Special thanks to just rojie for today’s writing prompt.
What’s something small that immediately makes your day better?
I’m a firm believer that little things add up to big things. Sometimes, those “little” things are actually the biggest things of all.
For me, the small things that immediately brighten my day are hearing from my kids. I’ll never stop hating the fact that I’m not in their lives every single day. While I’ve grown used to the rhythm of “kid time” and “grown-up time,” I would gladly give up the latter to have had them both living with me, growing up before my eyes day in and day out. A simple text or a quick phone call from Kid 1 or Kid 2 is always enough to shift my mood.
The Small Things and the Big Sparks
Then there’s that specific spark you get early in a romantic relationship. There’s something about the honeymoon phase—the newness of it all—where your heart skips a beat or you catch your breath for a second when you hear from someone you’ve been pining for.
As I navigate the trials and tribulations of dating in my 50s, I’ve realized that this spark is exactly what I’m chasing. I know it’s temporary. I know it’s just the “newness.” But honestly? I love that feeling. In a weird way, I think I might even like that feeling more than the idea of a sustained relationship right now. It’s a small, fleeting jolt of lightning, and right now, that’s enough.
The Iced Coffee Epiphany
But this school year, I discovered a different kind of spark: iced coffee.
I used to think people were being hyperbolic when they talked about coffee being a “mood changer.” I won’t go so far as to say I can’t function without it yet, but I’m getting close. Recently, while visiting Kid 1 in Madison, we went to a place called Duck Donuts. I ordered my iced coffee and a chocolate glazed donut. I’m not typically a donut guy, but if I’m going to indulge, that’s my weapon of choice.
I sat there with Kid 1 and Ex 1, and as I took that first bite and first sip, the shift was instantaneous. I started to giggle like I was intoxicated. They both started laughing at me—or with me—but it was a hilarious moment. I had this massive grin on my face and all I could say was, “I can feel the good mood pumping through my veins!”
The Duck Donuts Multiverse
But as we sat there, things being as civil as they’ve been for years, my head started to spin. I felt like a “variant” in the Marvel Multiverse. I looked at the three of us and thought: this is what a parallel universe version of us is doing right now, but they’re actually together.
It wasn’t about pining for the past; it was just the surreal realization that for a few minutes, in a donut shop in Wisconsin, the timelines blurred. We were just a family having a laugh. It’s a “small thing” that feels massive when you stop to look at it.
Sold on the Science
Whether it’s the way caffeine hits the bloodstream, the temporary rush of a new text, or the way certain people from your past still feel like family—even as “estranged” ones—it works.
In any event, I’m sold.
I’ve told you about my text message bright spots and my iced coffee epiphanies. Now it’s your turn: What is one small thing that immediately makes your day better? Is it a specific song, a first sip of something, or a message from someone special? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear what fuels your ‘good mood’ veins.
Rebuilding a life takes grit, consistency, and a lot of ‘Option C’ thinking. Whether I’m closing in on 1,000 consecutive days of blogging or reflecting on the decade of work that brought me here, the mission remains the same: No glitz. Just the work. New to the blog? Start your journey here to see the blueprint and the ‘Tricorder’ perspective behind the rebuild.
Today’s post is inspired by the WordPress Daily Prompt. While I’ve taken the topic in my own direction for the Road to 1,000 Days, you can find more responses to today’s prompt HERE.
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The article “The Spark, The Multiverse, and The Glazed Donut” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob.
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