What Have You Done?

It's Beat Ohio week. The Game is on Saturday and all week long at every single Michigan game, no matter the sport, at some point the chant "Beat Ohio" will break out. As soon as last week's football game was well in hand it started there. It's THE GAME.

Full disclosure, I do not expect us to win this year. In fact I expect us to get destroyed, like well out of hand by half time. But...I expected that last year as well. I mean, Ohio won the Natty last year. But you know what they didn't win? The Game. It would be HILARIOUS if it happened again. But I don't expect it to. Ohio is a beast of a team this year with a GIANT mitten shaped chip on their shoulders.

It's a rivalry game at the very top of rivalry games. People who have no connection to either place know about it. It's a big deal. I mean, as far as silly little games that really don't mean anything in the grand scheme of life go... (just letting you know you don't have to tell me about all of the things in the world that are more important)

There is a sign in Michigan's weight room that reads: What have you done to beat Ohio State today? (Put a pin in this and we will circle back)

I listened to Roxane Gay's Masterclass this month and she talked about goal setting. She doesn't do time specific goals or even certain outcome specific goals. She talked about how that's setting yourself up for failure (talking specifically about writing) like she can hope that one of her books gets picked up for a movie option this year but that's out of her hands. What she can focus on is being a better writer all of the time. She can do the things that she needs to do to get better at her craft.

And that takes time. But as long as she's moving forward she's working toward that goal. And if she gets an option, then yay! But if that never happens then at least she's a better writer today than she was at the beginning of the year. Now, as she just won the National Book Foundation’s Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community I'd say she's doing a lot of work toward being a better writer, and helping others become better writers as well.

And now...

It's the end of November and a woman's mind turns toward her goals for 2026.

And I've been trying to figure out what I want to do. I sort of did free form goals for this year. Do the things I do and not worry so much about the numbers and that's been okay. But it's time for a change up. The past few weeks I've been less and less motivated to do the stuff. And I know I need to do the stuff. The stuff keeps me going on even keel. But I'm bored with the way I'm doing the stuff so I need to do something to shake up the stuff. You know?

I think I'm going to blend the Michigan thing with the Roxane Gay thing and make it a year of What have you done today for your brain and your heart?

Because really that's what all of my stuff is about right? I challenge my head to keep it screwed on straight and challenge my heart to keep it healthy and strong. I read, write, workout, do the little things that keep my head clear and my heart beating strong. So I won't be changing up the stuff I do, because I KNOW what works for me, I'll just be reframing it in to a what have you done today to make those things better. And I won't be tying it to specific numbers, just everyday I'm working toward being better.

I'm not sure exactly what that looks like just yet but to be fair to myself I just came up with it an hour ago while I was jogging on the treadmill. A thing I do for my brain and my heart so yay!

I'm imagining checklists of items I do for my head and my heart and cute stickers. So you know the good stuff. Stickers, and planning books, and checklists, oh my...

Also, Christmas is a month away. I mean, that doesn't have a lot to do with planning for 2026, except for the fact that the month is going to ZOOM by as is it's wont. Hold on tight, we're in the last downhill stretch of 2025 now.