Paeans to the silver linings of thunderheads

Yesterday was one of those crummy, mixed up, no good days that are better left out of recent memory. ... Or was it? Here are a few things I was grateful for yesterday, even when it seemed like nothing would go right:

• In the face of very troubling local community news yesterday, I found it thrilling to walk among real grassroots activists who didn't wilt under the strain of adversity. Go tribe!
  
• The cranky man on the phone at the parking lot station broke my 20 even though he didn't have to.
  
• I walked past a group of men waiting to get into a mission at dinnertime and was grateful it wasn't me waiting for soup and a cot.
  
• I can't ever say enough about my patient clients and students, who understand how sometimes computers don't work when they're supposed to.
  
• I'm grateful for the protein bar my friend gave me earlier in the day; she was clearly psychic enough to know how I'd be needing it later!
  
• I somehow found the energy yesterday to say No to a psychic vampire who recently walked, unbidden, into my life. I pray I won't be stalked.
  
• I also had the presence of mind to walk off my stress last night.
  
• There's nothing like having a basket of naan paneer, with mint and tamarind chutneys, all to yourself!
  Which is what I had for dinner.
  
• Elliot Bay Books, my home away from home.
  
• I have clients who are making extraordinary work. They are the #1 reason my job is such a rich avocation.
  
• My children got up very early (5:30am)--and without a fuss--to keep their swim team commitments.
  
• Everything I voted for this week was passed and only one of my candidates didn't make it. (Still, that one loss of leadership will be felt for a long time.)
  
• Dear Mr. Traffic Cop: Thank you for not giving me a parking ticket in Pioneer Square even though I had exceeded my meter by more than an hour.
  
• Ah, sun in November and then a warm lined vest to wear on a crisp, clear evening!
  
• My patient, flexible, understanding husband, not just yesterday but everyday.
  
• My cell phone and all its wonderful apps.
  
• My children, who are such great contributors to our tribe.
  
• The discomfort of big change yesterday reminded me that confronting the weight of decisions hurts only because it matters.
  
• I recognized that all the demands people have made of me lately are actually a compliment to my reliability and worth. They wouldn't bother if I didn't meet a certain standard.
  
• I'm grateful for the mom who made waffles for the swim team yesterday morning.
  
• Woohoo, I found my thumb drive with all my client's photos on it after being certain I'd lost it!
  
• I enjoyed free wifi in a cafe with newly installed and easily accessible electrical outlets. Ah, progress.
  The way my day was going, I was almost certain to run out of laptop battery (which had been drained by 70%) before fulfilling my work obligations.
  
• I got a reprieve from my teaching schedule just when I most needed the break. I could literally feel the weight lifting off my shoulders.

Creative Commons image: "Silver Lining" by Eric Kilby. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 License.