Introducing: Good Things

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I’ve written about this before, and it’s no surprise to most of America: Mondays can be tough. I’m blessed this year to have a slow start to my Mondays – the mornings consist of grading, lesson planning, poetry reading, and apparently, blogging.

It won’t always be this way. I’m sure soon I’ll have to begin bright and early at some beloved or not-so-beloved workplace. But for now, I thought I’d start a little tradition:

Mondays Are For Good Things

I know, that’s not really a thing. But let’s make it a thing: I thought I’d share some of my favorites on Monday mornings. You should share some of your favorites, too. Leave a comment with the latest thing that’s pushing your buttons (in a good way).

So here are four to start with.

Music. I went to a concert last weekend, and I am currently listening to these guys non-stop. How could a self-respecting English major not be intrigued by a band name like Ivan and Alyosha? I love their folky-alternative sound. Their lyrics give some food for thought, too.

Gardening. Dad and I went to the nursery and bought plants yesterday afternoon in the April sun. We got parsley, creeping rosemary (for my rock wall), vinca (I love this beautiful little purple flower!), alyssum, and pink and red bee balm. I planted them all in an hour, but it took almost as long just for me to decide where to put them. I’m not anal about many things, but words and gardening seem to be two of those things. The dirt felt chilly on my bare hands and the sun felt hot on my head, so it was a good combination.

vinca

Gyming-it-up. After writing about my hate-affair with running, I can honestly say that I am looking forward to going back to the gym today. Who knows what’s next? Maybe I’ll become an internationally acclaimed salsa dancer! The world is my oyster.

Poetry. One of my all-time favorite poems just happens to be about spring. Leave it to e. e. cummings to pull your heartstrings and wow your intellect in the same blow.

i thank You God for most this amazing

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any–lifted from the no
of all nothing–human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

What are you enjoying this week?

10 Replies to “Introducing: Good Things”

  1. Well, I’m enjoying this post! 🙂
    And… dancing barefoot with a pug to hits from the ’40s. (Bing Crosby, anyone?)
    Flowers and leaves EVERYWHERE! I’m loving how Spring has crashed itself onto every living plant right now. Stunning.
    Liturgy. I love that I’ve got some of the tunes memorized, so I can think about the words while I’m singing instead of focusing on hitting the right notes.
    Ideas. My head’s full of them, and I like that.

    1. I love Bing Crosby! Where’d you get the pug?!
      And I agree with everything else you’ve written. Sounds like you’re in for a good week 🙂

      1. My roommates have the pug. Her name is Grace. And when I danced the samba, she thought it was tag-the-feet.

        I’m hopeful for a good week! This weekend’s the Mass Poetry Festival, too. You should go/come!

  2. Of course, all the good things you mentioned are things I’m relishing as well. I’m also currently enjoying music by Passenger (have you listened to him yet?! soooo goooood, and coming to Boston in August!), poetry by Mary Oliver, Spotify premium (no commercials! hollla!), and all the amazing food trucks that appear in Spring in Boston. The best!!!

    1. Leave it to you to spread MY musical horizons 🙂 Will be checking out Passenger today. Mary Oliver is one of my favorites (of course, that depends on my mood, but my bright spring/summer mood loves her). I love The Summer Day (arguably her most famous poem). Eat a hotdog for me! Or a kabob!

  3. At this particular moment I’m enjoying the rain, my bed, and in a few moments, some Netflix! Thanks for sharing.

  4. I enjoy reading your blog! I enjoy appreciating live music with my students. I enjoyed seeing the look on their faces today when we visited the Portland Symphony. I enjoy this time of year. I also enjoy Mary Oliver’s poems. My sister read Peonies at our wedding last June. Only about a month until their “green fists are ready to break our hearts”…

    1. Christina, this is a great list! I love that you brought your kids to the symphony; last week, I showed my 3-6 graders Mozart’s “Dies Irae” in Latin class – music is the best way to learn! And I’ll have to read “Peonies”!

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