About the Author

Mary is a writer and speaker who lives for good books, spicy queso, and television marathons – but lives because of God’s grace. She writes about giving up on perfect and finding truth in unexpected places at MaryCarver.com. Mary and her husband live in Kansas City with their two daughters.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
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  1. Perfect!
    And those things that don’t happen? Why are they ALWAYS good for us? We never say “speed more”, “eat more” (besides veggies), etc.
    I want to sleep more! And I’ll roll over and try, right now! (It’s vacation, I’m allowed!)
    Thanks for sharing!

  2. Can I say that I laughed out loud when I saw the picture of the red stapler and the title of this post?!? LOVE it!! I gave my husband a red stapler when we were dating and it still makes me chuckle 🙂
    As for resolutions… while I rarely make any with the new year, I often use the first of the week or the first of the month as targets for when I will start some new goal or endeavor. While the ultra-planner inside of me likes this, it is often an excuse to procrastinate 🙂 Being a perfectionist, I also get very discouraged when, in week 2 or 3 of my new discipline I falter or fail. A friend recently told me that she was comforted by remembering that we get to reset the clock ever 24 hours. A new day, a fresh new start. This encourages me when I inevitably mess up – rather than feeling like a failure and giving up my goals altogether, I can take a deep breath, extend myself a little grace, and hit reset for the next day!

    • “A friend recently told me that she was comforted by remembering that we get to reset the clock ever 24 hours. A new day, a fresh new start. This encourages me when I inevitably mess up – rather than feeling like a failure and giving up my goals altogether, I can take a deep breath, extend myself a little grace, and hit reset for the next day!”

      WOW! Thanks, Heather! This spoke to me! I had surgery, and have been “resting” for the past couple of weeks–and of course, being the perfectionistic, feel like I haven’t accomplished anything! (Satan static instead of grace) So then a whole cycle of recriminations and feeling like a failure etc. has just gotten me blue…. (despite me KNOWING that there is no condemnation in Christ and that I’m His daughter and covered by grace and that He remembers that I’m dust and doesn’t EXPECT me to do anything else!).

      Nevertheless, this was a comfort to me–24 hours….a reset and a fresh start!

      Florine something-or-other who started Weight Watchers is from my area, so there are a ton of commercials on TV and radio. And she says it is not how many times you FAIL a diet but how many times you RESTART that count. I guess that is akin to the Monday phenomenon–to “just do it”.

      So on that note….

      Thanks again!

      BTW, this is the first time I have ever posted on this site! 🙂
      I have been “lurking” for several months!! This site has been such a blessing to me!!

      • Hi Cheryl. I like how you said, ” (Satan static instead of grace) So then a whole cycle of recriminations and feeling like a failure etc. has just gotten me blue…” I have been doing my best to recognize this when it begins, then I tell myself, “Nope, that’s Satan’s heart not mine. Satan, it’s not going to work this time. I caught you.” Then I’ll pray and thank Jesus for pointing it out to me. After that I feel like a load has been taken off my heart. Thanks for commenting today. I hope you continue to do so. You never know, your words may be just the thing someone else needs to hear. They truely touched me today.

  3. You are right. I make goals throughout the year. I can’t just make them on January 1st…it is a continual process. I may decide my January goal is too big, so throughout the year I break it into more manageable pieces. Good to know I am not alone in this “almost” endeavor.

  4. I try to make realistic new year’s goals & usually stick to them. I break my goals down into managable size pieces.

    Some goals are to exercise regularly-like walking 5+ miles daily, read Bible daily (which I have done for past 3-4 years). eat healthier. One big goal I’ve had was to work hard on my temper. With God’s help, much prayer and hard work I’ve have tamed that ugly beast.

    Try taking that goal & breaking it down to months, weeks, days, hrs, etc. What ever time frame works for you. You will find that all good goals are manageable/doable with God’s help!

  5. I, too, loved the subtle Office Space reference via the title and stapler, but I loved the message even more. I do make positive changes in my life from time to time, but they almost never neatly coincide with Jan. 1. Like another commenter, I also have taken the One Word approach this year (Trust).

  6. Thank you for encouraging me. I found out two months ago that I was caught up in a cycle of eating all the wrong things so that even when I made my resolution about loosing weight I was still not eating right. I made the decision to ask God to help me eat right. Sometimes I fall off the wagon but most of the time I eat right.

  7. This is my comment on your website and like the thought give up on perfect.
    I procrastinate and have good intentions then get distracted, of doing something else.
    I used to be a Mary Kay Consultant and we were taught to write six most important
    things to do for today. I would get two or three things done and then carry the other three things to do the next day and add three. I am a painter in Watercolor, in Bible study and have some reading and answering a few questions, I have embroidery sewing machine with squares to work on. Etc. Etc. Right now most important is seeing the needs
    for my husband who had hip surgery and terrible error of surgeons breaking his femur bone so strict orders to sit in wheel chair for six weeks so bone will heal and
    if it does not, surgery. So suddenly Caregiver and caring for Him and keeping up his Courage. Happy Valentine day to you, Jane King

  8. A great reminder and just what I needed. I did have the Mondays and the Tuesdays but feel like I am more on track. I believe we always need a boost of what is really important. Thanks for the great blog and reminder!

  9. Many are the plans of a mans heart!
    That is why I think I dont meet them. I want to take on too much and then get overwhelmed. Do not despise the days of, for me, tiny beginnings.