Somewhere Over the Rainbow…

Yesterday I had one of those terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. One where you have to go on a walk around the block to get fresh air and remind yourself to take deep breaths. Where you try not to fall apart, but can’t focus on anything else.

Even after i got home, I couldn’t stop replaying the day’s events in my head. Finally I decided to have an intervention with myself. Which consisted of thinking of things I was thankful for. My mood and mindset weren’t changing on their own, so I new I had to force myself in a different direction.

Here’s what came to mind:

1) Comforting coworkers who will join you on a walk around the block, send a message asking if you’re OK and have the ability to make you laugh no matter how defeated you feel. I actually wrote thank you notes to the people who were nice to me on Monday. Not only did writing the notes make me feel better that night, but people’s responses today (big hugs, expressions of gratitude, kind words) confirmed that I’d done the right thing…it was just as much for them as it was for me, really. One coworker mentioned she couldn’t remember the last time she’d received a thank you note.

Let’s bring gratitude back. Who’s with me?

2) Nicely defined kneecaps. I realize how weird this sounds. Who cares how your kneecaps look? But the past couple weeks I’ve sat across from people on the train who had such obese legs that they didn’t have knees — their legs just bent. I’m not trying to slam people who lack knee definition. I’m just saying that it made me appreciate the way my knees look in a way I’d never thought about before. Honestly, how much recognition do kneecaps even get? So here it is.

Dear kneecaps,
I like you just the way you are. I wish you actually moved up and down instead of diagonally, because then running wouldn’t hurt, but at least you look good!
Sincerely,
Jacky

3) Running. For the endorphins. For the release. For being able to hit the pavement and use my aggression to power up a hill four times — my final time being faster than my first. It’s like the lyrics from Somewhere Over the Rainbow — “Where troubles melt like lemon drops.” Except my stress was melting through all my sweat.

4) Puppies. My parents brought home another dog on Friday. An eight-week old Whoodle named Zoe (or Zoey, depending on who in the family you ask. We haven’t reached a verdict on how to spell it.) My dad has sent me at least 10 videos of the puppy, including a 23-minute recap of her Fourth of July (which thankfully did not include fireworks or a body of water). Most of the footage is basically stuff like Zoe just sitting there and staring up at my dad. Or Zoe passed out on the floor. Or Zoe attacking my vintage Pound Puppy Fred (remember those?). But what gets my every time is when Zoe and all of her six pounds attempt to jump onto the couch or up a step. She’s just not big enough to get anywhere, but that doesn’t stop her from trying. Even if she propels herself into a tailspin in the process. That girl is persistent.

5) Black plums. My new favorite fruit. Is it me or does it seem like the plum is underappreciated? How often do you hear about them? How many recipes do you see that include them as an ingredient? And I’m almost entranced by the rich color of the skin and the brighter, fleshy inside. Not to mention, they’re delicious.

I am thankful for many more things (a pay check, health insurance, Central Park, hair, sports bras, pockets, dark chocolate, pens, notebooks, air conditioning, laughter…) but I’ll leave it at that because it’s bedtime, and if I wrote down everything I was truly thankful for, I’m not sure I’d ever stop writing. Here’s to hoping that you don’t need a negative kick to recognize the things in life that you’re thankful for.