This morning, I went out for another early-morning drive, and Apple Music decided I needed to hear Jason Mraz’s “3 Things.” It’s one of my favorite tracks, especially on mornings when I’m not entirely sure how I feel about myself or the world at large.
Sometimes the algorithms scare me with how eerily accurate they are, like they know exactly what I need to hear before I’ve even had my first sip of caffeine or figured out what mood I’m in.
In case it’s not blatantly obvious, I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately—a wee ennui, if you will. Nothing major or too dramatic, just that quiet restlessness that tends to creep in between seasons. The days grow shorter, the air turns cooler, and suddenly my to-do list feels heavier than usual while my motivation goes missing in action.
Judging from my dears, nears, and queers, I’m not the only one. The collective vibe seems to hover somewhere between “figuring it out” and “faking it till we make it.”
So today, I’m giving myself permission to slow down.
To drive, clean, hang out with my best friend, and listen to songs that remind me how to feel happy again. And in honor of National Chicken Soup For The Soul Day, I plan on having a big bowl of soup. Or three.
The thing about “3 Things” is that it’s about perspective and process. It’s about not getting stuck in the mess, but moving through it step by step, verse by verse:
“There are three things I do when my life falls apart:
Number one: I cry my eyes out and dry up my heart….
The second thing I do is I close both of my eyes
And sing my thank yous to each and every moment of my life….The third thing that I do now when my world caves in
Is I pause, I take a breath and bow
And I let the chapter end….
Gentle wisdom wrapped in a happy melody. It’s exactly what I needed to hear today. Maybe the song speaks to you too.
Here’s to letting music, friends, and some chicken noodle soup help mend my soul and find my way back to center. I don’t have to fix everything at once. Or have all the answers. I just have to keep showing up. I just have to keep trying.
Thank you for being a friend!
Clint 🌈✌️
P.S. What’s a song that helps you get out of your head and touches your heart?
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FYC = FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
ON THIS DAY = NOVEMBER 12
BIRTHDAYS
1840 = Auguste Rodin = French artist
1889 = DeWitt Wallace = American publisher and Reader’s Digest co-founder
1892 = Mary Baxter Ellis = British commanding officer of FANY 🌈
1915 = Roland Barthes = French literary theorist and philosopher 🌈
1929 = Grace Kelly = American actor and Princess of Monaco
1930 = Bob Crewe = American singer-songwriter and producer 🌈
1943 = Brian Hyland = American singer
1943 = Wallace Shawn = American actor, comedian and playwright
1944 = Al Michaels = American sportscaster
1945 = Neil Young = Canadian singer-songwriter
1949 = Jimmy De Sana = American photographer and artist 🌈
1958 = Eric Marcus = American writer and producer 🌈
1958 = Megan Mullally = American actor and singer 🌈
1970 = Tonya Harding = American figure skater
1976 = Tevin Campbell = American singer-songwriter and actor 🌈
1978 = Céline Sciamma = French screenwriter and director 🌈
1980 = Ryan Gosling = Canadian actor, producer, and singer
1982 = Anne Hathaway = American actor
1989 = Doctor Mike = Russian-American physician and YouTuber
EVENTS
1936 = The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge opens to traffic.
1954 = Ellis Island ceases operations.
1976 = The Boy in the Plastic Bubble premieres on ABC.
1990 = Tim Berners-Lee publishes a formal proposal for the World Wide Web.
1992 = Absolutely Fabulous premieres on BBC2.
1999 = Dogma is released in theaters.
HOLIDAYS + OBSERVANCES
PORTRAIT + QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.”
Auguste Rodin
Clint, My grandmother had it right, at least about the Chicken Soup! Fondly, Michael
Love this post. Also never heard this song. There is so much hope in its melody. Love it. Thanks for that reminder Clint.