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August 20, 2007
What Went Well, What Went Not So Well
When I was in high school, we used to start one of our acting classes with an exercise called "Good/Bad."
You'd name something good that had happened to you that day, then something bad.
It's actually a rather helpful exercise because it forces you to put things in balance. Not all good, not all bad. Every day has both.
Good today for me:
1. Exercise. Hit the gym shortly after five, did treadmill and weights.
2. Breakfast. Ate a super healthy and yummy breakfast of eggwhites, brewers yeast, nonfat cheese, flax oil and hot sauce.
3. Car. Got the oil and transmission fluid changed.
4. Work. Great day. Got tons done, checked in with all my staff, met new staff person, solved some assignment problems.
5. Cooking: Made nice dinner for MR, using up some kale stems.
6. Cats: One purring on my lap.
Bad:
1. Meditation. Didn't do it. Ran out of time between gym, breakfast, and having to meet friend at service station where I was leaving my car.
2. Lunch. Well, medium. Went out with co-workers, ordered good salad: Cobb with about four oz grilled chicken, some avocado, eggs (I only eat the whites) tomato, romaine, arugula, vinegar and dressing on side. That part was great, but I also ate a few bites of the fried calamari that my co-worker ordered. I really need to include in my daily meditation that I will not eat ONE BITE of the evil co-worker food. Susie went so far as to accuse Edward of an Unfair Lunch Practice for ordering the calamari.
3. Housecleaning. Well, maybe someday that will get done. Tomorrow morning before I leave for Scranton, perhaps?
I had a very sad thing happen first thing this morning at work. I got word that the son of one of my nurses had been killed in a car accident. Just horrible. There are no words to describe such a loss, and all I can do is express my sympathy and pray for her and her family. I can't imagine the horror she must be going through. Losing a child is probably the worst thing that can happen to a person.
Whenever I hear these stories, I feel very silly for any minute I've wasted in my life being less than happy over stupid, trivial things. When we can wake up in the morning healthy, enjoy the company of the people we love, give our lives to meaningful work, and get enough to eat and a decent cup of coffee and glass of wine, we are in paradise. So many people in the world don't have these things, and for those who have experienced a loss like the loss of a child, the simple act of living day to day would be heaven.
There's nothing I can do to bring back those we've lost. But I do feel like I can honor their memory by living each day to the fullest, and loving those around me as completely as I can.
This weekend I go to visit my grandparents. Chances are, it will be the last time I see my grandfather. At least I get to see him.
Well, I'm going to spend the last hours of my day loving my kitties and my boyfriend. Every morning I wake up next to MR grateful for two things:
1. That I am waking up next to the man I love.
2. That I get to sleep for another fifteen minutes while he assembles my pills and morning cranberry juice drink.
Love is grand, but so is a good snooze.
Posted by april at August 20, 2007 5:42 PM
Comments
Bingo! Love for MR professed again! Keep it up!
Posted by: Val at August 21, 2007 1:59 PM
That's a very good exercise to help keep things in perspective. It also appeals to my Libran personality -- I like things balanced! And publically professing your love for MR warms my maternal heart! :-)
Posted by: Judith at August 21, 2007 2:41 PM
Saw this picture and thought you'd like it:
http://www.slashfood.com/2007/08/21/holy-hello-kitty-hotness-in-a-bento-box/
Posted by: Christina at August 22, 2007 4:51 PM
Yes having a child die before you is very hard to live through. I had a son die 10 years ago and then my husband the year after my son. Losing my son was the hardest but since that time I've really reappraised what is important and of value in my life - away with the trivialities.
Peg
Posted by: Peg at August 23, 2007 12:12 AM
Hi April
On the balance, its seems life was good for you on this day. 6 good things hapenned (plus two additional mentioned at the end equal 8) against 3 bad things.
Cheers,
Arturo
Posted by: Arturo at August 23, 2007 8:38 PM