Tidbits

When you learn tidbits that will make life even a micro-fraction (yes, I made that term up) better, soak it in and use it.

Here are a few tidbits I’ve picked up over the last few days.

• Happierness – A term coined by Oprah but I heard it on a podcast interview with Arthur Brooks. Simply put, the goal shouldn’t be happiness rather happierness. Happierness is attainable each moment of each day. This helped me through some tough feelings in the last week. In a sense, reminding myself to find ways to happierness, rather than happiness, has relieved a lot of pressure and provided me grace for myself and others.
• Texting people – About two years ago I made a promise to myself that I’d reach out to anyone who crossed my mind or was placed on my heart by texting them, calling them, or at the very least sending a message via social media. It’s a practice that wavers depending where I am in life and what’s going. However, what I’ve noticed is the small act of texting a person and letting them know they are thought about and loved, hopefully, makes them feel better, but it also makes me feel better. It reminds me how many amazing people have come into my life and how fortunate I am.
• Bird by bird – This isn’t a new tidbit but a reminder. Anne Lamont, one of my favorite authors, has a book titled Bird by Bird. It’s a strategy she gives to writers – take it bird by bird, piece by piece, step by step. Life has been overwhelming in so many ways the last few months. Some days my mind is so cluttered and tired it brings me to tears because I don’t know where to start to move forward. The best I can do is take it bird by bird. And, that’s ok. That’s success.

Last of all and kind of off topic, I am in love with fall right now. It is beautiful outside. I am finding deep solace in the trees shedding all their weight of seasons past.