THE RECIPE FOR A GOOD LIFE

. . . from where else? A novel, of course!

Sometimes, it’s the simplest things that leave the deepest mark.

Last week, while reading Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties by Camille Pagán, I came across one short paragraph—just 26 words—that stopped me in my tracks. It sent my mind spinning, sparking a flurry of thoughts and conversations that I haven’t been able to shake.

Maybe it’s because the words—this “recipe,” as the author calls it—feel both deeply personal and universally true. And though the book was written in 2018, the paragraph feels more relevant than ever.

The excerpt reads:

I shared it with my husband. I shared it with a close friend. If the birds outside my window could read, I probably would’ve shared it with them too. And with every conversation, the part that won’t leave me alone is the last piece: “…and something to look forward to.”

I’m lucky enough to “have something to do” that I love. Writing serves me in so many ways: it allows me to honor my creativity, it’s brought new friendships and relationships with readers, and it’s given my overactive mind a place to settle.

I’m also blessed to be married to my best friend—someone who adventures with me, laughs with me, and catches me when I fall. And I have many others who round out my life and bring me joy.

But something to look forward to can feel elusive.

Sometimes it’s because I get too buried in my work. (The protagonist in my current novel-in-progress is a workaholic—for lack of a more nuanced word—and she’s making me take a hard look at my own habits.) Other times, it’s because the daily routine of an ordinary life takes over.

But lately, I wonder if my struggle to look forward isn’t just personal, but collective. The state of the world, especially in the U.S., makes it hard to see what's ahead with excitement instead of anxiety. Every day brings more incredulous headlines, more people hurting, more uncertainty about tomorrow.

If you’re feeling disoriented, disheartened, or downright scared, you are not alone.

It can feel like there’s nothing to look forward to. Except . . . that’s exactly why we need to find things to look forward to—no matter how small.

My friends are probably getting tired of hearing me say, “Joy is an act of resistance.” But I believe it’s true. Evil cannot win in the presence of joy. For darkness to take root, disillusionment must be rampant.

So, let’s go back to that “recipe.”

What gets you out of bed in the morning? Who or what fills your life with love? And what are the little (or big) things that make you excited for tomorrow or next month or even next year? Name them. Write them down daily—or hourly, if needed.

I’ll start. I’m looking forward to:

  • Spending a little part of every day writing a new novel

  • Having coffee with my office buddy most mornings

  • Thinking about a possible summer vacation

  • Finishing the Sydney Opera House Lego set our study abroad students gifted us

  • Playing Wordle with my husband every morning over breakfast

  • Getting lost in a good book

Of course, there are bigger things too. But these small, everyday joys? They matter. They build momentum. And if you’ll excuse the cliché, a rising tide lifts all boats.

Maybe this all sounds too simple, or even a little trite. But what if it works?

 

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