Let the little things lie.

We all can easily get hung up on the little things that do not go right in our lives, as if we could see 'perfect' while we are standing smack dab in the middle of 'above average' or 'excellent'.  Today is Christmas and my day has been relaxing, fun and filled with love and family togetherness.  As I sit and ponder the day, my mind wants to rewind to the worst part of my day - having my thumb viciously attacked by the hood on my wife's vehicle while I was attempting to refill the windshield washer fluid.  It appears that the hydraulic pistons that are supposed to keep the hood up when it is opened are only there for show at this point and they allowed gravity to have its way with the hood as soon as I let it go.  Thus, hood+gravity+thumb in the path of hood=bruised and in pain.  Truth be known, I spoke to the hood (and indirectly to those who designed this particular automobile) with some words that were quite the opposite of the holiday spirit.  Now, every time I use this thumb (for example, when I am typing), it hurts some and reminds me that the folks in Detroit should have received some coal today.  Of course it does not take a genius to realize that letting this small and ultimately inconsequential event sour my whole day would be the epitome of foolishness.  Yet, we all have this the ability to allow this to happen.  If today were not Christmas, there is a good chance that I would make sure that this is topic number one when asked 'how was your day?'  But, having thought about it enough to write this blog, I will resist, and focus on the many ways that this was a great day. 

Not perfect, but good enough to let the little things lie.

Resolution

Coming down the stretch toward the end of 2011. This past year has been a challenge and a blessing in so many ways. It is easy to focus on the negative - the family and friends lost (some way too soon), the challenges with keeping sane in an increasingly disfunctional world, and the everyday stresses of family and work. It is not always as easy to focus on the positive - watching my sons grow and learn, the weeklong family vacation with perfect weather, the quiet moments that present themselves if you let them.

This time of year many people will try to close out 2011 and start anew with 2012.  They want to compartmentalize each year, evaluate it seperately and make a clean break on things that they do not like or should change.

'Ah-hah!' you say, 'now is the part where we talk about resolutions and the like!'.

Those who know me will most likely have heard me say that the only resolution I have ever made is to never make another one. The modern New Years Resolution is an attempt to make a change in our lives or how we live them in one fell swoop by simply stating or writing down what you will now do and/or will never do again. They have become cliche', hollow and rarely are followed through. This line of thinking treats our lives like this year was one project that is ending and that next year is another project that is about to begin (compartmentalization).

Better to use another definition of resolution - quality of detail in image. While this definition is about photo or video images rather than life experience, I find that it fits well in describing what I do. I do my best to self evaluate - give myself some constructive critisism, some praise (we all at least some things right) and determine what I need to work on more moving forward. Trying to reconcile the quality of detail in the image I have of myself and my life with what is actually going on outside my head.  To put it another way, I wish to bring my life more into focus. 

We are all travelers on a journey that ends the with the same result. Taking time every so often, say, every 365 days or so, to check how we are doing and make adjustments just might mean that our trip is more enjoyable and lasts longer.

Here's to all of us striving to be better people every day until our time on this earth ends - no matter the date on the calendar.