The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Anyone who grew up at the Saint Paul Tennis Club knows Gary. Our beloved, wise, funny, and grandfather-like swim coach who kept us in line throughout the summers of our childhood, and continues to do so as he is the boss of all of us lifeguards.  He is the owner of many funny sayings, commonly using the phrase "The good, the bad, and the ugly".

Seen in a broader spectrum, this phrase describes our day to day lives. The good: positive moments scattered through our day, the bad... obviously the rough parts, and the just plain ugly moments we hope to someday forget.

Today was lovely. I had the day off, had coffee with my sisters (one real, two honorary), laid by the pool, got some gluten-free treats from French Meadow Bakery, and shopped around 50th and France with my sister Annie. Today had only a little bad and a smidgen of ugly (rush hour traffic) .... success!
As we were shopping for fathers day gifts, we came across a sign that said this:

"Always appreciate the little things in life, because someday you will look back and realize those were the big things".

I stood there and read it a couple of times, taking in the message and realizing it was absolutely true...

Summer mornings after swim practice watching Full House with my siblings

Hazelnut coffee in the morning at the cabin

A perfect evening at the lake in Ely Minnesota

Caribou dates with my Mom

Fires in the fireplace at Christmastime

Walking up to Grand avenue on a warm summer evening to get ice cream with my high school friends

These moments, the good things that are sprinkled through our day, are often clouded by the bad and the ugly. But when you look back, you don't remember the 2 hours of traffic, or the rude person in front of you in line, you remember the good, the things that come together creating a story. Your story.

So breathe in those good moments, buy the person behind you at caribou a drink, take the day off, make time for your friends.

Because at the end of the day... The good always outweighs the bad and the ugly.

Happy Living!
~M