Rainy Days

There was an article in last week's Newsweek about a church in Kansas City, MO where the pastor gave his congregation bracelets and asked them to go for 21 days without complaining. If you complained, you switched the bracelet to the other wrist and started over. I keep thinking about it-so even without the bracelet as a visual, I'm trying to be mindful of not complaining.

Our lovely office assistant's son, a high school senior, was in a major car accident last week-driving to lunch when he lost control of the car and flipped several times. He's in "critical but stable" condition and gradually being weaned off sedation. Thinking about what that family is going through certainly makes most anything I might complain about seem incredibly trivial.

And my awesome, not-PC, wickedly funny, generous and kind Pop (my grandfather) passed away last Wednesday. He was 87 and was still completely mentally sharp, although he was physically a little diminished since a heart attack about 3 years ago. He was a WWII veteran and never really strayed far from home after returning from Europe. . .it drove my mom CRAZY, but I always thought that once he had essentially walked across Europe, home sounded pretty darn good. He had a heart attack in his beloved recliner while visiting with one of his friends and apparently died immediately. I will miss him more than I can say, but I am so, so grateful that he didn't have a long decline or have to enter a nursing home. He would have hated that.

My college roommate used to do this thing where every day she would list 5 things that had happened that she was grateful about. Big, small-didn't matter, just the idea of being grateful rather than focusing on what you DON'T have. I still do it from time to time. . .sometimes it's something as minor as a good cup of coffee on a cold day, or enjoying wearing a pair of killer shoes. . . but I definitely recommend it.