Just Think About It!

It’s always fun to start a new endeavor, especially when it is doing something I love – talking! But since you and I can’t talk in person, I’m going to do it in print. It’s been a crazy year, hasn’t it? Even when you say “2020,” everyone seems to groan, wondering what else is going to happen. Do we even see any good things at all?

Here’s the thing. We are all watching for negative things to happen so, of course, that is what we are going to find. Yes, it has been bad. Many of us have been very sick. We just had the craziest election, with half the country happy and half upset. And there definitely are many people who need to learn how to treat others more kindly and gently. I could go on, but that’s my point. Why?

It really is up to us to turn this year around and focus on the good things that are going on around us. Finding joy and good things affect your well-being and even your health. Positivity is also contagious!

Here are just a few of the GOOD things that I have heard about this year:

Just a Few Good Things!

1. Did you know that the ozone layer is slowly repairing itself? Cool, isn’t it?
2. The Netherlands had to close some of their prisons because they didn’t have enough criminals!
3. New treatments are making cancer less of a death sentence than ever before. Yay!
4. A 103-year-old grandmother beat Covid! Amazing!
5. People around the world have worked on their sewing skills to make millions of masks for health care workers and others in need.
6. Americans have fostered and adopted more pets this year than in past years.
7. We have realized that teachers really are heroes (especially after homeschooling!).
8. We also have a new respect and appreciation for health care workers – heroes serving strangers and unable to be with their own families. (They saved my life!)
9. Essential workers, including those hard-working Wal Mart and Target stockers, are appreciated for putting their own health at risk to do their jobs.
10. Some of the US automakers shifted their lines to build thousands of ventilators.
11. Distilleries pooled their resources to make much-needed hand sanitizer.
12. Zoom became a way to connect families in creative ways, including weddings and reunions. (Of course, sometimes there have been a few embarrassing moments!)
13. Determined family members are finding special ways to still visit with loved ones quarantined in nursing homes.
14. Sweatpants and t-shirts are a fashion trend. And aren’t we glad?
15. Families are cooking together, playing games together, entertaining each other, and even teaching grandmothers how to dance on TikTok.
16. A Florida man became the first ever Downs Syndrome athlete to complete the Ironman Triathlon.
17. Car parades! Love still happens!
18. Thousands of Italians quarantined by Covid took to their balconies and joined together in singing. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9z1wGZnS5O/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
19. The Metropolitan Opera in New York has offered free streaming of its past performances. Check it out on their website. https://www.metopera.org/season/on-demand/
20. John Krasinski, from The Office cast, has a wonderful YouTube channel devoted to “some good news.” His SGN “network” includes stories and videos from people all over the world that will touch your heart and make you proud to be part of the human race. I love the video of the elderly husband and his wife in a nursing center with dementia singing “Amazing Grace” together. Check it out! https://youtu.be/F5pgG1M_h_U

Laugh When You Want to Cry!

Sometimes all we can do when things feel out of control is to just laugh. About 25 years ago, Norman Cousins, editor of the literary magazine Saturday Review, was diagnosed with an incurable and fatal spinal column illness. He tried everything, but nothing touched the disease. One day, he decided to leave the hospital even against his doctors’ orders.

He went back to his apartment and closed himself off from the world for a month. Guess what he did that entire time – he enjoyed himself! He watched funny movies, read humorous jokes and stories, and most of all, he laughed. In fact, he laughed and laughed so much every day that he noticed that his pain lessened! I don’t think he ever dreamed that laughter would help, but it did.

Cousins returned to the hospital a month later for a checkup. Surprisingly, the doctors found no trace of his disease! He was completely cured. Of course, they couldn’t believe that his incurable disease was gone without medical intervention. He told them that he just laughed himself well. You can read more about his story in his book, Anatomy of an Illness.

God Has A Few Good Things to Say, Too!

The Bible says the same thing in several places. Well, not exactly about laughter, but about the power of our thoughts. God has blessed us with amazing minds. We can think, learn, reason, and make choices. In Proverbs 23:7 it says, “…As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” This verse tells us that our thoughts are actually a reflection of who we are. That’s why God has told us to be wise about what we think about.

In Matthew 12:34, Jesus tells us that “from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” My favorite passage is found in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Why? When we focus on the positive, we come more positive. We become more like Him!

Self-Focused or Others-Focused?

Sometimes we let our struggles and challenges overwhelm us, and that causes us to keep our focus on ourselves. When we become others-centered rather than self-centered, we will find joy in simple things. We will become a blessing to those we meet. We can begin to see the silver lining even through the dark clouds. In fact, we can laugh and sing for joy even in the midst of “2020-itis” And the good things of 2020 might become more clear.

You may be thinking, but Grandma D, my life is a mess, and 2020 has made everything worse. I understand that you have faced some really tough times, and I wouldn’t even think to minimize that. I wish I could make it easier for you. Honestly, I do. But I want to assure you that through every one of your struggles, God has not left your side. You see, He wants you to lean on Him and feel His peace even in the midst of the storms of life. It isn’t always easy, but I know from experience that it will make you stronger. And believe it or not, it will get easier. Think baby steps, dear one!

Count Your Blessings!

We just celebrated another Thanksgiving, although it wasn’t quite the same for most of us. Our family didn’t get together this year, and I missed all the laughter, yummy food, and playing games. But more than that, I missed the love, that feeling of just being comfortable around those who mean the most to you. You do know that it is more than just overeating and watching football games, right?

Before rushing into the Christmas season and shopping until you drop, this is really the perfect time to slow down a bit and start our thought-training by thanking God for our blessings.  I know those are truly the good things about 2020! I’d like to challenge you to actually write down a list of your blessings.

My blessing list is pages long. Believe it or not, I can even thank Him for the two weeks I spent in ICU with Covid and pneumonia. Why? Well, for one thing, He saved my life. And for another, He has used me to help and encourage others in similar situations. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 it says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” Isn’t that cool?

I’d love to hear from you about what you are most thankful for. I am thankful for you stopping by here today. Come back again so we can chat. I’ll make us a cup of tea. That is always a good thing in 2020 and any other time.

Grandma D