Today Was a Perfect Day

What does your perfect day look like? Here’s a look at mine.

My wife and I live in Manitou Springs, Colorado, a mountain community at the foot of Pike’s Peak, just outside Colorado Springs. We moved here after our son graduated from high school.

Every day is a good day, but today was near perfection.

I arose at 5:30 a.m. and started my day with an hour of writing and reflection. At 6:30, I hopped on my mountain bike and went for a 12 mile ride. The best part? My brother, Mike, was in town, so I wasn’t riding solo today.

By 8:30 we were nearing the end of our ride and thinking seriously about breakfast. Coquette’s Bistro and Bakery is a great gluten-free bakery and breakfast spot in Manitou Springs, and it filled the breakfast bill. We were home by 10:00 a.m.

Off to Work We Go

For the next three hours, Mike and I brainstormed our latest business ideas and prepared to launch our newest product – an ebook with accompanying tutorial videos and code samples. The last launch of this type keep us busy for three months and funded a good portion of this year’s living expenses.

Without having to worry about “making a living,” we have been able to spend the necessary time and mental energy it takes to create new products and support our growing community. Our days of “working for the man” are long gone. We both love working for our readers and giving them exactly what they want.

After finishing our “work,” it was time to play again. My wife was ready for lunch, so we decided to take Mike to a nicer lunch spot called the Marigold Cafe & Bakery. The food was great and it is right next to Garden of the Gods, one of our favorite attractions in the Colorado Springs area.

Our after-lunch treat was a visit to Garden of the Gods, a first-time experience for my brother. It’s a great place to enjoy awe-inspiring views and clear your mind. We returned home by 7, just in time for a wonderful dinner my wife had thrown in the crock pot before we headed off to lunch.

At 8:30 p.m., Mike and I went back to “work,” with both of us spending an hour and a half writing. We both have personal blogs as well as a shared blog for our business. Today was unusual because we were both in the same room while writing. Since I live in Colorado and Mike lives in Oregon, this is generally not the case.

By 10:30 we were tired and ready for bed. After 30 minutes of reflection on our exceptional day, we all said good-night.

Lessons Learned from Another Perfect Day

1. The “perfect day” doesn’t always look the same. There is no blueprint. It’s all about doing something you love, thinking about others instead of just yourself, and enjoying every moment of your life as if it was a gift.

2. Spending time with family and friends is a privilege and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

3. It’s funny how we delude ourselves into thinking all our ducks have to be lined up before we can be happy. It’s just not true. The most important ingredient in creating happiness and enjoying every day is allowing yourself to be happy.

Today’s post was Day 5 in the 30 Day Blog Challenge. You can learn more here.