Jonathan Fields, host of The Good Life Project podcast, always ends conversation with guests with this question:
“How do you define the ‘good life?’ What does a ‘good life”’look like to you?”
Human science expert Brene Brown answered, “ A good life happens when you stop and are grateful for the ordinary moments that so many of us seem to steamroll over to try to find those extraordinary moments. To me, my good life is soccer practice and carpool line. And tuck-ins. And date night. That’s the good life for me. And knowing it’s good. Acknowledging and stopping and saying that it’s good.”
What’s interesting to me is what she didn’t say.
No mention at all of being grateful to write six New York Times best-selling books, host two podcasts, or hold a research fellowship at the University of Houston. She didn’t have to say that she’s the premier voice for courage and empathy. Those are the things that define her work.
And her life is not defined by her work.
The good life is all these little things.
Easily within reach of any one of us.
And this isn’t new information. Kurt Vonnegut once said, “Enjoy the little things in life because one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.”
(***We all nod our heads and murmur in agreement. ****)
Some things we have to discover on our own.
It’s our experience that changes how we perceive the present.
As I sit here writing this, my new kitten is basking in a patch of sunlight, and my other kitten is nestled against my back and the chair. They both got so excited when I opened a package of treats earlier today.
I started thinking about my own small things journey.
Walking out of a cold building and into the hot August sun (am I the only one that loves that?)
A surprise thundershower this afternoon that brought with it a cool breeze.
Finding a bag of my favorite chips hidden in the pantry.
A package waiting for me on the front porch.
Dr. Brown said we should stop and acknowledge that it’s good.
And this is where I struggle.
Because when I’m in a big room and someone asks me about my life, these little things sound pathetic when I say them out loud. And I know that’s a “me” problem, not a “them” problem. I’m the one who needs to come to terms with my good life.
It really is so, so good.