The coffee spilled all over the floor…

I was first to get up this morning, which meant it was my job to start the coffee. I pushed the button on the brewer, then washed a few dishes. Minutes later, I smelled coffee. Such a wonderful smell. I grabbed a mug, turned, and to my horror, saw dark liquid and grounds cascading onto the floor.

The stream of coffee pooled onto the floor and formed puddles in the spice drawer, the gadget drawer, and the pots and pans drawer.

You know the feeling?

Suddenly, I no longer heard Mozart playing in the background. The pink and blue sunrise disappeared. My shoulders slumped. I started to fume.

For the next hour, I cleaned the kitchen. And as the day wore on, a coffee-colored cloud nagged at me. Anger. Frustration.

“Oh no, you don’t!” I thought hard to myself.

Wait, I had choices.

I grabbed a notepad of yellow stickies and a Sharpie pen and wrote:

Today, I’m grateful for:

1. _________________
2. _________________
3. _________________

The big takeaway that morning?

What good is it if I’m grateful only for good things, happy experiences? I’ll end up being a human creampuff. To improve my lot, I need to be vigilant of my thoughts, my moods.

I also learned that our true essence is peace, not restlessness. Anger is a habit. A habit I needed to break. And for the first time in my life, I found a way to break any habit through this book, The Little Book of Big Change: The No-Willpower Approach to Breaking Any Habit, by Amy Johnson. I listened to the Audible Book version and liked it so much I bought the hard copy.

I also learned to be grateful for opportunities to grow. You know, the not-so-pleasant experiences.

While writing this post, Mr. Rogers popped into my head. You know, the man behind the public television children’s show Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Fred Rogers was an extraordinary human being: Kind, generous, authentic, and committed to children. If you get a chance, watch the movie, Won’t You Be My Neighbor. I’ve posted the trailer below.

Giant blessings to you,

P.S. What 3 things are you grateful for? (See below for comments!)

Won’t You Be My Neighbor

Comments sent in: What 3 things are you grateful for?

From Sue:
I’m grateful for the roof over my head and a floor to spill coffee on!
I’m thankful for our new building in Chiniak to house our library so all of us will be reading again!
I’m thankful for my health and my husband’s health so we can still be working!

From Kathie:
I am grateful for another day to make right the things I didn’t do yesterday that I had been meaning to!
I am grateful for a door that has been opened to pursue what you referred to as a Toolbox.
I am grateful for being on a cruise ship that docked in Kodiak on the morning of August 22, 2018, and not hours later, because I would have lost the opportunity to meet you!

From Scott:
1. Motors that start up on the first pull.
2. Skippers that can see in the dark.
3. A healthy currency conversion rate.

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Marion Owen is a “Jill of all trades,” with 30 years of experience as a teacher and columnist. She’s on a mission to help busy people enhance their daily lives, condensing topics such as photography, cooking, and organic gardening into bite-size pieces.  Get her free 4-page “In Good Light: Photo Tips for Busy People” and feel newly recharged when taking pictures.