You know how they say measure twice, cut once? Well, today felt like measure seven times, cut 14 times - and then spill water all over the floor and forget to turn off the oven.
I know the universe is not out to get me (even if my brain tries to trick me into thinking it is sometimes, thank goodness - I know).
And I know there are lessons and opportunities in every challenge. But this day, it wore me down.
So what do we do on a day like today, when it feels like everything is an obstacle in our path? What do we do besides mope around and feel sorry for ourselves?
Here’s what I do (and what I did do today):
I remind myself about the incredible smell of honey cake, baking in my oven. My daughter‘s company. Work that feels meaningful. A washer and dryer.
It will not surprise anyone reading here tonight to know that when times are hard, I remind myself about the good things.
I used to think that if I talked about this practice - if I said, “Tell me 3 good things,” it would sound shallow, or trite, or people would think everything must be perfect in her life, because who talks about good things all the time?
The truth is, it’s often the challenges that prompt me to think about the good things. It’s the challenges that make me reach for a better - brighter, lighter, more loving - thought.
It’s the hard days when I’m making lists of good things all day long. The harder the day, the longer the lists.
I don’t talk about good things because everything is good. I talk about good things because so many things are hard. Because I hate the headlines. Because I’m worried about the future. Because violence and hunger and war and poverty and contaminated drinking water, hatred, overwhelm, deadlines, lack of sleep, and loneliness. To name a few.
We have to keep talking about the good things, friends. Because if we don’t who will?
Wednesday:
Sitting on the porch with Lucy in the afternoon.
2-gallon freezer bags.
The park in our neighborhood reopened today after 18 months of renovations, and it’s lovely!
Now you? Tell me 3 good things?
Xo.
