We had a saying in Minnesota — “If you don’t like the weather, stick around, it will change…” My mother and I, during our times of discontent, winter or not, we made it our own.

I found her mid tears one day, sitting on the edge of her bed. Nose red. Eyes puffy. Kleenex in hand. Catching me, catching her (and weren’t we always doing that for each other) she breathed in deeply, wiped her face, stood tall, creased her pants legs with her palms, and simply said, “Stick around…” We both smiled. It was ours from then on.

Oh, I can still get myself lost in the seemingly forever of things. But I give myself reminders. A gratitude clicker. A new page in the sketchbook. An alternate recipe. Perhaps it’s too literal, but I’ve even recently made stickers. As I placed the first one next to the actual painting, I thought, “Stick around…” It still makes me smile.

I know the speed of time. I know how foolish it is to waste it with worry. So I place the stickers in sight. Even the stickers won’t last forever. Only another moment. But I look at them and smile, because in a moment of happiness is always a good place to catch yourself.