Today Was A Good Day
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Today Was A Good Day
John Paul Derryberry
It's a little passed nine o-clock pm in the Derryberry household. I'm the only one awake, and to quote the iconic Ice Cube, "Today was a Good Day." As a family, we had a blast of a Saturday. My wife and I took our dog for a morning hike through a winter wonderland. Our dog and I love snow hikes, they are our favorite. Then we picked up our girls from their grandparent's house, but not before our oldest daughter went for her first sledding outing in the fresh snow around the property.
Next, during the girls' naptime, I read three chapters of my new favorite author, Shea Serrano's book Basketball (and other things). After that, the most glorious 45-minute nap in our river room, while both girls' napped. Reading three chapters of a book and a nap on the same day with two young children, was something that hasn't happened on a Saturday in a long time, and it was awesome! The afternoon activities only improved our day as a trip to the nature center entertained our dynamic duo for a whole hour. The cherry on top was my youngest girl giggling at my announcing the arrival of bath time like I'm a WWE wrestling announcer.
Yet, I can't help this nagging feeling that yes, today was good for me, but for so many, it was a scary day, a life-changing day, a bad day. 3,000 soldiers on their way to the middle east escalating in tensions among numerous countries. Too many families became homeless, or a family somewhere finding out a loved one committed suicide. Those only covering a fraction of situations where some other father is sitting in his dwelling, thinking today was a bad day.
So what do we do, we people who have it great? Do we not share how the beautiful lives we have worked so hard for? Do we ignore the sociality dynamics that allow for some to be successful and others to wallow in despair? Do we sever the connection we have to those suffering as separate from us? The answer to those questions is all no. It is a false choice many leaders from different backgrounds convince us we have to make.
I can say in tandem that it was a good day for me and acknowledge I need to do more to create better days for those not experiencing them. I can question the motivations of my political party leaders and continue to support values I trust as being essential for all humans. I can, in one breath, say it's a good thing a dangerous man from Iran is no longer on this planet, but I'm scared for the consequences of the decision that lead to his death. I can know without a doubt what is occurring in Australia is horrible, but venture out in the wilderness around me and be thankful it's not in my back yard.
We are allowed to hold differing ideas in our hearts and minds. All humans are capable of understanding selfishly I had a great day and convey compassion to those who didn't. It has never been all or nothing, and it won't ever be that way. That is not how this profoundly deep human experience works. So yes, today was good for me, and tonight I convey compassion to those in the world who had a bad day. One day the roles will reverse, and I will need your kindness and assistance to get through whatever horrible stuff might happen to me. We would all do better to remember that even on our best days, we should find a way to lend a hand to others because that type of love can create great days for all. And we all deserve to have good days.