Mo' Mentum

The other day, when I felt once again like I had a particularly fine view of the underside of life's boot, I realized that things had, in fact, begun to look up.

Just the tiniest little bit, maybe, but up nonetheless.

I decided to literally count my blessings—the recent ones, at least—so I could try to keep things a bit more in perspective.

I got out a pad of Post-it® Notes and wrote one blessing (or, in some cases, accomplishment) per sheet. I came up with eight, from the really important—"Dad out of hospital" and "PET/CT negative"—to the mundane yet effortful ("basement cleaned").

Then I arrayed them on the glass coffee table so I could see them easily, lest I get sucked back into the mental quicksand again.

When Zach came home, I told him about my little art project and invited him to join in.  And on Sunday, right after finding a good home for our ragtop, he did:  "Sold our dear Cabriolet!"

He also moved the Post-its® to the wall, so now they're probably more like an art installation.

Now, of course, I'm eager to keep it up, so I'm looking for things to accomplish.  In fact, I'm poised to add one more bright yellow square first thing tomorrow morning, when I send off an application for an internship I hope to get this fall.  (More on that—and plenty of "40-Year-Old Intern" jokes—if it comes through.)

As Zach, or my mother, or anyone who's ever worked with me can tell you, I'm a list freak.  So perhaps it's not surprising that I came up with this particular coping strategy.  But I bet it would work even if you don't gravitate toward enumeration.

Give it a shot.  Or just do it virtually, and post a comment here instead of a note on your wall!