I had two epiphanies this week – my likes and dislikes are okay and I don’t have to complete everything.

I used to believe I had to finish everything I started: podcasts, books, a sewing project, a story. This was especially true when I was listening to or reading something someone had recommended.

Just because someone suggests a podcast to me, doesn’t mean I have to continue listening to it if I’m not really enjoying it.

Just because I may have told myself I would read a certain book or book series, doesn’t mean I have to, especially if I don’t think the writing is particularly engaging.

Just because I begin a sewing project, doesn’t mean I have to continue it (or complete it within a specific time frame).

Just because I want to write a story about a certain topic or with certain characters, if the story simply isn’t working, well, it’s really okay to scrap it.

Now, sometimes I trudge through something because it’s important to someone or to myself. I can shove aside my own desires or annoyances in order to deepen relationships or develop discipline. Yet, how wonderfully freeing to know that other times I can simply say, ‘I’d rather not….’