grateful today

I had a lovely stretch of luck last week. On Thursday night I was looking for a necklace that I felt sure I had in stock when I discovered a jewelry roll that I hadn’t unpacked after the last show, with SEVEN necklaces in it. No points for memory or smarts but all the same “YAYYY! Christmas!!!” It was the finding-a-forgotten-dollar-in-your-pocket feeling — multiplied. By a lot.

On Friday I had clear roads on my drive into the city and throughout the day whenever I rode the subway the train pulled in just as I reached the platform.

My bead supplier had some turquoise beads I haven’t seen in ages. Many strands.

At the Banana Republic on Fifth Avenue there was the best ever changing room attendant in charge. I went in looking for some show-appropriate clothing, feeling less than hopeful. Jane was friendly, and kind, and had me in and out in 12 minutes with an entire outfit that looks great. At no point during the exercise did I hate myself or the world. A miracle.

After that I popped in to Anthropologie and fell in love with a couple of mugs.

I’ve been carrying around a gift card from their store for 6 months, since discovering it in a packing box from the apartment before last, which I vacated two years ago. The small print on the back says they deduct money after the first year, and I calculated that just maybe there would be $2 left. At the checkout I handed over the gift card feeling embarrassed, only to find the entire amount intact. The girl even gave me change!

On my way home I thought about the lucky feeling and leaned into it, enjoying it. I thought, “Very soon I will feel bad about something. It’s good to notice the good.”

When I got home M had made coffee. And there was a message confirming that Wolfie was sick. “Very soon I will feel bad about something.”

It is hard to hold on to ‘the good’ when ‘the bad’ happens and seems so heavy and important. But I think it may be an essential skill in being happy. Having a light touch and refusing to lock focus on the negative. Enjoy the coffee. In the new mug. Do the next right thing for the cat. Feel good when good comes your way. Notice feeling good. And say thanks.

- Estyn

PS. Wolfie is doing a whole lot better.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 2:10 pm and is filed under today. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.