The gift of everyday action

Seth Godin talks about the power of streaks: committing to do something every day such that there's no question whether you will do it. Streaks are their own reward, he says. Not only do they help you build skill, but they create their own momentum, and are easier to maintain than regular commitments.

I'm inspired by my friend Julie JordanScott, who recently completed a 377-day streak in which she took a photo each morning, wrote a haiku about it, and shared both on her Facebook page. She's also begun a new 377-day streak: hugging a tree every day, and sharing about the experience. (You can see her latest post here.)

I love both of those streaks for their simplicity, and because they give a unique and special window into Julie's life and mind. She wasn't trying to prove anything with them, wasn't using them as a gimmick for some other purpose; they just felt good and right for her to do. So she did them. And inspired a whole lot of other people along the way.

As the new year approaches, I've been wondering if there is a similar activity that would be satisfying for me to do on a daily basis.

I'd love to hear about your experiences with this. Do you have an activity that you do every day, no matter what? If so, what has that been like?

If not, can you imagine something that would feel good and right and wonderful to do every day, that you could sustain long term?

What, do you think, separates those things that will ultimately be joyful and sustainable, from those that will end up being a tedious chore?