Yes, dear!

I think I’ve found the meaning of life. It was right in front of me. Let me explain. My wife was shopping last fall in Cape May, New Jersey. If you’ve never been there, it’s a quaint seashore town with Victorian-era mansions and small shops. I was along for the ride and was holding my own when we came upon a small wall hanging. 

The sign offered a list of suggestions to solve every problem that you might ever encounter:

• To improve your mood: Exercise. 
• To think more clearly: Meditate. 
• To understand the world: Read. 
• To understand yourself: Write. 
• To help yourself: Help people. 
• To learn faster: Have fun. 

I must admit that a minute before entering the shop I was complaining that I was losing steam. I thought we were done, and my wife saw something in the window that she wanted to look at closer. I shook my head yes, but I was done. Of course, I walked in and there it was, the answer to all my problems. 

When my wife saw me looking at the hanging, of course, she chimed in that I wouldn’t have found the answer to all my problems if we skipped the shop. Yea, yea, I let her have her laugh. And I’m not sure it touches every problem I might have, but I have to agree that it’s certainly some good advice.

If I’m in a bad mood, running or working out in the gym is usually a great place to start. If I’m trying to think more clearly, the best way to spend my time is alone with my thoughts 

If I’m trying to understand things better, reading is always my go-to resource. I’ve written a lot in my blog about how writing helps me understand myself better. When I’m helping others, I always feel like I’m helping myself. And yes, to learn faster, having fun is a great advice. 

Now if I could just find a sign to give my wife when she suggests stopping in one more store. Preferably it’s something better than “yes, dear.”

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