Silver Linings

This morning could best be described as bleak.  Gloomy would be a close second.  The air was thick and muggy, the sky overcast.  It felt as if a barely visible, gray mass was pressing down on the city of New Haven.  Normally, waking up to that would place a damper on my day and set an otherwise egregious tone.

Thanks to the short-term metered parking around my job, I was forced to relocate my vehicle during the early afternoon.  As I began to make the trek back to my desk, I was overwhelmed by beauty in everything around me.  Sure, the weather was less than spectacular, my sweater clung to my skin and my hair had begun to frizz from the humidity, but something felt electric.  

As I squinted through my sunglasses, trying to balance the hazy glare with the darkness of the lenses, I saw the courtyard that sits between the Yale gymnasium and the dormitories that separated my car from my job.  For the first time in months, it was completely empty.  The grass was healthy and green.  The clean, odd buildings were shooting up towards the sky where patches of blue were sporadically peeking out from behind gray clouds.  As I walked further, my eyes took in the sight of an empty retro-style Miller Lite can that had been deserted; I giggled to myself and continued up the slate steps to find a multitude of planters overflowing with colorful flowers.

I stopped to capture a few photos with my phone and, suddenly, found my mind racing with positive thoughts.  Despite the dreariness of the weather, it was a beautiful day.  I was surrounded by incredible things and had so much to be greatful for.  The courtyard view, the gorgeous flora, the hosta leaves holding perfectly spherical drops of water, were all treats to my eyes.  I walked on, thinking about how I would normally use this weather to excuse a bad mood.

It's gloomy out; I can complain about my job, about having to move my car, about stereotypical Yalies crossing the street wherever they want, terrible drivers...everything, right?

But today, for some reason, was totally different.  I thought about my best friends who just closed on their first home yesterday.  The previous owner left it in total filth and disarray but, at the end of the day, they were the owners of a house.  I might often feel underpaid or under-appreciated at work but, at the end of the day, I am employed and I can pay my bills.  Rik Myall, who starred in a movie that has been my favorite since long before it was appropriate for me to watch (talking about "Drop Dead Fred," of course) passed away last night; I am still breathing...still walking...still processing my surroundings.

It takes so little effort to define the negatives around us.  To point out something that is wrong, could be better, or is irritating.  Taking the time to pinpoint the not-so-obvious good that is lurking everywhere involves conscious thought and observation, something we often forget to employ.  I'm not sure what caused me to set forth that extra bit of effort today, but I am glad I did.