One error I continue to make is waiting for big things to happen. Big things can be super-duper good, like winning the lottery or discovering your old best friend moved back to your hometown. Big things also can be negative, like finding out you need another knee surgery or you were let go from a job you had for 15 years.
For me, my daily mood and behaviors rarely are determined by big things, but instead are swayed by the little things that confront me on an almost hourly basis. Let’s take yesterday for example. Here’s the start of my little things (good and not so good) that influenced my day.
1. I had a restless night, woke up early (4:30 a.m.) and went downstairs for my morning coffee. Our new coffee maker would not give me a cup and kept blinking a light that told me I was doing something wrong. I hate my new coffee maker with its blinking light. And why isn’t Sherry, who bought the fancy thing, up yet? (not so good)
2. I feed our four white Swiss shepherds. I prepare each bowl with three different ingredients. They watch me through the window, tails wagging. I go out to their feeding tables in our garage. They know their places. Nigel J. Wiggins, the oldest, gets his breakfast first. I take my time. I sit with them and praise each dog as he or she finishes. Then my dogs pick out their favorite balls and we all go out to play. I love this routine. (really good)
Typically, that’s how my days balance out. The little things, both good and not so good, make the difference.
I’ve learned not to wait around for big things to happen. At my age, they’re pretty rare.