Day 30 -- Three Good Things -- or 90 TOTAL

Today is the one month anniversary of when I started my three good things.  I started it as an exercise after attending a conference in which a speaker talked about how miserable lawyers are.  He told us how trying to find good things can objectively affect one's happiness.

He talked about happiness is not innate ..it can be taught, it can be increased, and it can be decreased within each of us.  Obviously it varies -- some days are better than others.  But each person has a base line -- a place where our mood generally rests.

I did the three good things because I wanted to do it.  i wanted to know if I could find three good things every day.  I wanted to know if I could find good things even when things were going badly or when I was having a shitty day.  Turns out, I could do it.

So this is the last day and here are my three good things.

1.  I did three good things daily (or almost daily) for 30 days.  That is 90 good things that I saw, experienced, felt, heard, or believed.  That is a lot of good things.  Thinking of those 90 things makes me realize how blessed I am.  This is a good thing.

2.  I had some friends who joined me in this little journey.  A few others, periodically, mentioned their good things on FB.  This is a good thing.  If more people would think of good things, instead of how shitty the driver in front of them is, or the cold wind, or their crappy hamburger, or the fact the dog shit on the rug, or, or or, and focused on good things, like people getting a job, good food, good drinks, the Cardinals, a sunrise, a sunset, etc etc etc  -- maybe this world would get a little happier and not so fucking petty -- This may not seem like a good thing.  The good thing is that my friends did it too.

3.  Lastly, a regular one.  A close friend's wife (and a close friend in her own right) got a job today.  She has been looking for a long time.  She deserves good things (all good things) as much as anybody.  she is a wonderful person and her husband is spectacular.  I am so happy for both of them....This is a good thing.

I hope that everybody has a great day, week, month, and rest of 2013.  I'm going to do my good things periodically because its good for me.  Enjoy the World Series.

Have a great night

Be Easy

-CP

Week 2 / Day 6 - Sunday

Its Sunday and it was a good and bad day (I shouldn't say bad, it wasn't bad).  However, the Cardinals lost in Game 3 of the NLDS to the Pirates.  I am worried about tomorrow.  I think the Pirates are good.  If they beat the Cardinals, I'll root for them, but I think the Cardinals win games 4 and 5 to advance to the NLCS.  That is my unofficial prediction.

I also had to work today.  I billed almost 9 hours getting ready for a new matter that recently came in.  I am going to Florida this week (I know, tough life), but the timing is rough.  I'm busy at work getting ready for a hearing, finishing a brief, etc. But as I say all of the time, I'd rather be too busy than not busy enough.

Now, three good things.

1.  We took Lily, Lucy, Lincoln, Emma Kate (Lily's friend), and Drew (Lily's friend) bowling and for pizza.  We had a great time.  I won -- just kidding -- well, I did :)  In all seriousness, they all bowled, we ate pizza, played video games and had ice cream -- This was a good thing.

2.  The Rams won.  I know it might not be the biggest thing, but they won and this is a good thing (hey, not all good things, have to be wonderful energizing, inspiring stuff -- sometimes it is just something that makes you smile.

Like House Party -- which was on TV the other day (again).  That  movie makes me laugh every time.  The
 rap battle is outstanding (and well worth your few minutes).  I also like follow the drip.  And who can forget, the dance off.  Seriously, that is 3 good things right there (but I'm remembering something from teh other day, so it is not official)

3.  Instead, it is a good thing that Bread Company is so close and has WiFi so I can get work done without going down to the office.  This was a good thing.

Please enjoy your evening.

Be Easy

-- CP

Week 2 / Day 5 -- Saturday

I am a day late, but not a dollar short.  My three good things for Day 5 of the second week.

1.  I remain busy at work.  This is a good thing because it means that people are calling me for help.  This is, actually, a very good thing.

2.  I made breakfast for the kids yesterday morning (by make breakfast, I mean pancakes and sausage).  I love the weekends because I make breakfast for them both days.  We sit at teh table, eat, and talk.  This is a good thing.

3.  The kids talked to my parents.  I like listening to the conversations that occur between them.  Lincoln holds the phone and screams hello and good bye into it.  The kids get so excited to talk to them, and it makes me smile.  This is a good thing.

Enjoy your Sunday.  Until tonight --

Be Easy

--CP

Week 2 / Days 3 and 4

I did not have the chance to do three good things yesterday, primarily because I was at a conference and did not get back to my hotel room until very late.  I am doing yesterday and today now.

10/3 -- three good things about Lily

1.   I went to breakfast with Lily before leaving for Philadelphia.  We had bagels and coffee (and chocolate milk).  it occurred to me, during our conversation, how fast she is growing up.  Her growing up is not a good thing, but the conversation and breakfast was.

2.  Lily loves to read.  she always has a book and she has begun reading chapter books (think Encyclopedia Brown).  This is  good thing.

3.  Finally, Lily is fun, athletic, funny, smart, curious, and unbelievably kind hearted.  I love her.  She is a good thing.

10/4 -- three good things.

1.   I was able to go to Philadelphia for a conference and see some attorneys that I do not get to see very often (except when in a hearing against them).  It was a good time and this was a good thing.

2.  I was able to eat dinner at Del Frisco's in Philadelphia.  We had good wine, a very good bone in Filet Mignon, and good company.  This was a good thing.

3.  Last, but not least, the conference was good.  I saw some good attorneys, learned from what they had to say, and met more people that I wanted to see.  This was a good thing.

I hope that everybody has a good night/day.

be easy

-cp

Week 2 / Day 3

It is day 3 of the second week.  Generally, things are good.  As is to be expected, though, some days are more difficult than others.  That happened today, but there were three good things.

1.  At 3:00 this afternoon, I left my office and went outside.  It was a beautiful day and I wanted/needed a short walk to clear my head.  It worked.  This was a good thing.

2.  I got my haircut today -- this is not the good thing, though, I'm happy its finished.  Instead, on my way back, I wandered through Kiener Plaza.  I don't know that I ever really noticed the fountain on the west side of the plaza.  It looks good.  This was a good thing.

3.  I am leaving for Philadelphia tomorrow for a conference that I really enjoy attending.  The conference is for the attorneys that work in the area in which I work.  Not exciting to many people, but I get to see attorneys from around the country that I normally only talk to the phone.  This is a good thing.

I expect to write tomorrow, but I will be at dinner with a large group so the post will be late or very early Friday morning.  I hope that everybody has a great night / day tomorrow.

Be Easy

-- CP

WK 2 / Day 2

Today was my youngest son's birthday.  He is 3.  I am going to make the 3 things about him.

1.  Lincoln is 3.  He is big and thick.  He is very strong.  He is also funny, laughs all the time, and loves to make jokes.  I hope he never loses that.  This is a good thing.

2.  Lincoln is the youngest of 3.  His sisters are 4 and 7 (or close).  They really care of him.  When he cries, they try to comfort him (unless they caused it), whne he tells a joke, they laugh...the oldest reads to him.  They love him.  I know they always will, but I hope they continue to show him.  This is a good thing.

3.  Lincoln wants to drive trucks.  Big trucks.  He wants to be a fire fighter.  That is his singular goal in life.  I can think of worse things for him to want to be.  Whatever he does, he does it hard.  He runs fast, he jumps hard, he plays hard (he hits hard).   I hope he doesn't lose that.  I hope that he remembers to work hard and then play hard.

I love the little guy (and he won't be the little guy for long).  I hope everybody has a great day / night.

Until tomorrow

Be Easy

--cp