Day 29: January 2nd, 2026
Walking My Walk
January 2nd, 2026 — two days in, and today is my second entry of the month.
Today (off day), I awoke at 7:20am. Why am I up? I don’t have work today. I should be resting. I did go to bed late last night — stayed up strengthening my infrastructure, my systems, and going over my planned changes for my new journeys ahead.
The first: finish getting my place in order. I picked up a 3-shelf bookshelf from Target last night. Today I put it together.
A bit skeptical at first, but after reading the instructions and a second gloss over, I pulled out the needed tools, laid out my pieces, and quickly the slabs of white-painted wood became a bookshelf (smiles).
When you’re first pulling the slabs out and the bags of screws and nails, you might think, “Man, can I do this?” And before you know it, you’ve taken the steps — slow and careful — and have built something you can be proud of.
That’s me now, all smiles, looking at my newly built bookshelf. I wasn’t timing myself, but I figured I was done in an hour and a half. I put on some focus music and got to work.
After all is done, I take my two 3-feet stacks and begin to organize and place them on the shelves. My small library is coming along nicely, and in a short while I’ll have every shelf covered. Well, I basically have almost two filled now, but I look forward to adding more.
I pull a meal prep container from the fridge: rice, 93/7 lean beef seasoned with rosemary, pepper, and thyme, spinach, and a fried egg on top. A quick zap. I say my grace and I dig in.
I enjoy cooking. I like to cook. I like beef with rosemary. I like red wines. I like thyme with bison. I like dark beers. I like cottage cheese and pineapple. I like almond butter smeared on Oreo cookies. I’m willing to try all sorts of things. I enjoy foods and different cultures.
Most of my diet is centered around: Mediterranean, Mexican, Indian, Chinese, and Italian.
Needing to run a few errands, I get dressed and head out for the day. Another rainy day in San Francisco, but the show goes on.
My first stop: Ross. I’m a frugal shopper. Joining a new gym, it’s a new year — I need new gym clothes. And I’ll probably grab something for work.
I’m very straightforward when I shop. I know what I want, where it is. I find it, try it on, look around a little bit, and check out. All the while I’m doing this, Atomic Habits is in my ear.
I get to the line. It’s empty — 3 checkers in front of me, all standing idle. I say nothing. Moments later, they all walk away from their registers. Odd, but I guess maybe it’s break time. Even though usually in retail, all the clerks don’t break at the same time. I shake it off.
Still standing. 1 checker to my right. She’s wrapping up with a shopper, so I’ll be next shortly.
Before the older lady could even grab her bags and her cane, the clerk — not even talking to me but talking at me (if you know what I mean) — asks, “Do you need a bag?” in an overdramatic tone.
“Yes,” trying to meet her eyes. The whole interaction was lopsided. Here I am, happy, smiling, having a wonderful day. I glance at her name tag. Let’s just call her Sam.
I wondered what was wrong, even though I shouldn’t think into this much. She rang my things up, never looked at me till she asked, “Are you paying cash or card?”
I replied, “Cash.” And she has this twist in her facial expression. “Oh, cash,” she says, somewhat disgusted. I shake it off.
I hand her the bill in her hand with a smile and ask, “Is this fine?” She runs it through her counterfeit scanner, counts out the change, and puts it away from me on the counter and gives me the change in my hand.
I think, Wow! Then ask, “Can you hand me my money?” She balls it slightly before putting it in my hand. I say, “Thank you.” She looks past me and calls for the next customer. “NEXT!”
I walk to the door, show my receipt, and leave.
In my mind, I ask myself, What is happening? Did I — no, I didn’t do anything wrong. I shake it off, turn up my audiobook, and continue on with my day.
It has started raining now. Gloomy, but still a good day.
I’ve been wanting pizza for maybe three weeks, so I say “what the heck” and grab me a box and head home. A walk in the rain, eating a slice, and enjoying my life.
The old Garry would have had a lot to say to that clerk. But I can’t harp on the uncontrollables. People are people, and maybe she was just having a bad day. We’re all human, so I’ll leave it at that.
I enjoy my walk home, get in, eat, and — well, now I’m writing this.
It’s been great having you tag along with me. One more day till I complete my 30-day writing challenge.
One of the most important things I’m continuing to work on — and it’s a continuous process — is to not revert back to old ways of thinking. I am new. I think better. I am compassionate and understanding. I choose to see the best. I want the best for others I don’t even know. I want change.