“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.” ― Neil Gaiman
It’s amazing what roasted spaghetti squash and a good night’s sleep can do for the psyche.
I woke up today feeling optimistic. Granted my job is ending in two weeks with no new job on the horizon and I’m hopping around on crutches with a broken foot in a purple cast. Granted. But there are so many good things to focus on too:
- The dog – with the first sound of his happy tail thumping in the morning I’m reminded of the absolute beauty in simplicity and kindness. Oliver was a rescue dog. I found him when he was 2, living as a backyard dog in TN. I adopted him from a photo on petfinder.com having never actually met him. The first year was rough, there were aggression issues. Even my trusted vet, after Oliver snapped at him during an initial exam, suggested I may have made a mistake in choosing this dog. Today, Oliver is a love bug, full of playful bows and nose nudges and patience and kindness. He does not chew or jump or make a mess or bark unless necessary. He calmly watches and waits his turn. I can still stand to learn a lot from him.
- The people that have come into my life as a result of CrossFit. I must have done something right to have this army of bright, hardworking, funny, caring, kind, patient, generous, grit your teeth and buckle down and get shit done group of friends in my life. The amount of support they have demonstated over the past month has been completely unexpected and amaze-ballz. Demonstrated being the key word, there was no ‘if you need anything let me know’ empty talk, because one of the hardest things to do when you need help is ask for it. No, with my CF Family it has been more like, ‘we are coming over and cooking dinner for you or picking you up and taking you to a Penn State Game, or a Pearl Jam concert or to the grocery store or to the gym (you can still work out you know). Not a lot of talking, just an incredible amount of unending doing. Actions > Words.
- My family. Like my CF family, except you can’t choose these people as they are assigned to you at birth. Regardless, they continue to show up. Even despite my best efforts over the years to deter them from liking me. Despite their best efforts to do the same. Sometimes if you’re lucky they stop by to deliver the best chicken wings in town, or pick you up and take you to writing class or to go buy mums and grass fed beef at a local farm.
- There are simpler things to be grateful for too….
- Great coffee in the morning
- October weather
- Leaves that paint the landscape and fall to the ground
- The outfit I’m going to wear as soon as my foot heals which includes; an incredible pair of tall balck boots and warm tights and cord skirt and warm coat.
- Colorful scarves
- The fact that my foot will one day heal
- The next PR on my deadlift
- Thanksgiving is coming
- While I may not have met him yet, the love of my life is out there making his way to me. Remember:
“If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on.” ― Steve Jobs
DoubleUnderDogs 