Years ago I was lamenting to my mother how little I had gotten done during the day – how I had “wasted” the day.
Her response: “You can’t measure the worth of your day by how much you got done.”
I was, admittedly, a little and pleasantly surprised by this wisdom she shared with me. Ironically, she often seemed too busy to devote much time to insight – but who really knows what she may have been contemplating while doing all that cleaning, cooking, and tapping away on the typewriter keys in her office? She shared what she could, and I appreciate that.
My mother died a while back, but I often think about what she said that day, how true it is for me, and how often I forget. And, sometimes — sometimes — I do remember what she said as I stand on the brink of self-judgment for not having “accomplished” more during the day.
Would my day be more “worthy” if I totally cleared my desk, did all the administrative tasks for my businesses, made all the calls, took care of everything around the house and yard…?
Would my day be worth less if I read for a chunk of the afternoon, took a bike ride, had a nice chat with someone I care about? And got no paperwork done?
So I wonder, how does one measure the worth of one’s day? What actually makes a day worthwhile? Can we (should we?) even measure the “worth” of our day? Isn’t every day we’re here worthwhile and valuable, no matter what happens?
It seems to me that “measure” is a code word for “judge”.
Could it be that, rather than “measuring” at the end of the day, it’s more important what intentions one sets for the day (or moments) ahead – the daily “GPS” that a Sangha friend aptly termed the direction that we can set for ourselves? I’m referring not so much to the daily to-do list, but how we choose to show up for the day – what qualities we want to bring into our waking hours.
Some examples:
May I be patient and kind with myself and others today.
May I find a balance of play / work, movement / stillness, solitude / community…
May I “listen” with care today – to sounds, what others are saying, what my body is communicating to me…
And, what if, at the end of the day – no matter how it went – we just be gentle with ourselves and allow ourselves to be human? How would that feel?
© 2025 All Can Do Yoga
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