Marie’s List: 100 Tiny Stories Noticed in 2020

This is my third year of making this list—it’s so fun!

I highly recommend you try it. I’ve wrapped mine a little early this year, so I could get the inspiration out to you.

As you check-off to-do’s in your daily planner (my planner is my notebook, which I teach in my time management bundle here), also write short notes on:

• things that make you happy,
• things that happened,
• unexpected moments + surprises,
• when your heart moved,
• awareness of gratitude,
• mental notes,
• etc.

So, compiling this list as a whole is just a matter of curating the best nuggets of your daily notes. Easy, peasy!

It feels GOOD to acknowledge it all—the good and the not so good.

It’s enlivening.

For what it’s worth, my advice as you plan your upcoming season is this: Make space to pay better attention to the tiny stories in your life.

Here’s the last two years of lists, if you’re curious:

• 2018 list
• 2019 list

Marie’s 100 TINY STORIES NOTICED IN 2020:

Some links are my thank-you-for-the-intro affiliate links. Thank you!

1. I can still make money in a way that lights me up! 22 members joined the Tiny Story Society to kick off 2020 strong.
2. Getting back on the same page about our weekly intentions is life-giving for our marriage. Dave started a weekly list! Yay!
3. Dogs will chew up your AirPods if you leave them within reach. #tripphole
4. It’s official. I’m in Perimenopause. Awesome.
5. I devoured Heartland season 12. This show is THE best. No spoilers on Season 13 (waiting for dvd to watch)
6. I’m SO happy I didn’t settle with the first TWO designers I worked with on the Dangerously Good Stories branding. 3rd time was a charm.
7. Counting down to Valentine’s Day with these little love notes shall become a new tradition.
8. Quick road trip to Atlanta: I got to meet Courtney Holmes, Allison Redmon, & Kylie Purtell IN PERSON!
9. Past Marie would have flipped over The Great Pause (aka the Coronavirus pandemic) and kids being home 24/7. 2020 Marie is loving it!
10. Created & presented the Manage Your Time Like a Boss bonus for the TSS.
11. The kids found a vine and they swing on it like freakin’ Tarzan… a good 30 feet above the ground.
12. We roughed in a solid 1/2-1 mile of trails on our property with a skid steer. My nature-loving spirit is thriving here.
13. I really, really dislike schoolwork and the education system’s bureaucracy.
14. It’s official. No more public school… we’re officially unschoolers in every sense of the word. Curious? This article is fantastic.
15. Dave was off two weeks, worked two weeks, off two weeks… I could get used to this schedule.
16. Always, always question conventional thinking and processes. We switched Levi to a private practice ADHD focused center and the results have been NOTHING we would have received had we stuck with our in-network, primary care BS.
17. I sent everything to our CPA. He said he got it. We didn’t hear from him for 6 weeks even after reaching out with a check-in email & a voicemail. Clients in the dark are never a good thing.
18. I really, really enjoy having a space outside of home to nourish my spirit and use great internet. I joined Nectar.
19. When you’re new “lead magnet” (hate that phrase) is LEGACY LEVEL 💜💛💙
20. Mom and Dad came to visit after a few weeks of quarantine… and I loved having them here. I don’t mind having “house guests” one bit.
21. Updated my December talk into a recording to illuminate the power of stories.
22. You don’t have to have all the answers to go after a dream. You just have to be resourceful as you go. Online printers were confusing AF. The women in The Power House introduced me to a local printer that COULDN’T help me… and in turn that printer suggested another local printer COULD.
23. “We are always getting ready to live, but never living.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
24. I’m still struggling with my weight, exercise, and nutrition.
25. THE PLAYBOOK IS PRINTED! THE PLAYBOOK IS PRINTED! THE PLAYBOOK IS PRINTED! (Peek here)
26. Since March, I’ve been waking up most mornings and going straight outside (with coffee) to our woodland fire space (eventual patio). I like what 2020 has done for me.
27. I’ve been trying to propagate English Ivy (I know, I hear I’m nuts, but it’ll look sooooo pretty above and falling onto our rock wall and I promise to maintain it well) and have failed. Will try again with different (dryer) soil.
28. Gave Kendall a surprise bedroom mini-makeover—so so fun!! Video here.
29. Kendall and I put together a tie blanket quilt.
30. It’s been 13 years since Dave and I met!
31. For the first time in forever, I went to the store and bought mini maxi pads… not for me 😉 Also, had the birds & the bees talk.
32. The whole world watched George Floyd wrongfully die. 🖤 My heart moved… again.
33. We saw our first black bear outside on our property!
34. A few days after a protest we attended, the kids were still chanting, “No justice! No peace!”
35. The doors off the Jeep with the sunscreen on? The literal best ride.
36. Kendall made incredible snickerdoodle cookies!
37. Fell in love with Goodwill. I used to turn my nose up at it, but I found so many good things. #hooked
38. I’ve read an insane amount of unschooling and homeschooling books in record time… and put a curation of them here.
