The past two years have really beaten me down—with Kent’s West Nile Virus, my dad’s death and the aftermath of cleaning out generations of stuff/treasures as well as a family that I love going through divorce. Having the support of my family and friends limited due to the pandemic made it all much harder to bear.
My super power that got me through was that I can compartmentalize and focus on the situation in front of me, pushing everything else into the dark cave where all my other troubles lurked. I would set time limits for dealing with the task/issue at hand. For example, I would allot two hours to going through boxes of letters from Dad’s—letters that go back to the 1800s! Or when I would feel that wave of despair rolling in, I would set the timer for an hour, get a treat and a box of tissues and let the indulging—in a package of cookies or crying—begin. The timer would ding, “Time’s up!” and off I would go to the next situation.
For 2022, I’m going to focus on more uplifting super powers. Lately, I have been using a super power that we all have—a smile. I have often smiled a “Fake it, until you make it!” smile. You know what I mean. It works for me and I hope that it works for you, too.
There are smiles that I can’t help but return. When my grandsons rush to answer the door, who couldn’t smile back at that?
At the Naperville Garden Club’s fundraiser in December, the Cup of Cheer™ House Walk, Holiday Market and Tea, we were so happy to see people ready to celebrate the holidays and many who include our event in their celebration of the season every year. We missed last year, so this year was even more appreciated. Thank you for coming!
Join me in using the super power of our smiles. Take a moment to look the cashier in the eye and, with a smile, say, “Thank you!” Call a friend and I’m sure that your smile will fly on over on the wings of your conversation. Remember to smile at those who live with you, too!
This year is one for our super powers. What super powers do you have?
