you still have today. Take time to appreciate that. Each hour, each day can be an opportunity if you let it be.
• With 59 days left, break down your big goals into small, actionable steps. Maybe there’s a project you want to wrap up or a habit you want to establish. Instead of overwhelming yourself with the whole picture and procrastinating, focus on what you can achieve today and tomorrow, then build on that. Remember that it takes 21 days to create a habit, you have 2 sets of those before the year runs out.
• You also need balance. Mindfulness does not mean ignoring the future; it means acknowledging it without letting it blind you from the present. Yes, 2025 is just around the corner, but the opportunities today are endless. Embrace each day as it comes and keep working towards your goals in the present, so when you finally reach 2025, you’ll feel fulfilled and ready to move forward.

Be Mindful with Your Lemons. Life may not hand us perfect circumstances, but that doesn’t mean we can’t create something meaningful with what we do have.

So here’s my challenge to you: instead of waiting for “next year” to make things happen, ask yourself what you can make happen today. You don’t need a perfect setup; you just need a willingness to start. Look around at what you already have; your skills, your time, your support system, and consider what “lemonade” you can create with it.

Life has given you time, skills, talents. What are you making out of it?

Again, welcome to November! Make these last 59 days count!

See you next Sunday.

Your trusty growth partner,

Dee?