I had my apartment professionally cleaned for the first time today. This is something I thought I would never do. Right after I gave birth, five months ago, people kept telling me earnestly, “Don’t worry about the housework. Really, it can wait.” Clearly, these people had never visited my house if they thought I was concerned about the cleaning. It’s not like I’m growing penicillin in the kitchen (as far as I know), and that skunky smell in the bathroom is from an actual skunk who sprayed outside the window last night (I swear). I’m very neat, actually, and I’m great about doing the laundry. But the dust bunnies and I have a kind of tacit agreement; it’s akin to the “fish and guests start to smell after three days” axiom, except that the dust bunnies get to stay way longer.

Every time I get sick, I promise myself that I’ll never take a healthy day for granted again. I vow to be mindful of how much energy is coursing through my body or how clear my head is. This usually lasts for a week or so. But when I lost my mojo last year, I took a similar vow to appreciate the mojo when I got it back, and this one has stuck.

Do you recognize this? You get up in the morning and you feel sluggish already. You hate the thought of the day ahead of you and at night you go to bed feeling dissatisfied.

You can change this, instantly, by creating a morning routine. Set your alarm a little earlier (I know, ugh, but trust me -- it's worth it!) so that you have some time just for you, and do something that energizes you and makes you happy. 

Please welcome one of our global Pinkies Maddie, who joins us from Melbourne, Australia and is an active member of the forum and posse blog. Originally from the UK, Maddie has been on a Seekers path over the past 5 or 6 years, exploring life's twists, turns, and tumbles. She calls it like she sees it, cheers Pinkies on from the rooftops, and offers advice when asked (but doesn’t sulk if you don’t take it!). This post is about paying Owning Pink forward, reminding us that when we find our mojos, the easiest way to reinforce what we've learned is to pass it on -- often to those least expecting it.