One Little Word

by Jane B.

Every January, I resolve to make myself a more organized person, a friendlier person, a thinner person, a happier person. To accomplish these goals, I must completely overhaul my routines, my habits, my life. Every February (sometimes it’s March), I admit to myself that I’ve failed in my resolutions. Then I’m disappointed in myself. I feel resigned that I will never become the person I want to be.

So this year, I’m taking a different approach to New Year’s resolutions. I’m participating in the One Little Word Challenge. The challenge is to choose a word that will guide me throughout the new year.

Words I considered included better, start, and accept. But none of these words seemed exceptional or rich enough. I wasn’t sure I’d remember the word or that it would apply across different contexts. I struggled with this decision for three days. I was a little surprised how much significance I was placing on this choice. And then one day, while driving down the highway, it came to me! My one word was so simple! My one word was one!

ONE. 

One filing drawer. One closet shelf. One week’s lesson plans. One to-do list. To be more organized and take charge of my life, all I have to do is tidy up one thing at a time.

One vegetable. One glass of water. One meal plan. One walk around the block. To be healthy and work toward my weight loss goal, all I have to do is take one step at a time.

One spontaneous road trip. One piece of chocolate. One shopping splurge. One chapter of my bedside book. To be more content and happy with myself, all I have to do is grant myself one indulgence at a time.

One smile for a passer-by. One hug for a child. One conversation with a stranger. One compliment for a colleague. To be more friendly and spread more joy, all I have to do is devote to one person at a time. 

Every day I’m going to ask myself what is one thing I can do to make myself happier, healthier, or more productive. I’m only one imperfect person. I don’t have to reach my goals all at once, but rather one change, one breath at a time.

Mutual Glee

by Jane B.

My thirteen-year-old daughter’s homework is done and I’m finished responding to emails; we smile knowingly at each other as we move to the family room.  Curled up on the couch, remotes ready, two hot chocolates on the coffee table, and a big fuzzy, knitted blanket over our legs: we fire up the Netflix.

We’re only three seasons in to a five-season show.  How did we miss this show when it came out? It’s no longer on the air; but it’s all new to us.

Cassie and I giggle with excitement when we hear the familiar beginning to each episode: “So here’s what you missed on Glee.” We’ve come to love each of these characters: Finn, Rachel, Kurt, Puck, Lauren, Quinn, Tina, Artie, Blaine, Santana, Brittany, Mike, Mercedes, Will Schuester, and Sue Sylvester. Each teenage character is an archetype.  There are jocks, bullies, cheerleaders, homosexuals, goths, nerds, overweight kids, and kids with disabilities. I am amazed though, how the show simultaneously maintains and destroys these stereotypes.  It’s as if the show’s writers decided to acknowledge, yet complicate the labels teenagers assign themselves.  No character is entirely good nor entirely bad.  Each of the characters deserve acceptance, respect, and love.

Cassie and I swooned, clapped, and hugged when Kurt kissed Blaine, when Emma confronted her obsessive compulsive disorder, and when Puck fell in love with the large, sassy Lauren.  Our favorite character is Brittany, the self-labeled stupid girl with a heart of gold.  We love Brittany’s quirky fashion sense and we often pick up an iPad to search for Brittany-look-a-like clothing on the web. 

We typically only watch one episode an evening.  I think we’re trying to prolong the enjoyment.   We don’t want it to end.  But we’ve looked ahead, and we know that someday we will reach the show’s final episode.  That will be a sad day. We will miss the characters. The songs. The romances.

But I think I will mourn the end of our shared satisfaction most.  Sitting close together, we snuggle, I play with her hair, she kisses me on the cheek.  When she grows up, will she recall how we bonded over a teenage comedy?  I hope so. 

So I'm looking for another Netflix show we can share when Glee ends. Gilmore Girls seems like a good choice.