This week I got a great email newsletter from Katherine Center, author of some really good novels that I highly recommend, including Happiness for Beginners and The Lost Husband (coming out as a movie and streaming online starting April 10). Her newsletter is called “Three Good Things” and in this issue she had double that, plus a link to an ongoing “Good Things for Quarantine” list on her website (check it out here). The email was packed with book, TV show, and podcast recommendations, as well as a practice she is following that I wanted to share with you. The practice is to notice three good things in your day, every day. Here is what she says:
“This name of this newsletter was inspired by something the character Helen in my novel Happiness for Beginners learns to do during the story: To notice three good things that happen every day. She learns to do it from another character, Windy, who explains that the things we notice are the things we hold on to. And the things we hold on to become the story of our lives.
“At the very beginning of the pandemic, I was thinking I might keep a journal and write about something joyful that happened that day—even something small, just to keep a daily record that, even in the darkest times, there are still flickers of joy. But I've found I'm too stressed and distracted to do that. So I've downsized considerably: I'm trying to keep a list of Three Good Things that I notice every day—just like Helen does in the book. I try to either write them down or take photos.
“These don't have to be big things. They will very likely be little things. A caterpillar on the milkweed. The way the wood floor feels under my bare feet. The smell of laundry fresh out of the dryer. The taste of onions sautéed in butter. The tapping of rain on the tin roof of our porch . . .
“Just three little things every day. I promise: They add up.”
Back in January, I had rededicated myself to doing a gratitude practice where each night, I would write down three things I was grateful for that day. I’ve been keeping it up even though there have been times recently that I’ve had trouble feeling thankful for anything. But even on those days I realize that there’s always something—even if it’s just that I’m thankful the day is over and it’s bedtime! And once I write one thing down, I’m able to come up with something else. I might remember something good that happened, or if that fails I can always be grateful for basics like a safe place to be, hot running water, food to eat, etc. I find it helpful to end each day thinking of something positive like this.
I hope that you are able to find at least three good things in your day today, and that you are doing OK! Sending you lots of love.
