Doing It Anyway

Doing It Anyway

So yesterday it was kind of gross outside. It was that cold and gray late winter thing with something always coming down or trying to. It wasn’t making me very happy because, well, for one thing, it’s been this way forever. And I’m super tired of being inside and bored with everything.

I wanted to lay in the green grass and feel the sun my face. But that obviously wasn’t happening so I curled up on the sofa with my new book (I just started Wreck and Order, by Hannah Tennant Moore—excellent!) and tried to read my way out of my funk.

But I wasn’t in the mood for the book, and I couldn’t get settled, and all I was doing was staring out the window at the day wishing it was different.

And then I thought, maybe it isn’t the day that needs to be different. Maybe it’s me. Maybe I should take the day I’ve got and instead of wasting it wanting it to be something it isn’t, I should make the most of whatever it’s offering.

So I went out anyway. And yeah, the wind was blowing, and it was pretty chilly. There wasn’t any sun and the grass was frozen stiff. But the air was fresh and walking felt really good. After a while I didn’t even notice the cold. I stopped for coffee and savored a scone. I explored a used bookstore that just opened in my neighborhood. I ran into a friend and helped her buy a new coat.

You know what? It was a pretty good day! Maybe not spectacular, but a lot better than the one I thought I was going to have. All because I didn’t let the day get in the way of what I wanted it to be.

I think that’s a big part of being happy. It’s not about waiting for life to come to us on its terms. It’s about going out to find what we need no matter what’s in the way. If we can do that, most of our days will be good ones, and that’s good enough for me.


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