Author: Katie Huey

Day 9 – 52 Good Things

How did today go for you? Here are a few good things on people’s minds:

52. A sweet four year old who came up behind me on his bike while I was walking and really needed to explain that he tried to let me know he was behind me but I must not have heard him. Polite and adorable! (submitted by Christine C)

53. Homemade, fresh, hot from the oven, melt in your mouth butter biscuits

54. YOGI tea with these reminders printed on the teabag: Appreciate yourself and honor your soul and live by your inner knowledge and strength

55. I’m a teacher out of school for the rest of this year and I am excited knowing there’s a Zoom meeting tomorrow and I get to see and talk to some of the children from my class.

56. The Overstory by Richard Powers

(53-56 submitted by Suzanne M)

57. Mailing letters to my grandparents with words of hope and love (submitted by Beth U)

As a reminder, send me a note with the good in your world at 52beautifulthings at gmail dot com or a DM on Instagram. Keep em’ comin.

Spray and Wipe
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Photo by Clark Young on Unsplash

I made a choice today at 4:45 pm to go to the grocery store. I heard Denver was closing things (don’t know if this is true because I’ve been avoiding the news) and I knew I had to buy groceries for my mom and grandma.

Had to – two strong words. Chose to. Wanted to.

There are plenty of capable people making choices of whether or not to walk into public all day, all over the world. We are scared and unsure and wringing our hands.

I did not HAVE to. I chose too. My fear of running out motivated me out of my home office and into the parking lot. I brought Dylan with me.

Before entering the store, a man about my age stood in front of the carts. Wearing blue gloves and holding a flowing blanket of Clorox-like wipes, he sprayed cart after cart and wiped down other people’s invisible germs.

While we waited for our ominous cart to be cleaned, I got emotional.

I paused and said, “Thank you.”

I waited and hoped he looked me in the eye.

“You matter and what you are doing here is making a big difference. Thank you.”

His eyes dipped down onto the next cart and he started again to spray and wipe. Spray and wipe. I’m guessing he did not choose to be in that role. I’m guessing he has to.

He made the biggest difference in my health all day.

We went into the store. Wandered the aisles and picked a few items that were left on the almost bare shelves.

I brought our selections home and washed my hands. Then, I wiped everything with Clorox wipes.

Then, I sprayed the trunk of my car and wiped down the steering wheel.

Then, I drove twenty miles and delivered another bag of basics to my grandmothers house.

We are all doing the best we can. People deserve to be seen.

Say thank you to the checkers. Say thank you to the people being brave.

Wash your hands. Spray and wipe.

Cry a little.

We’ll get through this with beautiful things.

Day 8 – 52 Good Things

How did today go for you?

I spent the morning swirling as we received more news of postponed jobs.

In a meeting, my coworker posed the question, “How are you getting wound up in negative possibilities?”

Gulp.

I am so. darn. good. at. that.

At the start of the year, I challenged myself to use my imagination for more positive things. I didn’t know of the coming epidemic and I forgot about my resolution as I swam in the dark sea of what ifs.

So, after deep breaths and mental silence, I’m at it again. Focusing and remembering on the good things that make us laugh and bring us sustenance. Trying to imagine big, beautiful possibilities.

This practice can change minute by minute.

50. This t-shirt on Amazon had me laughing out loud

51. I made sourdough bread from salt and flour and water and it’s beautiful and that’s enough.

IMG_20200323_094944

May we remember to go back to the basics.

As a reminder, send me a note with the good in your world at 52beautifulthings at gmail dot com or a DM on Instagram. Keep em’ comin.

Day 7 – 52 Good Things

How did today go for you?

I had a small panic in my gut when deciding if we should venture out to Home Depot for a project. Both me and my husband froze. We know we aren’t hiding from zombies and we want to be wise. I texted a friend and wonderfully, they had what we needed. We traded cookies for paint rollers, got to send elbow bumps their way, and spent some time in the front yard after dropping goodies off on porches and waving see ya’ soon.

They keep saying the worst is yet to come and I hate to dwell on that thought.

Maybe it’s true. I’m hoping people are staying inside, loving their people, and using FaceTime or What’sApp (free on all phones) to stay connected. As we head into week two, know I’m thinking of the magnitude of all of this and the beautiful moments we can still find and create.

