I was recently exercising at a gym, where they have
TV’s. I had brought my own music,
so didn’t plug into the TV.
Nonetheless a sports channel replayed all of the highlights from the
NFL. It was interesting to note that they only showed the successful plays, the
(at times) elusive touchdowns, the quarterback sacks, and the perfect execution
of the throw-catch sequence. No fumbles, no blatant errors and no disputes.
A few days later, on a particularly discouraging day, I
thought that maybe I should simply run through the highlights of my day, and
lose the ‘footage’ for the other stuff.
With that in mind, let me share with you some of the
highlights of our living.
- The other day I managed to do one loving act for every member of the family. I took out the garbage.
- Recently, I showcased my pitching finesse when I threw mashed potatoes and ham across the kitchen (in frustration with my helpless 10-year-old daughter), and some of them actually landed on her plate!
- Today, I got the kitty litter scooped out before the dog stuck her snout in there and plucked out all the savory bits!
- There hasn’t been any crying, moaning, screaming or wailing today, as long as you don’t count the high-pitched screech of the guinea pig, who everybody forgets to feed.
- There is an expression – God gave you one mouth and two ears for a reason – to listen twice as much as you talk. But, my 9-year-old son told me that my mouth is bigger than both of my ears combined. Halleluiah!
- I picked the kids up from school the other day. As I approached, I watched as two boys waddled like penguins, then fell to the ground in fits of exuberant laughter, and then did it all again. As I got closer, I realized one of the boys was my son. He was having the time of his life. When he saw me, he proudly shuffled over. “Your laces are tied together,” I said, bemused. “YES” he noted, “And it was my idea!”
- I managed to provide empathy, as my 13-year-old daughter complained, yet again, about her horrible life.
- At the end of the day, when I feel like I haven’t accomplished anything, I remind myself that I have ruined my daughter’s life. (That ain’t easy).
- Doing morning yoga is really paying off – less chance of pulling a muscle while I am dodging injurious insults.
- I managed to find momentary joy, amidst a day filled with challenge: debris, clutter, chaos, illness, wretched sobbing, and generally unsatisfied customers. It came in the fuzzy form of our foster feline, Charlie.
- My loving, logical, and practical husband held my hand while I irrationally sobbed.
- In one day, I managed to lose 3 pounds! It was in snot and tears.
- Finally - I made a meal that my whole family would eat. It was chocolate chip cookies!
