It’s writing time! Welcome to this week’s edition of the Five Minute Friday link-up.
Please be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post to read an important announcement about the rest of the year here at Five Minute Friday.
This week’s FMF writing prompt is: CAPACITY
Setting my timer for five minutes and . . . GO.Â
It took me about forty-four years, but I think I kinda-sorta-maybe realized that I don’t have to overdo it all the time. 😉
I can say no to things.
It has taken me much longer than it should have, but I’ve come to accept that I have a certain capacity, and it doesn’t help anyone if I just keep trying to cram more and more and more into the limited time and energy that I possess.
In my household, I’m infamous for being late because I always think I have time for “just one more thing.” I can quickly unload the dishwasher before we go, I think. I can straighten my hair or take out the trash or wash this pan or wipe the counter. It’s always something.
But guess what I’ve realized?
I don’t have to do it all.
I don’t have to bake a homemade snack to take to Bible study the week it’s my turn to bring something. I can take gluten-free Oreos and it will be fine.
I don’t have to say yes to every request of my time.
I can assess my capacity and bandwidth for that day, that week, that season, and do my best to make adjustments accordingly.
Like this link-up, for example. As I mentioned in last week’s post, I’ll be traveling to Cape Town this weekend for the first time in seven years. I’ll be having surgery there and recovering in South Africa for five weeks afterwards.
And even though I will miss it for sure, I’ve made the decision that it’s better for my body to “check out” for a bit to give myself the best chance of rest and recovery during those weeks.
So . . . I’ll be posting one more time next week (October 31st), then it will be sayonara from me until 2026!
What about you? Are there things in your life you need to take a break from to honor the capacity you’ve been given?
STOP.
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In case you missed the announcement last week, I will be taking a medical leave from Five Minute Friday during November and December.
I will not personally be hosting the FMF link-up during those months, BUT longtime FMF community member Andrew Budek-Schmeisser graciously volunteered to keep the link-up going on his site while I’m away.
If you’d like to keep your writing habit going in November and December, head over to Andrew’s site at the usual link-up times:
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com
Please note: I will not be sending the usual weekly writing prompt emails during this period or posting the prompts on social media.
Thanks in advance to Andrew for his time and offer!
Here’s a snapshot of what’s to come:Â
October 31st: Final FMF link-up here for 2025
November: Go to Andrew Budek-Schmeisser’s site to participate
December: Go to Andrew Budek-Schmeisser’s site to participate
January 9th: First FMF link-up of 2026 on this site
Thank you in advance for your grace and understanding!
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Join us with your own five-minute freewrite on the prompt, CAPACITY, then visit your link-up neighbor to read their post and leave an encouraging comment:Â
