I'm Grateful for the Good People of the World

And they are in the majority. Remember that.

Monday, January 8th, 2024

Just now, as I checked the date, I felt a wave of relief. It is only January 8th! The start of my year has been so full and busy that I wouldn’t have been entirely surprised to discover it was already the 20th.

Because it’s only the 8th, I’ve so far been able to stick to almost all of my New Year’s Resolutions! I typically choose goals which have a daily component, so I’m literally trying to do something for 365 days in a row, which results in diminishing success over time, LOL. But hey! Aim high or go home, right?

Today, I am feeling grateful for the good people of the world.

This afternoon, I had my teeth cleaned, and my dental hygienist was so nice. I’d caught an early ferry, and my 22 year old son had come with me. It’s a rainy day and he couldn’t work his outside job, so we stopped in at a local café that has games and started playing “Shut the Box.” Then, we relaxed, drinking tea and scrolling through our phones. I was actually thinking about cleaning up my photos, when I suddenly looked at the time. Yikes!

Have you noticed that the earlier you are to an appointment, the more likely you are to actually end up being late? Argh…

So, I sprinted into my dentist office, apologizing for being about 7 minutes late, and when I told my hygienist what happened, it sparked an entire conversation about the pitfalls (and the pros) of our modern smart phone/computerized world (especially for parents).

As I was reviewing my new insurance information with the office manager (who I’ve chatted with many times before), I asked how she was doing? The answer was that her landlord, who lives upstairs, was diagnosed with terminal cancer in the Fall and she’d spent the weekend in the hospital with him (the cancer is moving quickly). The story reminded me of how my sister-in-law and her family cared for and helped an elderly neighbor for close to twenty years, with everything from doctor visits to grocery shopping to mowing his lawn, etc.

Then, my son arrived to pick me up, and we headed to Uwajimaya in Seattle for Kimchi ingredients. He was hungry and was planning to wait in the food court while I shopped. But, as I headed into the produce section, he paused, then turned and followed me, asking what I was looking for? I showed him the recipe list and he helped me gather unusual ingredients, which was fun and we ended up coming home with a few extra pieces of yummy fruit!

As I was checking out, I asked the girl at the register how her day was going? She said it was a long day, and that sparked a conversation about the challenges of being in college and feeling overwhelmed. She asked, “does it get easier after college?” I shared my favorite story about how the high schooler feels so overwhelmed until they go away to college and then they say, “Oh, life was so much easier back then…” And then, they have a full time job and say, “Oh, life was so much easier back then…” And then they get married and buy a house and say, “Oh, life was so much easier back then…” And then, the girl at the register says, “And wait until they have kids!”

Bingo!

In the end, she said, “I think the real problem is that I’m constantly comparing myself to other people, and I feel like I don’t measure up.” I looked her in the eye and said, “Don’t do that to yourself. It’s not worth it. It’s okay to compete, but never compare.”

I want to note that we need not refrain from showing kindness to strangers. I may have been the first person that day to really listen to her, to understand, to show compassion, and to actively care…and I’ve never met her before. But, I still cared and she knew it. That’s what matters.

And so the day went, one example after another of good people being kind to one another, when they didn’t have to be. Why? Because it feels good? Because we are social creatures? Because being kind is how we prove to ourselves that we have worth? Who knows? But — in my life — I see people being kind 9 times out of 10.

It’s now 12:22am, and a wind storm has been raging outside for the past couple hours. I’ve heard two trees go down nearby (we live on a forested island in the Pacific Northwest), and the electricity just went out.

Which made me instantly grateful for:

(1) my new laptop with a functional battery

(2) the fact that we heat our home with wood and propane

(3) the fact that my kitchen oven and stove works without electricity

(4) the fact that I could fill several jars with water before we lost pressure

(5) the fact that the laundry is already dry (LOL)

(6) the fact that my cell phone is at 77% and I have a charged back up battery for it

(7) AND, the fact that I can use my personal hotspot to post this substack!

As we move through the winter, I hope everyone is as well prepared as possible for the unexpected adventures this season provides in abundance.

Be safe! Be prepared! Be kind!
And above all, be grateful.

Snow covered trees in Finland, and the Northern Lights.