“If this isn’t good, what is?” Kurt Vonnegut

It’s 9 am, and I’m sitting in a lobby at the Ohio Northern University Chapel. My daughter Bethany and three other Lima Senior students are in the chapel, practicing music as part of the ONU honors choir, and the guest artist is the woman who played Ariel on Broadway’s version of The Little Mermaid. I have a warm muffin and a hot tea beside me as well as my full array of electronic toys. As I write, the choir is serenading me, and should I get tired of writing, my tablet has the collected works of Shakespeare, Thoreau, and J. K. Rowling as well as the entirety of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, M*A*S*H and Frank Capra’s notable works that I can access with the swipe of one finger.  This is a sublime moment.

Furthermore, I spent the evening with good friends, having good food and laughter, and this morning I walked (carrying my bulging laptop bag) with no problem—even briskly—across campus to get to the chapel. I appreciate being pain-free and walking more now than I ever imagined I would.

I have things in my life to look forward too, both personally and professionally, and I have enough…of pretty much everything. Too much of some things, to be honest.

But in the right (or wrong) mood, I can caterwaul and bemoan with the best of humanity. I can list the ways the universe hasn’t bestowed me with my well-deserved blessings and number the labors of Hercules that are simple compared to my challenges and disappointments.

Kurt Vonnegut, the curmudgeon sage of the baby boom generation,  told a story about his uncle that ended with the admonition to stop every so often, savor the moment, and say, “If this isn’t good, what is?” In the spirit of Vonnegut, I’m issuing myself a challenge: from November 1 till Thanksgiving, every day write a bit about mindfulness/thankfulness/gratitude. Right now, I’m intending to base my daily writings on quotes—a lot of people who were wiser than I am have thoughtful things to say on those topics.

For right now, though, the choir is practicing “Down to the River to Pray,” a song Bethany used as her bedtime song from toddlerhood till mid-elementary school. I’m going to sit here and listen, and every so often, say, “If this isn’t good, what is?”