Counterweights

Last week was a heavy week. A burglar in my part of the city was eventually caught after breaking into three homes and assaulting multiple elderly people, but not before throwing everyone into a frantic tizzy. There was a grizzly murder-suicide situation that ended up with five people dying, including a teenager that played in the youth symphony and several chamber groups with my kidlets, and his mother. (I can hardly wrap my head around it days later). The election happened.

So I started reminding myself of things I was thankful for, since it is the month of gratitude, and I started looking for little glimpses of goodness and loveliness. Here are some counterweights I encountered:

• I cleaned a bunch of windows. Not all the windows, but a bunch of windows. A clean window is like a visual breath of fresh air even when it is closed.
• I put on a brand new pair wool socks. I save new wool socks for times like these.
• I added soil to some of the pots holding houseplants. Sometimes soil settles after a bit, and these needed a little refreshing. I also repotted a new little houseplant.
• The November light has been beautiful, and there have been some stunning sunrises and sunsets. Since the days are short it is easy to see both, right?
• I got to watch some of my favorite young musicians play at the high school orchestra concert.
• There are plenty of toddler hugs and kisses around here.
• I edited photographs for a client and delivered the digital gallery, and it felt to good to do something creative.