Day 119

Something learned:

Realationship games and tests are not good things. This seems so obvious with the hindsight of 2 decades, but when I was younger, it seemed to make sense to say to myself something like "if he really loved me, he'd do XYZ". I had an addled notion that love either conferred ESP on people or only occurred between people whose brains were perfectly matched.

Open, honest communication works much better to build a good relationship.

Something I'd like to get better at:

Being more meticulous about my work. I'm meticulous about solving puzzles but when it comes to building something, I seem ready to stop once it starts working. I don't know how to train my brain to be more thorough about a project.

Today I was thankful for:

1. The kid's dental appointment going smoothly
2. Ukelele music. It always calms me down and makes me think of warm Hawaiian breezes.
3. Kid really enjoying her acting camp despite saying she didn't want to go
4. Husband setting up our new Tivo
5. Cake. I forgot about it for days and it was waiting for me in the fridge, and still yummy

Looking forward to:

Our chorus singing at a memorial for one of our members who passed away. I'd rather remember him with song than with pain.

Day 60

Something learned:

A little kind feeling in one heart makes it a lot easier to prevent fights. It helps you remember that you're both human and vulnerable to fatigue, frustration and resentment. Understand that it's a matter of finding a human solution, not settling a moral or philosophical debate.

And always precede negative feedback with something positive.

Today I was thankful for:

1. My awesome new microphone for recording singing
2. Overcast sky for the lovely light for the picture I had planned to make
3. Finally realizing that the parameter to the equals method that I was overriding needed to be of type object and fixing the bug that has plagued me for a week.
4. My damaged phone being covered under my MasterCard insurance! For once those benefits paid off.
5. The kid doing a great job at her first TKD belt test

Looking forward to:

My next trip home to Singapore. It's about that time again.