what did you do yesterday?

I’ve been a single person who works mostly from home for about a decade, now, which is generally a great, flexible, good-for-me lifestyle. I do what I want when I want. I wash the dishes the way I want to wash the dishes. For the most part, no one else sets my schedule. I like that. And living and working this way also means that there’s a tiny voice in my head regularly questioning if I’ve done enough, if I’m being as productive as everybody else, if this chosen pace of mine is too fast or too slow or just, generally, how it compares to everybody else out there in the world living *their* lives.

I love hearing people share about the minutiae of their lives, in part because people are fascinating and lives are interesting but also because some days, I need a touchstone for how my own life compares. I ran across a post this week, “What Did You Do Yesterday,” a spin on the British comedy podcast of the same name in which guests are asked that one single question and then required to answer, in as much entertaining detail as possible, without mentioning anything outside the confines of the day before. I thought I’d try it out.

What I Did Yesterday:

6:00 a.m. - On the dot. Awake. I changed a medication about a month ago and assume this new early-morning wake-up habit is a result of that? Or maybe it’s the springtime sun’s extended hours, or the aging dog’s shrinking bladder. Whatever the reason, I was awake. I brushed my teeth, took the dog out, made coffee, took my blood pressure, ate breakfast, read some news. Sent in my daily missive of reasons to be grateful about the day to the group text thread I keep with two friends.

7:15 a.m. - Dug into some freelance projects. I set up my vendor profile for a big state university so that I can be a research assistant for a very interesting study. I worked on a slide deck and a weekly newsletter for a congregation I’m helping out while they’re between administrators.

9:00 a.m. - Took a shower. Made more coffee. Talked on the phone with a friend I’d been meaning to catch up with for a few weeks.

9:30 a.m. - More freelance work: I finalized a couple of partnerships between NC tourism entities and my travel brand client. I fiddled around with a new website my design partner and I are building for a church. I confirmed details for a guest preaching gig next month. I checked my email a bit obsessively, waiting to hear back about a big proposal I sent in for a writing project.

11:00 a.m. - Started reading a book about spiritual trauma, got kicked in the teeth by the introduction alone. If I were guest preaching this week - a thing I do 2-3 Sundays each month - this would have been the time I wrote that sermon. But I’m not preaching! I’m going to brunch with my mom for Mother’s Day! So I didn’t have to write a sermon! (GIANT BUZZER SOUND FOR MENTIONING SOMETHING OUTSIDE THE CONFINES OF YESTERDAY!)

12:00 noon - Fixed lunch for myself (leftover peanut vegetable curry) and the dog (soaked sensitive stomach Hill’s brand kibble). Ate. Washed the dishes, brushed my teeth, took the dog out. Talked to my neighbor about plants and travel plans. Said hey to the building maintenance guy, AKA Fran’s bestie.

1:15 p.m. - Took a nap. Checked email obsessively again. Did the NYT crossword.

2:00 p.m. - Went to the gym. Lifted weights! Did more reps than I could do last week. Sweated out a ton of toxins, both chemical and emotional.

3:00 p.m. - Went to my community garden plot to harvest some of my very happy bok choy. Saw T, an unhoused friend who hangs out in the shelter there, talking to some guys with badges. Apologized for not bringing him the Mountain Dew I promised him on Tuesday. Learned that someone had called the police, apparently upset that T dared to *exist* in a space where they happened to be, and the guys with badges were part of Roanoke’s Homeless Assistance Team, there to assess the situation before armed officers were sent (thank God this is standard policy here). Vouched for T’s friendliness, general lack of threat, shared my name and number and posed for a photo with T and another gardener, I assume as proof that he does not scare us and we do not want armed officers of the law to come remove him from our sightlines. Left ANGRY.

3:30 p.m. - Stopped by the LEAP Hub to pick up my FIRST FARMSHARE OF THE SEASON! Heard angels singing glorias of praise now that my fridge will be filled weekly with fresh, local produce and my meal planning and cooking patterns will get infinitely easier. Picked up my favorite coffee blend that’s only sold at the Hub, the best chips I’ve ever eaten and some local greens for the salad I was taking to a dinner party later on.

4:15 p.m. - Took the dog on a walk with the intent of taking some pictures of the gigantic bridge construction project in my neighborhood because my kid-friend E in Durham explicitly requested an update. Ended up meeting a new neighbor and chatting so long with her that I forgot about the bridge photos entirely.

5:15 p.m. - Fed the dog dinner, put together a (kind of gorgeous) salad for dinner using the (kind of gorgeous) produce from my farmshare.

5:30 p.m. - Read a romance novel.

6:30 p.m. - Loaded my (kind of gorgeous) salad in the car, picked up a friend and headed to dinner at other friends’ house. Caught up, pet a good dog, admired Agnes’ beautiful garden, ate DELICIOUS Afghan food, made plans for summer adventures.

9:00 p.m. - Unloaded my medical anxiety (I might or might not have high blood pressure, and I might or might not need to start meds for that, but evidence is decidedly inconclusive and it’s going to take 18 MONTHS to get a new PCP) on Tina (a medical professional!), who graciously did some actual medical assessment algorithms and calmly told me that I am FINE.

9:45 p.m. - Took the dog out, gave her treats. Brushed my teeth, washed my face, fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

What did YOU do yesterday?