It’s so easy to notice the bigger things that fail: countries at war, a train derailment, bad politicians, the transmission on the 2008 car with 300K miles when I’m supposed to be somewhere.

But it’s so difficult to notice the small things that succeed: the dishwasher worked as it should, the wind that blew the leaves off my trees onto the driveway also managed to blow the majority of them into the street, I ate a piece of chocolate, my neck and knees feel normal.

We choose to let the failures affect us more than we choose to let the successes empower, ennoble and enlighten us. Your essay was a wonderful reminder that in every moment we have this choice, and I choose to appreciate it!