In recent memory, I can't recall having had two peak days as close together as this past Sunday and Tuesday. And though it's unsurprising both days involved interactions with people important to me, the lack of surprise brings with it no less joy.
Sunday's interaction with my daughter was shorter in duration because we met in the midst of her shooting a commercial; her schedule was tight. But just those two hours with her reminded me how proud I am of the person she has become. On the train ride home from New York, I filled several pages in my journal musing about my gratitude for her and what she continually brings to my life.
On Tuesday, I flew to Dallas with a friend I've worked with on and off for thirty-five years, someone I've mentioned here a few times since the 2011 inception of my blog. Beginning with when I picked him up for our drive to the airport at 3:45 a.m., we were side-by-side for all but about three hours until 8:00 p.m. Without exception, every conversation - in the car, on the plane, en route to our hotel, preparing for the workshop we did in the late afternoon, de-briefing following the workshop, over dinner - was stimulating, effortless, and intimate.
I'm a fortunate person in many ways. These past five days have fortified my belief that the greatest fortune in my life is directly connected to the people in it. In my view, acknowledging people who are important to us can never be overdone. Who are some of those people in your life? When did you last acknowledge how important they are to you? What was your most recent peak experience with one or more of them?
Love you dad
ReplyDeleteAlison; Ditto X infinity.
DeleteI don’t know if you saw this Pat, but over on George Saunder’s Substack he mistakenly announced that author Joy Williams had died. She didn’t—thank heavens, but it created a flurry of shock then apologies then relief. I guess he had been asked to write something for her obituary in advance. He hadn’t realized it was a pre-obituary. Had me thinking about what it must be like to read your own obituary, and also, as someone who read his own —Terry Guilliam from Monty Pythons said all the important stuff he did wasn’t on there. His family, his friends, his relationships. That was what made his life what it was. Like you so succinctly said as well.
ReplyDeleteHey Regina; Thanks so much for the comment. Bigger thanks for the kind feedback about my post being succinct, since that is one of my objectives.
DeleteIn 1940 some researchers at Harvard began studying 1500 undergraduates (including JFK and Ben Bradley) along with 1500 young people from East Boston, which was a very poor part of town. The researchers followed these individuals and, eventually, their children and grandchildren, trying to determine what made them happy, successful, etc. The study is still ongoing and there's a wonderful book about it by Robert Waldinger THE GOOD LIFE: LESSONS FROM THE WORLD'S LONGEST SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF HAPPINESS. In that book Waldinger rates friendship as the single most important factor in people's overall happiness. Which is why I have made a point of reaching out to old friends and doing my best to try to make new ones.
DeleteJim; Thanks for the comment and the research cited therein. For me, both the connection we made last February and our subsequent communication has been a source of happiness, even if that communication has been largely virtual.
Delete