I looked up from a whirlwind year and found myself in mid-November- time for 5 randoms from my world.

1 ) I say this all the time: Michigan is a beautiful state, especially in Fall: Lesson: simple joys bring me joy!

• photo taken on one of my walks- ahh!

2 ) Funerals and food. We’ve had a run on deaths in our circle of family & friends – 14 in 15 months! Where I can, I cook. Cooking gives me something to do and and one less thing for them to do. Lesson: instead of, “Call me if you need anything” know the bereaved may be overwhelmed and have no idea what they need. Call ahead, show up, and bring food. If you’re not a cook, offer to run an errand, help with thank you cards, walk the dog, bring a restaurant gift card, etc.

• Dropped off chicken noodle soup, from-scratch rolls, & chocolate treats to a friend whose Mom had died. She’s overwhelmed with the work, plans, details, family, photos and all the “stuff.” She quietly admitted she forgets to eat. The Memorial service is later today.

3 ) My job continues at a breakneck pace; I am working Monday and then off for the Thanksgiving break. I’ve been asked by others above if I can join “this” call or “that call,” all of which occur during my scheduled time off. My response has been a polite and firm, “no.” I was forwarded documents to review and “think on” now, all of which have deadlines after I return. I’m not doing any of it; they can figure it out, or not, but I’m taking the break. Lesson reinforced, “If you don’t care to be a doormat, get up off the floor.”

• Say it loudly for those in the back!

4 ) Books – recently I slogged through a complicated & insightful medical-based book — it was full of great information, I learned a lot, but I didn’t enjoy it. Lesson reinforced: I read for pleasure. This week, I tore through this, and it was just so well-done!

• Delicious, intriguing, historical fiction.

5 ) Christmas is coming: I’ve taken in a few Holiday craft fairs, and we’re talking through family plans. Our sons & their girls all have careers and commitments and schedules: finding a date that works for all can be challenging. We’ll figure it out. My team and I have a huge (work) project looming which may or may not start mid-December, and if it does, that will probably shift my time off. Lesson learned: enjoy what I have and let go of the rest.

• “Gnome for the Holidays” – a fun wreath from a local craft fair. $7 of fun!

What simple joys and random lessons have you encountered recently?