Find the good, dammit, the good!

So one problem with a small town is that everyone knows someone who's lived in the house you're about to move into. And since all the rentals here are crappy, everyone knows someone who's hated the house you're about to move into. I hope that I am not that person who when somebody brings good news lets them know it's actually bad news. Because I hate that person -- what a jerk.

Tim and I have heard plenty about how this gross person once lived in our new house, and how that one lady did this or that to our new house, and how the house has bad heating, and how the landlord's a big jerk. But do these people think I'm blind? I have seen the house. I have smelled the house. I have talk to the neighbors. I feel like unless they are coming up and saying "Dear, you shouldn't have to live in that house. Here's $1000 a month for free -- go find a palace." Then they should probably just say, "Great! Do you love it? How can I help you?"

Anyway, I know everyone is just trying to help. I'll try not to be a jerk about it. But really it is something to think about. How do we respond to other people's good news? Do we look for the good? Do we listen to their good or what they want? Do we care? I want to be someone who sees the good in a bad situation for myself but also for someone else. How can I lift them? How can I make they're maybe bad situation actually okay? I think we all have this in us, but we have to be aware of it.

As for my crappy good situation, I know the heating sucks. I know the landlord has pissed off a lot of people. I know the house might smell a little bit like cat pee. I know I need to paint the kitchen myself. I know I have to carry all my crap four blocks to the new house. But really I'm so excited to have a beautiful place for my family to grow. A place where we can find the good and teach our kids to seek the good. A place where we can serve hot cocoa to neighbors all winter long as they finish their day on the ski hill next door. I can't wait for that. I'm excited for my kids to run around in the yard and through the trees. And all of that is good enough for me. I'm excited to leave this new (old)house better than I found it. That's the kind a renter I want to be. That's the kind of resident of Ouray, Colorado I want to be. I want to see the good, dammit.

And PS -- from where I am sitting on my old porch. I can see snow on the mountains and the sun on my face. It's awesome.