Three good things

Three good things. This is a short practice for the end of the day. You look back and find three things that went a little right. They can be very small. A cup of tea that was hot. Small is the point. Sit or lie down. Eyes closed, or resting on the floor.

One slow breath out.

Let the day pass in front of you, from the morning to now. Do not search hard. Let the small things come up on their own.

The first thing. Say it in your head, plainly. Only what it was, not why it mattered.

Stay with it a moment. Where were you? What did it feel like?

The second thing. It can be even smaller than the first.

Stay with it.

The third thing. If nothing comes, choose something ordinary. You ate. You got home. You are resting now. Those count.

Now hold the three together, like three small stones in your hand.

On a hard day the mind tends to keep what went wrong and drop what went right. This asks it to keep three things for a minute. The hard parts are still there. They do not need the whole day.

One more slow breath out.

When you are ready, open your eyes if they were closed. If you like, tell the three things to someone at home, or write them down. Then go on with your evening.