Monday Matchstick Challenge #21
Sparking a sense of adventure in everyday life
Happy Monday! ⭐️
Hi friends, welcome back to the Monday Matchstick Challenge after an extended holiday hiatus. I hope you all had a fantastic festive season wherever you were in the world. 🌍
What did you get up to?
Let me start by saying a big thanks for all the well wishes and offers of support I received following my mum’s death, they were so appreciated.
Bereavement is always tough, but there’s something especially difficult about facing grief over the holidays - what should be the happiest time of year with your family.
But as we dip into the New Year and the mass return to the office begins, it’s time for me to ease back into normal life. And with that, sparking adventure again!
I’d planned a challenge break for a couple of weeks over Christmas, but the pause came early with my mum’s accident, so we’ve skipped almost a month. I hope you’ve been finding your own adventures in the meantime. 💥
Hi, I’m Holly - coach, mindfulness facilitator and author of Zestful Zen. As well as this weekly adventure challenge, I write about self-care, personal growth, mindfulness, and purpose. If you like life to be full of zest and energy, complemented by a zen, calm mind, Zestful Zen is the community for you! Join us now. ✨
Our last Monday Matchstick Challenge (on 9 December) was:
Have an outdoor picnic. 🥪
How did you get on with this one? I hope it prompted some fun adventures!
Brrrrr 🥶
Well, with the news of Mum’s accident, all thought of picnics unsurprisingly went out the window for me.
So no eating outdoors. Instead there were snacks in airport departure lounges, the hospital canteen, and at the end, Mum’s hospital room (vending machine junk food - not recommended).
But after her passing, I drew comfort from time in nature and carried a few chai lattes and hot chocolates around in blustery winds, walking by the Irish coast or through the woods. So a mobile picnic of sorts?
Steaming drinks warmed my body while my heart tried to thaw. And that was enough.
My Challenge Takeaways
I guess there’s really only one lesson I could take from my December hiatus. When times are tough, it’s okay to pause and take a break.
You have to focus on looking after yourself (and maybe others) and just get through the days. People will understand that you couldn’t carry on like normal.
We’re all human after all. 💖
🧨 🧨 🧨 🧨 🧨
How about you? Did you freeze your butt off snacking outdoors? Or perhaps you’re in the southern hemisphere and it’s perfect picnic season. Any lessons from your challenge?
💬 Share your takeaways in the comments. 💬
This Week’s Challenge
This week’s Monday Matchstick Challenge is:
Go on a hunt for one type of thing - coffee shops, art deco, the colour red. 🔍
Ooooh, so many possibilities with this one, and I love how it will encourage me to be mindful, paying attention to my surroundings.
⭐️ Join the challenge and share your experience in the comments. 💬
I can’t wait to hear about your Sparked Adventures! 💥
Have a magical Monday 🪄✨
What is the Monday Matchstick Challenge?
The idea is to have some fun together trying new/random things.
Every week, I select a faux matchstick at random from the game Spark Adventure – 50 Ways to Explore and Discover, and post it to Substack.
I try to deliver on the challenge by the end of the week, sharing my attempts/the outcome with you here.
Fellow Substackers also dive in, have a go and share their anecdotes.
If you’re new to the Monday Matchstick Challenge:
You can read about the genesis for the challenge here: Monday Matchstick Challenge #1.
Previous Monday Matchstick Challenge posts are available on the Zestful Zen homepage, if you’d like to have a go at igniting your sense of adventure in everyday life!
Ways to connect or work with me 💬
DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer coaching sessions and mindfulness courses.
If you enjoyed this post, it would mean the world to me if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. 💖 Thanks for your support! ✨
I hope things are feeling a bit lighter for you this Monday morning. This challenge is my jam because I adore novel things! I would seek out 'new' as far as coffee shops, art deco, etc go.
Hello, I am here again after a long break. However, I was very saddened to learn about the passing of your mother in your post. My heartfelt condolences to you. It is very devastating to lose the one you love the most, especially if it is your mother. I still miss my father very much even after 14 years. But death is as much for us humans as life. I wish you and your family a healthy and happy year.