I’m 61. This is not one of my favorite things, but in the homestretch of having been alive, I have had time to collect a lot of favorite things; boats, tools, guitars exgirlfriends, your typical guy stuff. There are also favorite experiences like getting a gig playing music on a cruise ship,  scuba diving with my father, working on film productions, sailing around Vancouver island on an 80 year old sailboat. I guess that’s more guy stuff too. Then there’s a whole pile of favorite things, which sure didn’t seem favorite at the time, like when my boat sank, or seeing each of my parents die. Why would these be favorite? Why do I delight in such a monstrous memory of loss and betrayal? Every thing and every one in our lives is a gift. Not all gifts come with pretty paper and colorful bows. Loss of one’s own things is what compassion is borne of, and empathy is neigh impossible for an unbroken heart.  Carly Simon said it best, “.. there’s more room in a broken heart..”

I make people laugh. My best jokes come from my saddest days. “I will never give up my adandonment issues” for example. Would I have ever said, everything is forgivable if I hadn’t suffered from being unforgiven? I don’t think so, but that’s forgivable. Sadness is what love feels like when the pathway is blocked. The love is there all the time, it was there all the time. So, what’s the big deal?  When I get so depressed that I fall asleep in my clothes, it’s one of my favorite things to wake up fully dressed!  Is it possible, maybe even worthwhile, to make everything a favorite thing? Ever have  Ciguatera? Dengue fever? I have, add them to the list. A comment from another person here tried to invalidate me because I was Baker Acted once, her comment is now on the list. Lay it on sister, I got me some backbone, you are my new favorite thing. If you are ever in crisis, deep inside, you can feel it. You can feel it will someday be a wellspring to bank on. It is only a matter of time before it becomes one of your favorite things.