Like (40) bubbles in Sourdough starters and (41) live cooking classes via FaceTime with my mom.

Here are a few more good things. I can’t wait to see what good you’ve got happening in your homes, on your screens, and in your connections. Even STILL.

As a reminder, send me a note with the good in your world at 52beautifulthings at gmail dot com or a DM on Instagram. Keep em’ comin.

42) Watching a church service online while texting a friend watching the same service.

43) People maintaining social distancing- and not complaining about it.

44) Prayer chains

45) Recommendation from a friend to listen to music by Sherri Youngward. (check her out on Spotify or her website. You’ll be glad you did.)

(42 – 45) submitted by Suzanne M.

46) Baking bread from scratch

47) Planning the garden and starting seeds

48) Playing with the dog in the yard

49) Testing new recipes (with adjustments for the ingredients you’re missing 😆)

* 45-49 submitted by Tegan P.

Who will round out our first list of 52 Good Things?

Day 6 – 52 Good Things

How did today go for you?

Here are a few more good things. I can’t wait to see what good you’ve got happening in your homes, on your screens, and in your connections. Even STILL.

As a reminder, send me a note with the good in your world at 52beautifulthings at gmail dot com or a DM on Instagram. Keep em’ comin.

32. Netflix Party – try it! – netflixparty.com (submitted by Katie M.)

33. Talked for three hours on WhatsApp, Google Hang Out and a Good Old Fashioned phone call. I never spend three hours talking to friends each day. Be intentional. Make a call.

34. Make-shift wreaths from branches in the front yard

35. Healthy food and ovens to cook them in.

36. Simmer pots – currently on the stove I’m simmering peppermint oil, a piece of pine, a cinnamon stick, and ginger. It smells lovely.

37. Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers – This article claims it will “Make You Feel Less Bad” (Submitted by Katie M)

38. You can also apparently FaceTime chat with up to 32 people (submitted by Katie M)

39. Friends who get engaged

40. People working at grocery stores, gas stations, and as delivery drivers.

Day 5 – 52 Good Things

How did today go for you?

Here are a few more good things. I can’t wait to see what good you’ve got happening in your homes, on your screens, and in your connections. Even STILL.

As a reminder, send me a note with the good in your world at 52beautifulthings at gmail dot com or a DM on Instagram. Keep em’ comin.

26. Friends who pray via text message

27. A funny post from a hairdresser who has to close who gave word of caution, “Please do not cut your own bangs.”

28. Blankets of snow

29. Candles in the cozy den – snow falling down

30. This toilet paper commercial

30. And this calming reminder (submitted by Melody S)

31. Call for stories from helpers

Note from Rhiannon Hendrickson: We are compiling a list of things people are doing to help others as a means for inspiration. Not big huge gestures, but the small things – running errands or grocery shopping for a senior, jumping in for a colleague who is trying to manage school closures and kids at home, calling to check up on a friend who is struggling, or letting go of the anxiety of getting work done to sit on the floor and play a game with your family. Here’s the link to respond: http://bit.ly/2WmOHqw

Day 4 – 52 Good Things

How did today go for you?

Here are a few more good things. I can’t wait to see what good you’ve got happening in your homes, on your screens, and in your connections. Even STILL.

As a reminder, send me a note with the good in your world at 52beautifulthings at gmail dot com or a DM on Instagram. Keep em’ comin.

Sending love and light

20. Neighborhood kids playing hockey in the driveway. Families are outside and spending time together (submitted by Christine C.)

21. Jimmy Fallon and The Tonight Show Home Edition – hilarious

22. This post that’s been floating around on the internet by Emma Zeck

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23. Volunteers are stitching masks(submitted by Beth. U)

25. Seth Godin’s blog titled Today

Day 3 – 52 Good Things

How did today go for you?

Here are a few more good things. I can’t wait to see what good you’ve got happening in your homes, on your screens, and in your connections. Even STILL.

As a reminder, send me a note with the good in your world at 52beautifulthings at gmail dot com or a DM on Instagram. Keep em’ comin.

