What Was Your Favorite Part of the Day?

Giv Thnx is a chance to acknowledge little things in life for which I'm thankful. It's not meant to be a Pollyanna take on the world. Goodness knows I read enough news online, watch enough, and talk about it enough to know the world is a tough, mean place. I mean, just look at the economy? New President can't even catch a break when Congress passes legislation that attempts to help things move upward - the market crashes in response. Anyway...

I'm starting this blog because lately something neat has been happening. I'm dating this nice guy, and when we stay with one another, we have a ritual before we fall asleep, snoring and farting. No, no, not that, gutter brain!

We play a game, I guess you'd call it. Each night we ask one anther "What was your favorite thing today?" I started asking on a day when we had been picking and bickering. I wanted to remember why I actually liked the guy.

Something unexpected happened, and that's what I want to talk about. It turns out, more and more, my "favorite thing today" is anticipating talking about my favorite thing. This game doesn't solve big personal, local, state or world issues - things such as losing a job, cities cutting back services in response to cuts to state aid and a tanked economy, Minnesota's multi-billion dollar deficit, genocide in Darfur, or a disappearing ice shelf and drowning polar bears.

But it has helped solve things in my relationship - hurt feelings, petty anger, fears of being disconnected. And it has opened the door to some tough conversations - where is this relationship headed, how are we going to get there, what about our finances?

I don't know how long it will work, or how far it will work.

But I am thankful I've found this little conversation to bring me closer to someone I truly care about. I do wish, though, that I had the insight and courage to try and to practice this while I was married.