It’s been a brutal season. This spring alone: the death of a family member, several deaths of friends and colleagues, two emergency hospitalizations of family members, and a trip to the ER for my own injury.
In the midst of the swirl, I’ve been trying to practice what I teach—both around self-care and improving well-being. One exercise has been particularly helpful: naming three “good things” each day.
Intentionally noticing the good can help us navigate what’s hard.
So this week, I’m sharing a few of mine:
Tastes I savor:
Mint, coconut, and raspberry chocolates from a local chocolate shop
Mint chocolate chip ice cream
Chocolate cake, chocolate whopper cookies, and chocolate cheesecake brownies (sense the trend?!)
Brie or goat cheese on artisan crisps
Fresh fruit, salad, and other greens
Moments that bring me joy:
Playing ukulele and singing, especially for a rapt audience (see picture)
Laughing, having meaningful conversations, and simply being with my people
Hiking through forests and up mountains
Working out every morning, no matter what
Game nights with friends and family (especially Mah Jong)
Heated car seats on especially cold days
Humans (and the dog!) who fill my cup:
My spouse, my steady and favorite debrief partner
My adult children, who are honestly amazing humans
My new grandbaby, a bundle of cuteness
My family and friends, who check in, even when I forget to reach out
Mozzie, who is still all puppy at almost 7 years old
Work that reminds me what matters:
Helping organizations create cultures in which people can do their best work and feel that they belong
Facilitating workshops, and witnessing participants’ light bulb moments
Helping leaders find new, better ways of showing up
Resolving conflict in teams, and watching the entire tenor shift
While naming the good doesn’t change the reality of hard moments, it helps us notice that the hard moments are not the whole story.