Category: positivity

Posted in positivity

A nudge

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Daily writing prompt
What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world?
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I want my blog to be positive. I want my blog to highlight the positive things, the blessings, and the things that bring us joy.

It’s easy to rant, complain, kvetch, agonize, moan and groan, and scream at the world. But what if you can you be grateful, amazed, pleasantly surprised, impressed, encouraged, inspired, entertained, and delighted?

I want to bring the latter.

I want my stories to inspire gratefulness. I want you to see things that will made you say, “Wow, thanks!” I hope you’ll read my blog and notice examples of grace right in front of your nose. I want to write about things I notice that will make you smile and even laugh. I would love to delight you with everyday sights that should take your breath away.

I often fail to reach my goal. I fall into the all too common unhappy pattern of gloom and doom, conspiracy theories, apocalyptic predictions, nasty reactions, and ugly reactions to a world gone bad.

I think we can do better than that. I think I can do better than that.

Every morning I am blown away by the sunrise oranges on the horizon. Cloudless blue skies take my breath away as the planets vanish in the sky. I so grateful for a gentle breeze that blows the humidity away. I’m inspired by the tall scrub pines, waving palm branches, singing birds, cotton-ball clouds, screeching hawks, and brave bunnies on the edge of the woods.

So, I hope my blog will whisk you away from the negative to the hopeful, from nightmares to wonderful dreams, from gloom and doom to new possibilities, and from dark to light.

Words can do that. These musings can transform. A story can delight. And a reflection can brighten a day.

I want my blog to be a nudge in that direction.

Posted in joy, kindness, positivity

The first domino

Posted on by William Douthwaite

Driving home from Jacksonville this afternoon around 4:30 pm, the traffic was beginning to build as I merged onto I-95 from 9B. An SUV just ahead of me signaled to merge in front of me, then hesitated for just a moment. I flashed my high beams, encouraging her to cut in front of me. A little wave out the window and she was on her way.

As I drove on, I thought to myself, “Why did I do that?” I’m not always that generous on the highway. More often than not I’m more like, “You’re not cutting front of me. You can merge when I pass. And good luck with that!” And I never think twice about it.

But today was different. I was feeling good, kind, friendly and compassionate. And you know why? I had just had a great experience in Jacksonville. I had to return to the Apple store to get a battery replaced in my MacBook, a necessary chore I hadn’t been looking forward to. When I got to town center, behold, I nabbed a parking spot right in front of the store. As I walked in, I was immediately greeted and my computer was taken in back for the replacement. I knew it would take two to three hours, so I had brought work to do. But no sooner did I sit down with my grande Sbux, when my phone rang. My computer was ready to pick up. I didn’t believe it. In less than thirty minutes? I listened to the message twice. Still dubious. I headed back to the store, found another very close parking spot, and picked up my computer. Yes, it took less than half an hour!

So, on the way home, having had a very positive experience, I was feeling very friendly on the road. You want to cut in? No problem! Have a great day! Whereas I often feel impatient and annoyed driving on the interstate, I was feeling pretty good today. My great experience translated into a great experience for others.

It’s a domino effect, isn’t it? Some initial act of kindness tips that first domino to begin a series of positive events. I made up my mind in that moment that I would try to be that first domino more often.