just say no to no

there is a certain somebody in this house who (almost) always says "no" first--literally AND figuratively. if you need help with something or need a little positive reinforcement...you'll always get a negative joke or a downright NO first. and while they usually end up helping nicely afterwards, it just sort of ruins me for them for a while. if i'm asking for help it's because i need it. you can bet it's been a long day with jubal, full of chores and tasks and half-finished-need-to-get-back-to *stuff* and i wish people would consider the other person before they just say no, or say something negative. i'm probably tired and i ALWAYS benefit from a kind word and a supportive gesture.
it seems so much better to me to be positive as much as possible. i try and do that in my daily interactions--i don't always succeed! but i do try. there's so much in the daily grind that wears a person down, whether it's a long day at the office or jobsite, or a seemingly endless pile of laundry and not enough hands to prepare dinner with. at the end of the day, it's so nice to have a partner and a family to relax into. i encourage everyone to make a soft place for your loved ones to land. help out with a smile. surprise someone with a nice rub or a break from making dinner. do that chore you've been putting off that's driving your spouse nuts. just say something kind and unexpected. right now.

gratitude abounds: 1) thanks to rodney for rubbing my tootsies at the end of the day 2) thanks to wyatt for learning "sit" like *that*! 3) thanks to vesta for helping out with the baby and the piles of laundry 4) thanks to hazel for spontaneous, beautiful gifts 5) thanks for my bed, in which i am going to sleep very well tonight.