These days it feels at times like we’re all being made to sit through a horror film we not only never wanted to see, but one we can’t believe anyone ever imagined or wanted to make. There is real evil in the air and yet nothing seems to happen to the perpetrators.

I could keep lists of and dwell on all the horrible things going on, but I try to think more about the good things that continue to happen in my life. They usually come in small doses but they do keep coming, and I try to take note of them every day. Instead of the bad, awful, and horrific, I keep a mental list of the good things going on around us or to us, to remind myself that not everything is a negative.

Here are some of the good things that have happened to us recently:

• We received a tax refund this year, the first since 2017. We used to file right before the deadline in April, but this year we filed in early February and our refund was in the bank in a week.
• YaYu passed her mental health therapist licensing exam on the first try! She will graduate in May and hang her shingle.
• We changed all our billing due dates in January so that everything arrives at the same time as our social security payments. I have no idea why we didn’t do this earlier, but we’re finding bigger chunks of $$$ to move into our savings accounts.
• I lost my beloved silver Hawaii bracelet late last year somewhere in the apartment. Brett and I searched for it for a few days, but never could find it. But in my heart I felt it would just show up one day, and it did last month, no worse for the wear! It had apparently fallen off in our closet and had been hiding in a back corner.
• I got a wonderful surprise in the mail today: a dear friend sent me two pairs of my favorite pajamas! To say I’m beyond grateful would be a gross understatement, especially since I was struggling to find anything else.
• I purchased a new sundress I found on sale at J. Jill with an additional 30% off the already great sale price. We’re very close to a decision about where we’re going next but a linen sundress will be appropriate clothing at any of the three locations.
• Brett and I are in a comfortable rut these days. We have schedules to keep, but we’re sleeping well, eating well, and things that need to be done are getting done.

While things feel bleak at times, or occasionally frustrating beyond measure, I know that bad times don’t last forever, just like good times don’t last forever either. I encourage you to take the time to find and recognize the good things that continue to happen in your life, the little moments that bring you joy, and give them their due. It’s good daily medicine.