39. Little sister and her fiancé visited us for the first time! I really, really like her fiancé.
40. We started read aloud time as a family. Reading by the fire with s’mores is delightful.
41. We got pizza from Sidestreet in Tryon & went on a Jeep drive.
42. Visible Impact with Anna Frandsen was fantastic!
43. Mom of the Year: The kids and I binge watched the entire Twilight series.
44. We (mostly Dave) build a retaining wall for our flattened land for our future art studio.
45. SOUTH CAROLINA FRESH PEACHES 🍑🍑🍑 – did you know we actually grow more than Georgia??
46. Bought a bunch of frames for the kids’ artwork and photos to hang as a surprise when they were away.
47. I learned how to make candles. My citronella candles are working fabulously!
48. Had my first ever mom respite / staycation—Dave and the kids went to Michigan for a week 🙌🏻
49. Moving the couch from the living room to our master bedroom was brilliant!
50. Devoured and loved Pocket Products by Courtney Donahue-Foster.
51. Wrote and delivered the Memorable Brand Story Collection Guide
52. Tried again to propagate English Ivy — success! Hydrangeas too! 🌱
53. Developed and delivered The Life-Brand Method.
54. We made stained glass chalk art on the garage.
55. I started therapy.
56. I started doing an Anger Management book with Levi and he also started therapy.
57. Kendall & Levi planned and executed treasure hunts for each other. 💎
58. Levi started week whacking and mowing the lawn.
59. I got my canvas of my favorite photo ever!
60. I also ordered and hung a scratch-off world map to celebrate where the Playbook has been shipped to.
61. I scored a $7 giant Grave Digger monster truck from Goodwill! The battery cost $42, but it was still a savings.
62. Both kids slept outside in the tent solo! So brave!
63. Dave made me a tarp shelter office, so I can keep working while it rains.
64. Manifested a Keurig for a steal $20!
65. I napped outside in the forest.
66. Pledge the Pink and the Filming Life Retreat were canceled, because of COVID.
67. Last time using Giggles Drop-In Childcare, Harris Teeter pizza, night swim with Dave 🥰
68. Kendall made some fantastic jam muffins.
69. Dave made us two benches for our property.
70. My nausea started coming back. After a month of it, my doctor increased my anti-depressant dosage and it went away! 🎉 #perimenopausesucks
71. We were invited to a moms + kids play day… first friend invite since moving here.
72. We met new friends – Dana & family 🥰
73. Both kids had their first sleepovers at our house! Levi had his first away.
74. We rescued a baby mouse.
75. Russel pulled out Levi’s first tooth with pliers!
76. Started a local FB group for homeschool and unschooling business owners.
77. Visited Croft State Park for the first time—wow! What a cool river.
78. The kids and I did a “get lost” day in the Jeep. We stumbled upon a fish hatchery, Cherokee, NC, and hit up Jet’s as per usual.
79. Heartland Season 13 came!!
80. Levi and I made made homemade weed killer—it works!
81. Kendall and I called the coyotes and they called back.
82. Levi started chainsawing… and got his own first chainsaw. Plus, we all volunteered to help after hurricane Zeta blew through.
83. Met another new friend for coffee at Upcontry Provisions. She’s a kindred heart in living awake and thriving!
84. Dave and Levi started biking at Pleasant Ridge.
85. I got Dave an outdoor movie projector / screen set up for his birthday and it’s been fun! We introduced Kendall to Labyrinth.
86. I got to hold and feed baby squirrels!
87. Myrtle Beach with mom and dad.
88. The tarp shelter is destroyed, so Dave decided to make me a building.
89. Roadschooling trip with Stacey, Remi, and Luca to Lancaster, PA & Philly!
90. The kids and I extended our trip with a visit to Washington D.C. and Arlington National Cemetery.
91. Dave finished my building – my “cabin” – and I’m in complete & total heaven.
92. I attempted to drive stick shift and failed.
93. Little sister is having a baby girl!
94. I finally told Aunt Linda what I wanted to say.
95. Kendall started therapy.
96. I’m thoroughly enjoying using the leaf blower on our trails.
97. I had to cancel therapy, because my insurance hasn’t reimbursed us. I’ve spoke with 6 people and no one from Blue Cross Blue Shield has called us back even once.
98. Halloween was a night at home, a couple giant bags of assorted candy, and movies. I introduced Kendall to my first scary movie, The Birds.
99. I’ve slept in my cabin for about 2 weeks of November and can’t get enough!!!
100. Jody visited us for a day! 🥰

I could keep going and going honestly…

Try it for yourself.

THIS WEEK:

Make your own “Things I Noticed” List.

No daily notes this year? No worries. 

Just look back through your calendar, photos, journals, etc. I’ll bet a ton will come up. Try for 10, then 20, then…. no pressure to hit 100 this year without notes…. but next year, you’ll take daily notes… and you’ll fly past 100!

Tag me on IG @dangerouslygoodstories, so I can see your overflowing list!

Notice on and respond boldly,
Marie

P.S. Isn’t it wild how fast you can accumulate a Tiny Story List?

This is exactly the kind of thing we do in the Playbook & Tiny Story Society.

Join right here.

Unearth & repurpose your stories to live awake & fulfilled: