The Next Right Thing
Last year at this time I encouraged you to put the hammer down. “We can still reach our goals! Let’s make the Last 100 Days Count,” I said. “Let’s Go! We’ve got this!”
This year I’m in a different mindset.
My word for 2026 is TRUST. Honestly, though, I haven’t always kept that word at the forefront of my mind. But now that I can see the end of the year on the horizon, I’m focusing not on reaching my goals by the end of the year, but on doing the next right thing. And then doing the next right thing.
With my 90-day Finding Joy Challenge and my 90-day motorhome trip well underway, my 50-state goal sitting at 48, and my self-imposed deadline to finish Finding Joy in the East: A Comeback Journey in the next 90 days, I have to trust God and trust myself enough to keep making progress. If I continue to do the next right thing, it will all turn out as it should. All in God’s timing, not my own.
Ironically, this is my 90th blog. That’s a lot of 90s, don’t you think?
What I’m starting to understand is that we don’t have to figure out the next 90 days today. We only need to do the next right thing today. Then do it again tomorrow, and so on.
Matthew 6:34 says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (NIV)
Remembering that may well be the essence of trust.
What’s the next right thing for you? Do that today. Then, as tomorrow turns into today, let’s just keep doing the next right thing.
I’m glad you’re part of this journey!
Did someone come to mind as you read this? Pass it along. You might add a little joy to their day.
Joy M. Walker
October 1, 2026 @ 8:43 am
I so enjoyed the next right thing. At 84 years old, I have learned through the years of joy and sorrow, trials and tribulations, that my faithful God will always see me through all the good things and all the difficult things. Lately I have had some real physical challenges and I’m having to trust my God to take me through the next step. I cannot look ahead as then it gets overwhelming, one step and then another. As I read your blog, it gave me great joy to realize that you have learned that. Your mother knew how to do that well. So good to read another one of your blogs. I certainly did not realize you had reached 90 blogs. That is amazing. If when you started you try to think ahead to 90 blogs it would’ve been overwhelming, but to do them one at a time hasn’t been near as hard as what it would’ve seemed to be. Had you looked ahead. So good to hear from you, my dear friend. I hope this trip will be safe, meaningful and fun.
October 1, 2026 @ 11:36 am
Sorry to hear you are having physical challenges, Mary Anne. What a compliment to be compared to Helen Walker. Thank you. And you are so right about thinking ahead to blog 90 would have been overwhelming. I’ll take your advice and take one step at a time. One blog at a time.
October 1, 2026 @ 9:09 am
Congratulations on your 90th blog! Doing the next right thing helps me stop dwelling on the past and keeps me focused on the present and what I can do to improve it!
October 1, 2026 @ 11:37 am
“Doing the next right thing helps you stop dwelling on the past and keeps you focused on the present and what you can do to improve it!” That’s golden, Cathy!
October 3, 2026 @ 4:41 pm
Perfect! Right now, some projects feel endless. But I can focus on the next right thing! Thanks for this!
Ann
October 3, 2026 @ 11:31 pm
One step at a time, Ann. You’ve got this!