September 2020
by Tom Swift
28 Monday
- New neighbors.
- Gene Hackman.
- Pretty hockey plays.
- Small stretching sessions.
- The opportunity to get better.
27 Sunday
- Powderhorn Park.
- People who walk their dogs.
- People who sell self-published books in public places.
- Tristan Harris.
- The New York Times.
- Intellectual stimulation.
- Sunday mornings at the gym.
- Salmon supper.
26 Saturday
- A clean car.
- The new-car smell. Even if the car itself is old.
- Throwing out old notebooks. You think you might need them sometime but they only take up headspace.
25 Friday
- Running in the rain.
- Anytime spent slowly stretching.
- The Lincoln Project.
- Kelp.
- Eating just enough.
- Being able to mow the lawn in the afternoon.
- That you get to live where you do with your little buddy.
- People who write books that show you how to be a better human.
21 Monday
- The placebo effect.
- When help is on the way.
- When fresh new notebooks arrive in the mail.
- Car rides with your little buddy.
- Walgreens runs.
- Winning without your best stuff.
20 Sunday
- Your dog.
- Your house.
- The wind at night.
- Balmy nights.
- Your breath.
- The struggle of your life.
- 1986.
- Stretch pants.
- Sam Harris.
- Honey.
- Your throat.
- The challenge you face.
19 Saturday
- RBG.
18 Friday
- Being able to watch a hockey game.
- Helping someone in a way that makes them extremely pleased.
- Time to follow the beat of your own drummer.
17 Thursday
- When you say no to the brain that tells you get revved up.
- The power of movement on the mind.
- Chris Botti.
- Everyone who is outraged.
- Everyone who is trying to retain democracy.
- Time at the park. Just you and your dog. In the dark. Open ballfields. Empty playground. Cool air. The smell of grass. Stars above.
16 Wednesday
- The Enlightenment.
- People who care about animals that aren’t their own.
- Learning about the mind.
- A new shower curtain.
- A day without bathing. It’s good for the skin!
- When the dog asks you to take one more walk at the end of the day.
15 Tuesday
- A spiffy clean house.
- New bath mats.
- Chris Botti.
- Warm evenings.
- Mike Madrid.
- Getting over a hump.
- People who work extra for the same charge.
14 Monday
- When your dog lies on your person. Head on foot is especially good.
- Leftover coffee.
- Windows open.
- Your porch.
- Cold feet.
- Warm showers before bed.
13 Sunday
- People who mention your website.
- Being forced into the moment.
- Being guided there, too.
- Coupons that work past their expiration dates.
12 Saturday
- A new old TV.
- Old movies.
- Knowing what you’re talking about.
- Hard naps.
- Something new.
- A surprisingly pleasant (weather-wise) night.
11 Friday
- The people that ran into the burning buildings.
- The people who said “Let’s Roll.”
- The country that produced those people.
9 Wednesday
- Curbside dog treats.
- Your furnace.
- Embracing cold.
- Good news about your tree.
- Comedy as an antidote to anxiousness.
- Short weeks.
8 Tuesday
- Hoodies.
- Blankets.
- The choice of this moment.
- The woman who looks at your nearly 13-year-old dog and regards him as though he were a “puppy.”
7 Monday
- The women and men who fought for the rights and accepted standards of American workers.
- A mowed lawn.
- Ginger-turmeric tea.
- Democracy Docket.
- Finding this month’s book club book in the Little Free Library.
6 Sunday
- Naps.
- Cool breezes on muggy days.
- The Sunday paper at your doorstep.
- Thoughtful books about the mind.
- Steel-cut oats.
5 Saturday
- Cool dark mornings.
- Your notebook.
- The voice in your head.
- Short, smart books.
- Dwight Eisenhower.
- Theater popcorn.
4 Friday
- Four-day weekends.
- The tyranny and the inspiration of the Three Things To-Do List.
- Your small home.
- Being fooled by a bot.
- The squirrel that sat on your fence for the longest time this morning nibbling on a bevy of small acorns, one at a time.
- Big ideas.
3 Thursday
- Long workouts.
- New slippers.
- Fresh air.
- Chocolate milk.
- The League of Women Voters.
2 Wednesday
- The comfort that comes from action.
- Sleeping late.
- Long morning walks.
- When the dog wants to play more than you have time for.
- Sauerkraut.
1 Tuesday
- Early morning reading.
- The chance to teach.
- Water.
- Vulnerability.
- President Lincoln.
- The color espresso.