I’ve always been fascinated by people who seem so certain.
Those who state their feelings like fact, or who offer up opinions as though they’ve got it all figured out. They’ve been there or seen it before and know exactly what to do.
I’ve rarely felt that way, and the older I get, the more humbled I am about how much I don’t know and how nuanced most “truths” are.
That being said, there are a few things I’m pretty sure I know for sure. Among them:
You won’t regret being kind. Do I sometimes lie awake at night thinking of a quick-witted retort I could have said in the moment? Sure. But I also know myself enough that had I actually said something cutting, I’d be losing even more sleep. Better to have the comeback play out solely in my head.
Good things can take time. I tend to be impatient, and when there’s something I want, I’m so eager for it to happen NOW. But I’m trying to see the beauty and the lessons in things taking shape slowly. It can be frustrating and sloggy and unsexy, but a steady slow burn often leads to somewhere great.
Love is the way. Simply put, we need each other, and love in all its forms make this life worth living. I’m reminded of this so powerfully as my kids have gone back to school this fall; after so much time out of the classroom due to the pandemic, they are thrilled to talk, play and simply be with other kids again. They need this connection, and so do we all.
Gratitude is the key. It unlocks the door to so much goodness. It paves the way for optimism and hope, and it washes light over the most mundane things, helping you to see them as the blessings they are.
How about you? What do you know for sure?
– Katie Vaughn
Photo by Katie Vaughn.
Katie Vaughn is the editor and co-founder of Northerly. She is a University of Wisconsin-Madison and Stanford University-trained journalist with experience as a writer, reporter, editor, blogger and author. She lives in Madison with her husband, daughter and son, and is always up for an adventure.