Yesterday, I made real progress on visualizing my ideal day and managed to get another version of it online. This is a meaningful ritual, writing out each visualization getting me closer to clarity about what I want for myself.
The process was far from easy though. It took me a solid three and a half hours because I was hand coding everything in the WordPress Classic editor. I’m intentionally avoiding the Block Editor since it tends to clutter up the source code, making things a bit dirtier than I’d like.
Working with VS Code was an added challenge; I ran into some accessibility quirks that made things slower and less straightforward than I’d hoped. Still, I powered through and got it done. “I will find an efficient way to do this!”
Another highlight of my day was testing out the Amazon Basics Paper Shredder I received on Thursday, having purchased it Wednesday for $33.00 plus tax. It’s surprisingly effective! I’m not sure about its longevity, but for now, it’s doing exactly what I need, shredding years-old tax returns from 2002 and other sensitive documents into confetti-sized pieces. There is something oddly satisfying about seeing those old papers get securely destroyed, finally letting go of some physical clutter.
I also spent time reading Tim Ferriss’s 4 Hour Work Week. Although the “updated” edition still feels dated in places, it’s been thought-provoking. It’s inspiring me to reconsider how I manage my time and life. I’m not convinced any of the specific solutions will work for me just yet, but it’s encouraging to reflect on new approaches and possibilities. Time will tell if I can apply any of these ideas in a way that fits my situation, “me living with blindness and all”.
On the technical front, I kept working on my “My Design” WordPress theme. I focused on compiling code to make it portable across different sites. There’s something deeply rewarding about seeing a project mature, knowing I’m building something that can be reused and adapted as needed.
I also double-checked my image sizing code for the main content, header, and footer areas of the theme. I confirmed that 760PX is a solid choice for desktop viewing, and that images will scale to fit full width on devices under 1000PX. The key is to resize images to 1000PX before uploading them; then CSS takes care of the rest. It feels good to solve these practical issues ahead of time, minimizing headaches for myself and anyone who I might let use this theme down the road.
- I’m grateful for the focus and energy I had yesterday, which helped me tackle some challenging coding work and push through frustration to get results.
- I appreciate affordable tools like the paper shredder, which made decluttering easier and more secure.
- I’m thankful for books that challenge my thinking, even if they don’t offer immediate solutions.
- I value the opportunity to learn and improve my coding skills as I work through real-life problems. Hopefully the information I compile from trial and error will benefit others like me down the line.
- I’m grateful for moments of clarity about what I want my days to look like, and for the sense of progress these visualizations bring.
Looking back, yesterday was a blend of effort, challenge, and small wins. I’m choosing to celebrate the progress, even when it comes in the form of shredded tax returns or a line of CSS that makes my life easier. It’s the little things that add up, “Right?”
