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As a practicing Roman Catholic, I find this time of year quite reflective, with yesterday’s Ash Wednesday observation (I always love a good smudge!) commencing the Lenten season. The period that prepares believers for Easter also calls them to make sacrifices and while I revere that practice and strive to carry through on mine each year, I am taking a different approach this time and am offering a top 10 list of blessings and delights that I do not want to diminish from my life now or for the foreseeable future.
10) The chance to cover your great stories: Long before I became a professional writer, I enjoyed hearing tales of people making any sort of positive waves and felt fortunate whenever in the presence of a striving individual. For nearly six years, I have had the fortune of chronicling your successes and have loved each minute of it. The more greatness I encounter, the more mature I become. Keep me evolving, everyone.
9) Music: I am set to see “Rain,” a tribute to The Beatles, my musical obsession, tomorrow at The Merriam Theater. The Liverpool lads and many, many other acts and composers have pulled me through some rough patches throughout the years, and I will always note how faithfully music has helped me to conduct my life no matter how much discord I have faced.
8) The comments sections on philly.com: What a guilty pleasure! The juicier the topic, the more descriptive our fellow Philadelphians become. I wish I had the will to stop, but enthusiasm for their input is my cross to bear.
7) Belief in the Flyers: I am 36 years old and have followed the Philadelphia Flyers for nearly two-thirds of my life. How many Stanley Cup-championship runs have I witnessed? None. Do you think I care? Long live the Orange and Black! (P.S. Please win the Cup this decade, please!)
6) Joy for the approach of spring: I have always favored the spring, like many of you, I suppose, and I know that no matter what the calendar says, we should always be hopeful for the arrival of joy and wonder in our lives. Spring just makes that directive so much easier.
5) Children’s laughter: From my second-floor space within The South Philly Review office, I see many children express utter joy over finishing school and reuniting with relatives. I value those moments and the times when I hear their playground frivolity when I head out for an assignment. Retain that glee, kids.
4) Pizza: I would have to surrender all claims that I have Italian heritage (and proud of it, too!) if I were not a fanatic of pizza. I even recall a couple times where I bellowed “Extra cheese” when needing to pose for pictures. I hope you do not find me absurd for loving curd.
3) Evening Facebook chats: I love sleep yet Facebook often proves an irrepressible siren most nights. Thanks to chats with established and new friends, I feel I have more resolve to look at my troubles, take a deep breath, and continue marching.
2) Expectations of a great life for my son: Set to turn five in June, my little guy astounds me each day with his compassion, consideration, and curiosity. If we are fortunate, I hope to say the same at least five decades from now.
1) The right to be happy: Knowing “the thousand natural shocks/That flesh is heir to” (Thank you for that gem, Mr. Shakespeare), I have often felt I do not deserve or merit a rich life. When reason returns to me, I realize I already have such an existence, and I will keep on valuing and being thankful for the beauty of each day. ■
Contact Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
