$pent Millennial

Dear Reader,

How are we doing? 

For me, this past week has felt like running on a treadmill at full speed—each new task, decision, and responsibility nudging the incline just a little higher. By Saturday, I was ready to step off, to rest. But first, I needed to grocery shop.

The beginning of the month always brings the excitement of a fresh start. This is especially true this week with March and the promise of spring ahead. It also means my big monthly grocery haul—a routine that ensures our pantry is stocked with staples, so we only need to replenish fresh ingredients as needed.

But this Saturday, I didn’t want to think about one more thing. I just wanted easy. I wanted to drive to the usual store, buy the usual things, and go through the motions without a second thought. I craved normalcy, routine, autopilot.

At the same time, I wanted to honor my values. And that meant making intentional choices about where I shop and how I spend my money. Even when I didn’t feel like it. Especially when I didn’t feel like it.

So, instead of defaulting to convenience, I made a plan. I mapped out a few local stores, compared prices, and adjusted my route to stretch my budget while supporting businesses that align with my values. While I was choosing to be intentional with my spending and grocery budget, I also wanted to be intentional with my time and resources. After a long work week, and another that will be here before I know it, I wanted to get the most out of my “off” days. So, I invited my sister to join me in my shopping. 

I figured she might also need to grocery shop for the upcoming week, and it made sense for two people to get  their shopping done, making better use of gas and time. Beyond that, it turned an errand into an opportunity. Instead of rushing through aisles on autopilot, I got to spend quality time with her, catching up and spending time in sister camaraderie as only sisters do. 

By the time we packed up the car and headed home, I realized that what had felt overwhelming just hours earlier had actually given me the opportunity to reframe how I approach my monthly haul. Shaking up my routine made me more mindful of the shopping experience itself—paying attention to what I was buying, making thoughtful choices, and staying present rather than just going through the motions.

By the time I got home and was packing up my haul, I felt empowered and reinvigorated by my choice to be intentional in my shopping. These choices, that at the beginning of the day felt overwhelming, allow me to align my spending with my values. It’s a small but tangible way to take control of something within my reach, even when other parts of life feel uncertain.

For me, it was an example of “doing the next ‘right’ thing” when everything feels big and overwhelming. By digging in and doing it- even when I really didn’t want to- I realized I could do it. And I did. This proof to myself will make it easier for me to do it the next time I am faced with the decision of where to spend my money. 

I recognize that not everyone has the ability to make these kinds of shifts. Time, mobility, financial flexibility—these are privileges that shape how and where we shop. I don’t take that lightly. But when I do have control over a decision, I want to make it count.

So, how are we doing?

If I’m being honest, I’m still feeling largely overwhelmed and worn out by everything on my plate. There’s no neatly wrapped resolution to that—not yet, anyway. But in the midst of all the chaos, I found a moment of mindfulness in a place I didn’t expect to. And maybe that’s something worth holding onto.

Mindfulness isn’t always sitting in stillness or escaping into nature. Sometimes, it’s just choosing to be present in the life we’re already living. It’s in the choices we make, the routines we reimagine, and the moments of connection we create—even in the grocery aisles.

Here’s to finding those moments, however they show up.

Until next time- take care and be well, 

Everett