EPISODE 918: RAINDROPS ON ROSES

Touching Happy.

POP CULTURE SPIRIT WOW

I came across an exercise this morning from The Artist’s Way, which I believe I’ve mentioned here before. And it was really simple: Make a list of the things you love.

As I was doing it, I was realizing, that’s kind of what I try to do here every week. Share some things that I think are special.

Julie Cameron (author of The Artist’s Way) calls these things “happiness touchstones.” And having done the exercise I wonder if there isn’t something to that. There’s a power in naming the things that mean something to us. It’s like it fortifies the connections. Or maybe simply the act of naming the things you love helps you to be nourished by them once again.

So rather than rambling on about my latest this or that today, I was thinking maybe today or this week is a chance for you to have your own Julie Andrews moment, and list for yourself some of the things that you love.

And when you’re done, maybe it’s the kind of thing you hang up somewhere you can see it. The world is so full and busy, it’s easy to lose track of the simple things that actually help us to be happy. (She also suggests maybe picking one thing from your list and drawing it or acquiring it. Like get a strip of blue velvet and use it as a runner in your room. Which sounds great to me.)

Just to get the wheels turning, here’s her list:

River rocks worn smooth, willow trees, cornflowers, chicory, real Italian bread, homemade vegetable soup, the Bo Deans’ music, black beans and rice, the smell of new-mown grass, blue velvet (the cloth and the song), Aunt Minnie’s crumb pie…

And here’s a bit from mine:

The view out my window as the sun rises in the morning.

Sitting in Central Park eating a bagel with a cream cheese.

The surprise of a play I didn’t see coming; of an interview that goes in an unexpected direction; of writing a script where new things suddenly occur.

Walking in Melbourne in the winter.

Birdsong.

Multi-colored Christmas lights.

Reading first thing in the morning in a coffee shop.

Hearing confessions.

Doing anointings.

Songs that make me cry.

The first snow.

Parakeet green.

Wildflowers.

---

Have at it! And enjoy.

I’ll be back next week with more Wow.

---