How can it still be hot like July here in Texas, but feel like fall? The blow-dryer breezes still blow strongly from the south after lunch, but mornings are cooler, and the bird calls have changed, too. The air even smells different in the morning.
And the sunrises—oh, the sunrises! They have been spectacular shows of light and color, beginning long before the break of dawn. The performance has been breathtaking these past few mornings.
But still I wonder, how can the air feel like fall when the high is still over 100 degrees? Ah, the mysteries and miracles of life. They make me wonder.
I hope you’ve continued your “What went well?” practice at the end of your day. You may be three weeks in now—and if you’re not, there’s no time to begin like the present! You may also have encountered some resistance.
I, too, settle in before bed with a brain that says, “I’m too tired,” and whines, “I don’t want to.” But after studying this practice, I think it’s worth beginning bedtime a few minutes earlier.
Dr. Martin Seligman believed that optimism and hope could be learned. He wrote an amazing book called The Hope Circuit that explains it all.
At Geelong Grammar School in Australia, where he worked with his research team in 2008, they ran a study where students began their day by sharing what had gone well. Six-year-old Kyle told his class about cleaning the patio with his sister and receiving a hug from their mother. Soon thereafter, his family began asking the same question at home. Happiness is contagious.
The research team discovered that this practice seemed to lead to happier starts to the school day and children who seemed more eager to learn. These were encouraging observations. The kids were more connected, and felt more capable and able to make choices. (Do you recognize three of Dick Schwartz’ C’s? Powerful stuff.)
I love Kyle’s story. What could a few minutes of noticing the good bring to your life and the lives of those you love? Would it be worth heading to bed a little earlier?
Tonight before bed, will you write three things that went well? It could be that amazing sunrise, an opening in traffic, or another small wonder you observed. Take a moment to remember why it mattered to you. Record it.
The hard things can still be there. So can the good. Whatever you noticed, it’s yours to remember. Write it down.
Wonder builds resilience. And who doesn’t need a little resilience these days?
There is still wonder here, my friend. May you notice and bask in it.
All my love,
- What went well? Write three ordinary things you appreciate today. Describe what you actually noticed, without requiring yourself to feel cheerful about everything.
- Share the sunshine. Tell someone one specific thing you appreciate about them. A short text or a few spoken words count.
- Make room for possibility. Name one situation that feels stuck. Ask your Creator for help, then write one small possibility you can explore or one person you can ask for support.
