July 19, 2012

My first and second good things are tied together today:

1. Sharing - I am at risk of sounding too much like a Care Bear as I write this, but I was on the recieving end of an unexpected share today and it was sweet!  The grade 7 and 8 classes were having a party today to celebrate their end of summer school. When they were done with their snacks, they appeared our "big kid" door and asked us if we were hungry.  My students -- all teens, really -- looked as if they had never seen food before!  They were so stoked to be considered.  It was cool!
2. Perfect Timing - We were just about to watch a documentary when the surprise food arrived! Yay for movie snacks! 

The last one is not related to the first two, but it is just as good, in my opinion.


    3. Babies!  I just found out that a friend of mine is having a baby girl!  SO GOOD!!!

July 18, 2012

It's cooled down in my house, just a smidge and I am going to attribute my better mood to the change in temperature.  I usually like to wax philosphical about the goings on in my head before I go to the list - you know, since 3 days of blogging warrents the use of the phrase "I usually like to..." - but it's late, my head is swimming with unexpected glee and terror all at once, and I think I'll head right into my list o' goodness x3:

1. My brothers and I love each other very much, but our age difference - though not out of this world on the scale - has insured that we are always at different stages in our lives and thus, have next to nothing in common, aside for the parentals.  That's why nights like tonight, when I get to chat and laugh with my brother and really connect are a good thing.  I really need to make more time for moments like that.
2. Eating veggies fresh out of the ground is the next good thing that I experienced today.  We have a small townhouse with a small yard and a garden that is (you guessed it) small as well.  That's why I find it so amazing that planting a small plant can yield such large quantities of food!  We had beans today and I can't wait to see what else comes from our little patch of goodness! 
3. Big moves are scary, but they can be oh so good.  I wasn't expecting a certain turn of events and will remain cryptic for now, but I am pleased and can't wait to elaborate!

Shh!  It's a secret, Betty!

July 17, 2012

I still can't seem to shake this case of the summer blahs and it bothers me specifically because I don't want this venture to be a suck fest at the end of every day.  My family and I were talking about how this beautiful sunny weather we're having is helping to make this the perfect summer, but it could be even more perfect if we had air conditioning! I'm tired and summer school is wearing me down, but I have to be thankful for the (3) little things in life:

1. Refund is the magic word today!  I don't want to dwell too often on material items as good things, but this one comes after a bit of a wild ride.  I had purchased tickets back in December, to a 3-day country music festival that was cancelled for financial reasons.  I was unsure of the fate of the event and my hard-earned dollars for a number of months, but I was happy to check my statement to find that everything was made right as far as the money is concerned.  I am sad that I am missing out on an event that meant so much to me last year (I met Carrie!) but now, I can use it to visit some family out West and make good things happen in August!
2. The "mist" setting on the hose is my next good thing today.  I needed relief from the heat, didn't want to be soaking wet, and it did the job!  It's amazing what you'll appreciate when you don't have A/C!  My dogs were happy too!
   
   Speaking of dogs...
3. It doesn't matter how bad of a day I'm having, my dogs (and any dog with their people, I think) are always so happy to see me when I walk through the door.  Their enthusiasm upon my entry and their pure love is always enough to put a smile on my face.  They are definitely 2 very good things!

July 16, 2012

I have to admit that I didn't expect to hit a snag so soon (cue dramatic, silent film music) but a lack of sleep last night lead to a very rough path through my day; however, I suppose that it only goes to reinforce the idea that good things happen, even in the midst of negativity.  It took me a while to even remember what I am trying to do here, but then, while procrastinating via Pinterest, I came across this little nugget of wisdom:

I took this as a sign, which because it actually is a sign, was not that hard to do.  How true are these words?  It is so easy to put into practice!  I talk to my students all of the time about energy and how positivity attracts positivity, while negative energy breeds more negativity. These words act as a reminder of that concept and I will try to live that truth as make my way through this project.

Even though there was a point in the day that I was struggling with the concept, I present to you, today's good things:

1. The tenacity of people who want something so bad that they keep facing their demons, refusing to give up the fight.  I am inspired by those who know what they want and won't give up until they succeed.
2. I tried Skor ice cream today and it was a pretty magical experience!  What's more is that I was the first one to get my spoon into the container!  As a kid, my brothers and I used to compete over who got to ruin the "smoothness" of the unspoiled jar of peanut butter or the uncharted terrain of sweet ice cream. Today, friends, I felt like Neil Armstrong as he set foot on the moon!  I was there first!  I planted the flag of Spoonia and I tasted victory!
3. Someone throught of me today.  I haven't spoken to this particular individual in a very long time, but she saw something online that she thought I might like (clearly Carrie Underwood related -- I'm obssessed!) she stuck it on my Facebook wall for me to see. It made my day, both seeing Carrie and being important enoufh to someone to have them take time out of their day to make me smile.

So, there you have it!  T'was a rocky road, but good things happened nonetheless.  I leave you with some more words of wisdom to think about when times are tough:

This is the thing from #3 :)

July 15, 2012

I feel as if my first set of good things has to set the standard for what is to come. Then again, I have to remember that I am doing this for myself and not for anyone who may be reading (no offense) and so, I am going to go with...

1. Watching the rain fall as I stared outside my window.  It has been so dry over the past few weeks and the grass and other plants in my area have been desperate for a shower.  After today, they have been renewed and that is a good thing.
2. Being provided with an uncharacteristically low-key Sunday, which allowed me to sit back and read Radio Shangri-La and find the inspiration for this endeavour.
3. Coming across the most amazing Survivor-themed birthday cake on Twitter and having a friend of mine agree to duplicate it for my birthday in September!

An Introduction...

07/15/12

Good evening, humble readers!

I know that I am making a huge assumption about the likelihood that anyone will ever actually read these words, but I figure that a friendly greeting is always in order when beginning a new relationship. For me, this is the start of two new relationships: 1) The one that will exist between me and this little corner of cyberspace and 2) The one that will allow me to better understand myself as a result of writing here.

I have to be honest though, in that what I am attempting to achieve with this blog is not an original concept. I am currently reading Radio Shangri-La, a memoir written by Lisa Napoli, an American journalist living in Los Angeles, about her experiences helping to run a radio station in the removed country of Bhutan. The King of Bhutan rules his country under the philosophy of Gross National Happiness as opposed to the rest of the world's understanding of Gross National Product as a measure of wealth and success. In light of this concept and her search to find happiness, Ms. Napoli begins an exercise – presented to her by her own guru of sorts – in which she keeps a record of three good things that happened to her every day.

The concept is simple: In our busy, fast-paced lives, we are often so bogged down by the negative and trivial that we neglect to revel in the moments of happiness that we encounter every day. These moments are often rushed though and easily forgotten, so we tend to look at our lives as though they are bleak, rather than bright and enriched. As such, I have decided to follow Napoli's lead in attempting to remind myself of the good things in my life. Some may be huge, life altering moments of bliss, and others small and seemingly insignificant moments in time, but each will be carefully chosen and presented, as there may only be three recorded in a day.

This exercise is outlined by Napoli in the prologue of Radio Shangri-La and as I am still reading the book, I am still unsure of the overall effect that this has had on the author’s life, but the idea has inspired me enough to take a chance. I look forward to continue reading of Lisa’s experiences and the good things in her life and I hope to grow along with her as I do.

Michael