Sending love and light

(12-17 submitted by Cathy H.)

12. Seeing my coworkers via Google Hangout.

13.  People in Spain playing a big game of bingo together on their balconies.

14.  Flowers popping up in the garden.

15.  Regardless of what is going on – the sun still shines.

16.  Check in on someone you don’t connect with daily.

17.  Take a walk and wave or say hi to those you pass by.

18. Beauty from back yard quarantine, aka “Weeds” (submitted by Emily A.)

backyard weeds

19. Sierra Frost is hosting free, online support circles. I participated in her grief circle today and got some lovely, helpful perspective.

She invites you to:  use circling principles to create collective communication and maintain a healthy shared space.

Community Connections
A time to come together and battle isolation with meaningful connection, witnessing, and being seen. Sierra will help facilitate with any anxiety, depression, relationship challenges happening for you at this time.

Every Tuesday 11am MST/9am AK/ 10am PST/ 1pm EST

https://zoom.us/j/816798805

Grief Circle
Come get support for all kinds of grief: loss of loved ones, loss of work, sudden change of lifestyle, social loss, loss of normalcy…and so much more.

Grief is a communal process. Sierra will help facilitate where to go from wherever you are now.

Every Wednesday 3pm MST/1pm AK/2pm PST/5pm EST

https://zoom.us/j/726426006

Business & Leadership Sharing

Come with your questions about your business, podcasting, writing a book, selling, adapting policy and procedure and more. Come with your questions and ideas for effective and mature leadership in these times. Sierra will facilitate for you to leave knowing your next step.

Every Thursday 1pm MST/11am AK/12pm PST/3pm EST

 https://zoom.us/j/145671405

 

Day 2 – 52 Good Things

How did today go for you? Something about 5 pm marks another day in the books.

Like when I was in college, I felt better if I made it to 3 pm.

I know you’ve got hours to go and weeks to unfold.

Here are a few more good things. I can’t wait to see what good you’ve got happening in your homes, on your screens, and in your connections. Even STILL.

As a reminder, send me a note with the good in your world at 52beautifulthings at gmail dot com or a DM on Instagram.

Sending love and light

6. This Guinness ad

7. Free yoga and barre workouts until April 1st with Down Dog

8. Fill up a growler or buy a t-shirt at local breweries (submitted by Katie M)

9. Cancel your personal care appointments and pay the stylist or teachers anyway (submitted by Katie M)

10. These penguins at the Shedd Aquarium

11. Get outside. (Photos submitted by Beth U)

 

52 Good Things

Here we are.

In times unprecedented, checking our phones, our screens, the constant news streams.

I know it’s scary right now. Uncertain. Unclear.

I’ve been holding tight and sitting on my fingertips for fear of typing something ignorant. I don’t know how the details of this pandemic are affecting the multitudes of us working from couches, those not working, those wondering how this will rip everything apart.

I do not want to trigger, or isolate, or add to the hurt.

I’ve got my Christian memorization ringing through my ears and think, rather begrudgingly, on Psalm 118:24: This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.

How can we be rejoicing when things seem to be locking down at each moment?

I’m called again, in whispers, to remember the choices we make when things seem the bleakest are opportunities for our wondering souls. What we focus on, while not ignoring painful realities, makes or breaks our spirits.

In conversations with friends and co-workers and texts and Instagram conversations, I’m reminded to look for the good.

For the foreseeable future, I’ll be sharing roundups of encouragement, joy, connection, and heartwarming examples of the human spirit. I’m also asking you to pay-it-forward. Please send me an email at 52beautifulthings at gmail dot com and I’ll share your examples here too. Let’s start something big – a record of kindness – an inventory of good in these next few weeks. Let’s see how many lists of 52 Good Things we can come up with.

52 Good things

Here are my ideas today:

  1. Write a card to a nurse in your life. Say thank you for their service and sacrifice.

2. Buy an online gift card from a small business. Use it later this summer.

3. This guy is encouraging folks to log on and learn how to Doodle at 1 pm every day.

4.This woman is giving away eggs to those who need it.

5. Share a roll of toilet paper. Throw it over your neighbor’s fence. Make sure to tape the end first.

Whatcha got?