Kimberly Emerson

Sometimes looking at the world is enough to sink the heartiest of spirits.  This last month makes an excellent example.  Lately, everyone I know seems to have landed in a pit of three-day-old fish, spending her life in a never-ending quest for trash bags and air freshener.

Which is why, this week, I focus on love.

Yes, I know.  The juxtaposition reminds me of a story one of my pastors told of the village idiot running happily into a barn full of manure, yelling, “There’s a pony in here somewhere!”  But still, it must be done.  Surviving depression, you hear that you must focus on positive things.  It’s true, but not because happy thoughts will turn you into a raging optimist.  They probably won’t, but they will provide balance. If life insists on putting drastic curves in our road, at least we can add some weight to the opposing side of our vehicle in order to avoid flipping over into despair.

Too much metaphor?  Maybe.  But the point is still true, so here you go – a list of things to love.  (Full disclosure, all the photos are courtesy of google.com except for one.  See if you can find it.)

1.  Jason Collins.  The pro-basketball player announced this week that he is gay.  Personally, I don’t much care who he chooses to sleep with, but there’s more at stake here than just announcing his personal preferences.  Teenagers are bullied to the point of suicide simply because someone thinks they might be gay.  When Mr. Collins comes out, and the world’s general response is, “Hey, whatever makes you happy, dude,” it tells all teens that that bully does not speak for everyone.  It’s small, but it’s a start.

2.  Cameron Lyle.  Speaking of admirable athletes, this college athlete decided to donate bone marrow to a critically ill man.  Finding out that he’d met the 1-in-5,000,000 odds to be a 100% match for a non-relative, Mr. Lyle elected to go ahead with the sometimes painful procedure, even when he found out it would mean missing some crucial track meets.

In the brief time frame allotted to the college athlete, this effectively meant the end his career.  Afterwards, Mr. Lyle said if he had it do over again, he’d make the same call.

(If this inspires you, go to Be The Match to register as a donor.  Read an informative and funny piece on the blog Being Ruth to let you know what kind of experience it is to donate.  Watch out for the bedpan fairies.)

3.  Spring.  Despite harsh winters in many areas of the country, determined little flowers are making an appearance.  Once again, Mother Nature manages to create life where once there was only bleakness.  Enjoy the re-emergence of color.  (I will refrain from discussing pollen counts, and will appreciate the blossoms in between sneezes.)

4.  Trader Joe’s chocolate selection.  Me, I’m a milk chocolate truffle kind of girl, but there’s plenty to choose from.  Experiment.  The dark chocolate with sea salt is enticing, but maybe one week you need to try the kind filled with cookie dough, just to see what it’s like.

5.  My cat.   Zoe really is wonderful, but you all don’t live with her, so you can substitute kid/dog/significant other/friend/rhododendron – whatever it is that makes your house into something besides the place where you get to be comatose for eight hours at a stretch.  Some welcoming and accepting entity that lets you be your own true, goofy, thoroughly fabulous self, and for whom you can return the favor.  These exist, we see them every day, and we’ve grown so completely used to their support that we often forget to acknowledge it.  Today, take a moment to appreciate the love.

Love – on the nose.

See?  Even in a weary world, The Troggs were right.  Love really is all around.

Kimberly really does love having a place where she can be comatose for eight hours without anyone calling the authorities.

Tags: balance, Cameron Lyle, caramel, cats, chocolate, depression, Jason Collins, love, spring, Trader Joe's, truffles