"Yes"

Today’s poem is “Yes” by William Stafford. Those of you who have been in my groups might recognize it as it is one of my go-to poems. Even if you know it well, today’s reading may affect you differently. Stafford reminds us that even though life can be uncertain and scary, there are still bonuses for us to enjoy each day. This is not to ignore or diminish our personal or global struggles, but rather to take a moment and focus our attention on what is good and right in our lives. 

Yes

It could happen any time, tornado,
earthquake, Armageddon. It could happen.   
Or sunshine, love, salvation.

It could you know. That’s why we wake
and look out – no guarantees
in this life.

But some bonuses, like morning,
like right now, like noon,
like evening.

– William Stafford

Click here to hear Allison Frost read “Yes.”  

Writing activity:  Make a list of 3-5 small bonuses (Three Good Things) you’ve experienced so far today – simple pleasures like your first cup of coffee, or the forsythia bush in bloom that you saw when you went for a walk.  According to the Greater Good Science Center, “By giving you the space to focus on the positive, this practice teaches you to notice, remember, and savor the better things in life.”  Go ahead, give it a try!  I hope it adds some sunshine to your day!

Sources: 

“Yes” by William Stafford from The Way It Is, 1999. Copyrighted material used for educational or therapeutic purposes.

Three Good Things: A way to tune into the positive in your life. Retrieved from: Greater Good Science Center: Science-based Practices for a Meaningful Life. https://ggsc.berkeley.edu 

Photo credit: Shipping on sunshine: Solar power of African farmers. SciTech Europa