Sharing the Good

I, Angela Noel, need a venue to share all the awesomeness I see around me. I need to share it. Because in sharing it, it feels real to me. It shines a light in dark corners. I understand things better when I share the good, out loud or in print. In this, I am as selfish as they come.

Of course, there are gratefulness journals and Ten Things of Thankful and many others. I think we could all continue to offer praise to others, and open up our awareness to the everyday good around us. Oh yes, I definitely think so.

So here is my gushing post about all the random goodness I’ve seen lately. I’d be absolutely delighted to have you share what you’ve seen. I love living those experiences through your words. I’d like to hear more about the beautiful little somethings you see wherever you may be.

My List (in no particular order):

• I was running on a trail surrounded by prairie grasses and wildflowers. A giant moth flew up in my face and came at my eyeball on a suicide mission. My eyelid closed just in time to keep the moth out. Thank you, eyelid. You’re amazing. Moth: Quit attacking people’s eyeballs. Not cool.
• I ran eight and a half miles, a personal best distance, without dying. Hooray!
• My kid said, “You’re the best mommy because you give me the things I need, some of the things I want and all the love you have to give.” Obviously, this definition applies to lots of moms and dads out there–everyone I know in fact. And that’s a pretty great thing.
• One of my favorite people had a scary night, but came home the next day to smile and laugh again.
• My friend, Hadley Barrows, shared an awesome tip from her miraculous brain. I call it “The Five-Minute Miracle.”

 

Here’s how The Five-Minute Miracle works:

First, decide on a longterm goal or aspiration.

Second, make a list of things you can do in five minutes (max) that contribute to reaching that goal.

Finally, do any three of those five-minute activities every day.

For instance, I want a writing career. My list has things like, “Read an article from Writer’s Digest.” Or “Research an agent’s list.” Or “Write a scene or a page for any WIP (Work in Progress–like a short story or one of my novel projects.) I LOVE this incredible idea and it’s super fun and easy to commit fifteen minutes to move the needle on my longterm goal forward just a little bit in the midst of everything else–you know LIFE–that goes on around me.

• On a mission to run an errand I didn’t want to be running, I glanced to the side of the street as I drove in an unfamiliar neighborhood. An older gentleman of grandparent age pushed a stroller with an infant sleeping peacefully inside. He smiled, maybe he even hummed, as he walked along. I love that I ran eight and a half miles, a personal best distance, without dying. Hooray!
• I received my “Most Inspirational Blogger” runner-up certificate from the incomparable Sacha Black and her team (Geoff LePard, Hugh Roberts, and Ali Isaac.) They could have sent a PDF, but they sent the actual signed certificate, which costs money, all the way to me. Now I get to look at it on my little writer’s desk and feel happy and humbled and grateful every day.
• I had a twenty-minute conversation with a six-year-old who sat next to me on a grassy slope in the sunshine. She told me her favorite color is purple and her favorite food is bacon. She asked me to tell her a story, and I did.
• An unknown neighbor brought our trashcans in when we were away on a camping trip.
• Alaska.
• I’m lucky enough to work for a company that has a fully-staffed gym in the building. Free membership for employees and expert advice coupled with creative programming make this one heck of a benefit. For instance, the current challenge, dubbed “The Biggest Winner,” requires teams to earn points by completing various workouts and activities. Together with being fun, the six-week game encourages healthy effort and teamwork. My teammates, Erica and Julia, rock. Even if we don’t win. We win.
• My friend Shannon and her husband became foster parents for the first time. Shannon has an incredible way of asking for what she wants, without attachment but with steely resolve. She wants to impact people, especially women. She marches towards her dream and takes others with her, arm and arm.
• My great uncle and aunt were the guests of honor at a family party celebrating their ninetieth, and eighty-ninth birthdays respectively. In addition, they had a wedding anniversary coming up–their sixty-first.  They have an unreasonably high opinion of me, which says more about their kindness than any true merit of mine. Even though I met most of them for the first time at this event, their children, grandchildren, and friends, welcomed my family like we’d spent holidays together for the last forty years. Being among them is like eating warm, fresh bread right out of the oven.
• My husband and I attended our very first National Night Out with our neighbors. As a result, we met beekeepers, grandparents, children, gardeners, and someone who wants to give me new car mats for free. Neighbors are awesome.

That’s my list for now. But I’m keeping my eyes open. I hope you are too.

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Originally Published on You are Awesome

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