I’ve started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here.
The tip for today was to notice five things that are beautiful in the world around you.
I’m writing this a day or two in advance, so here goes.
I like to take pictures. My wife laughs at me, but I find these to be nice reminders of life over time. Sometimes I just flip through them. In any case, here are some beautiful things.
I’m leaving out friends and family, as those are certainly beautiful, but I tried to think and notice things that were in my life, but I sometimes don’t think about.
The Wide Open Spaces
I love Colorado. I love being outdoors, but of all the places I’ve lived, I enjoy Colorado. The dry air, the changing seasons, the openness of my ranch. The view is often the same, but walking around the other day, I find this to be beautiful.
The Sky
The sky in Colorado is often sunny (300+ days a year), it’s big and expansive, and it’s beautiful. Even as much as I see it, I still like looking at it’s beauty.
My Guitar
I’ve owned a few, but my wife bought me this one a year ago. I’ve enjoyed messing around on it, and I spent a lot of time during my sabbatical practicing. I built some skill, confidence, and found joy again in making music.
I’m not great, but I did feel good enough to provide a light backing track for Mike Walsh’s weekly call on Friday.
My Animals
This dog is amazing. Her name is Azure, and she loves playing fetch. She drops balls, scraps of paper, and twigs at my feet on a regular basis, asking for them to be thrown so she can chase them.
She’s a beautiful reminder of the joy of simple things, and of simple pleasures.
My Charging Stand
I built this.
I cut two pieces of wood, got them to fit together, and stained them. I’ve dropped my phone on this for 3 or 4 years. Last year I moved to wireless charging and didn’t use this as much, but over my sabbatical I routed out a hole for a wireless charger (thanks, @United) and then plugged it in. Now, I can drop my phone here and it charges.
This is beautiful to me, a useful thing I made. It’s not perfect, it’s not something anyone else would want, but it’s beautiful to me.