As I get older, time flies. I can’t believe that it’s Monday morning and I have to go to work, then ten minutes later, it’s Friday afternoon and the weekend begins. It’s pretty crazy. I can’t figure out if it’s old age or not. When you’re a kid, time crawls. As Christmas approaches, you think it’ll never get here. But when you’re older, last week was Halloween and tomorrow is New Years Eve.
A new year comes whether you’re ready or not. Now last year, right around this time, I tried to think of ways to cheer myself up in the winter. I’m not a cold weather person and the short, dark days get to me. I wouldn’t say I’m really depressed but I start counting how many days until spring right around Thanksgiving.
To try to remind myself that there are good things that happen on a daily basis, I made my own journal last December. In a blank book, I mod-podged some words on the front that said, “Three Good Things.”
Side note: You’ve never heard of mod-podge??? We discovered this amazing product when the kids were little. It’s one of the coolest things ever. Go visit now and buy a small container - Mod Podge! You can paste comics, words, pictures to paper using this stuff. It dries clear and helps you make something new and cool! It’s a glue, sealant and adds a cool finish. But I digress, big time.
Last December, I promised myself that each day, I would try to write down at least three things that made me smile, laugh or just be grateful. I’ll admit I’m not always the best at staying with these types of things. I’ll start, stick with it for a while and then a short time later, I’ll give up. But this year, amazingly, I wrote something every single day for the entire year. I have to be honest, it felt good. Not every day entry was earth shattering but that’s okay. My goal was to be happy with the little things.
When you try to write something interesting or bizarre on a daily basis, you realize that some days have some cool stuff. Others, not so much.
As I tried to look for the good in days where not much happened, let me share some examples.
Shopping for groceries, I had a unique conversation with a delightful older woman in the banana aisle at our local grocery store. We discussed, in length, when it was best to eat a banana. Was it when it still had a touch of green on it? Do you like it all yellow or perhaps when it starts to get some brown spots on it? I told her I was pretty picky (shocking) and only liked it when it was yellow. She looked at me and said she wasn’t picky at all and advised me to just eat them, they’re good for you, she said.
We have a famous neighbor. Every other month or so, I’ll run into Bernie at the store. I try not to bother him while he is trying to select the right avocado for their dinner salad. But last Friday night, I assumed he just flew back from a tough weekend in Washington. As he was grabbing his shopping cart, I went out on a limb and said, “Welcome Home!” He smiled and said thanks.
As I work from home most days, my trip to the bagel store is another one of the social highlights of my day. (Yeah, I’m just living the dream.) I really digress.
My “Three Good Things” book is just a way to ensure that I notice the small stuff that happen every day. It can be a bit corny, but I needed it.
Therefore, I’m looking for something different and unique this year. As a reader of this newsletter, I’ve never asked for your help. But I’m asking.
What have you done in prior years? To improve the dark dreary months of winter, what suggestions might you have to survive and thrive?
Unless, of course, you’ve moved south where it’s sunny and warm all winter long, then I don’t need to hear from you.
Well, even though you said you didn’t need to hear from me I can’t help but throw my two cents in. Bucket list. Do something on your bucket list this year. If you’re really adventurous, do more than one thing.
Patrick…thanks for keeping us all connected. You are truly a great writer! And how cool that Bernie is your neighbor!