Today's annoyance is tomorrow's reason for celebration

Yesterday I was driving home from work, and all I could think was, "WHERE ON EARTH DID ALL THESE CARS COME FROM??!!!???!" School is out. Students should be gone. But every freeway and backway and sideway was a giant parking lot. Took me forever to get home and I was late for softball. (Rocked at that as a side note. Solid).

This morning I hopped on the freeway to come down to work and discovered a pleasant surprise. No traffic. I drove all the way downtown during rush hour, even on Mopac at 65 mph. (Yes, that Mopac. The one I avoid like the plague).  And then I realized why... 

So to everyone who left town yesterday for Memorial Day weekend--

Thank you for a beautiful morning!

Summet Bucket List

Got a little inspiration this week. It all started with trying to find a way to surprise a friend of mine who just finished school. I wanted to make sure we did something she really wanted to do, so I told her I was making a summer bucket list and was looking for ideas. Little did I know that the idea would take off. I decided to create an online calendar that others could view and submit ideas for. So here we go!

http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=austinsummerbucketlist%40gmail.com&ctz=America/Chicago

You know what happens when you assume...

Saturday night I was at the grocery store with some friends, one of which has a cast on her foot, the other riding an electric cart. Yes, we're an awesome bunch. We just grabbed a few things and headed for the 10 items or less line. I looked down and realized I had closer to 15, mostly items I had gathered for sandwiches and snacks for people who came to choir practice. I felt a little guilty when I saw the man behind me only had one thing to get. As I saw him glancing at my items, I was nervous that he was getting really annoyed with me. Then he said, "Have you tried Ken's honey mustard? It's really good." I almost burst into a fit of laughter. Here I was thinking someone was getting impatient with me, and he was just being friendly. The things you learn about yourself and others simply waiting in line. :)

As a side note...a little happy music. The strangest songs make me happy.

Pillars of strength

Recently I have been impressed by the amazing strength of the human spirit. Two particularly come to mind.

The first was a brief moment passing someone in the hallway. It is always nice to pass by a smiling face. In this case it was special. Earlier this year, in a single day, she lost her home, her husband, her privacy, and so much more. And yet there she was. Smiling.

The second was a graduate student completing her Master's Recital in Piano Performance. She walked off stage at the end and burst into uncontrollable tears. They continued as family, friends, colleagues, and teachers came to congratulate her. In the moments before they rushed to her, I heard a few simple words. "The last two years were so hard. I made it." The overwhelming emotion of overcoming so much was more than she could contain. Her strength came not just in what she fought through, but in allowing herself to feel it.

Don't talk to Always be nice to strangers

This morning I was waiting in line at the store. I only had one thing to buy, but i was in a rather large and heavy box, so I couldn't go through the self-checkout. Instead I walked to the only open lane that had a cashier. The man in front of me stood with his shopping cart half-full, while the family in front of him was still being checked through. Without hesitating, he turned to me and said, "Is that all your getting?" I told him that it was, at which point he started to move his cart out of the way and told me to go ahead of him. Such a simple gesture. So kind. So considerate. So unexpected. And very much appreciated.

The Lord is merciful, even when we are not...

Yesterday got a little crazy. In the midst of it, I realized I had left my car in 30 minute parking...for an hour and a half. Around here, parking employees seem to be hiding in the bushes, ready to ticket or tow your car as soon as you turn your back. So to the parking employee responsible- thank you. Thank you! No ticket, no towing. My happy little car was spared. :)

As I side note, I think we need a little happy music. And this song makes me super happy.

Sometimes you have to look for it

I seem to find so many reasons to feel joy. When I spend time with friends who are struggling and unhappy, I want so much to put my arms around them and give them a portion of the joy I feel. I guess sometimes I think I could spare a little if it would help someone else. But you can't live on borrowed joy. And so my wish is that each of us can recognize the good, the gifts, and the love in our lives. It's not easy, but if we spent as much time and energy on what was right in our lives as we do on what's not, we'd have room for a little more joy. I've realized a lot of things lately. One of the most important is this:

If you're not happy when you don't get what you want, you're never going to be happy when you do.