Summary

The author discusses the importance of reminders in daily life, from watering orchids to maintaining a routine of gratitude, and how technology aids in remembering tasks and appointments.

Abstract

The article reflects on the significance of reminders for maintaining personal routines and appreciating life's moments. The author, who waters orchids weekly, uses technology such as pop-up notifications and calendars to stay on track with various tasks. These reminders serve not only practical purposes but also emotional and spiritual ones, like honoring a friend's memory through astronomy pictures and maintaining faith through weekly church attendance. The author also emphasizes the role of community, like friends who provide writing prompts, in helping to remember important activities. The piece concludes with the author's commitment to starting and ending each day with gratitude, facilitated by the reminders he has set in place.

Opinions

The author values the use of reminders to stay organized and mindful of important tasks and moments.
There is an appreciation for the role of technology, such as PC notifications and iPhone alarms, in helping to remember responsibilities.
The author believes in the importance of humor and the beauty of the universe as daily reminders to enrich life.
The practice of gratitude is seen as a crucial part of the author's daily routine, aided by digital reminders.
The author suggests that reminders are particularly important for older individuals to maintain their daily activities and commitments.
There is a personal connection made between the act of watering orchids and the broader theme of nurturing aspects of one's life through consistent reminders.

Reminders

We all need them

As I came into my office this morning, I saw my two orchids atop the bookcase by the window. They spoke to me in their beautiful silent language: today is watering day.

Some months back, when I got my second orchid (after the first one had shed its blossoms), I set a pop-up reminder on my PC. Every Thursday at 8:00 a.m. it reminds me to water them. (I put four ice cubes in each pot. The recommendation that came with them said three cubes, but with the winter air so dry in the house, I increased it to 4. The orchids seem to like the additional moisture.)

That pop-up notification to water the orchids got me thinking about the importance of reminders and how much we need them to stay on track.

As a result, I went to the mall and found two tear-off calendars — one for my desk and one to sit beside my computer. (They were on sale, two for the price of one.) I got a fun Far Side calendar and an Astronomy calendar with pictures of galaxies, nebulae and such. The former reminds me to include laughter and humor in my day; the latter tells me to appreciate the beauty of the universe and all the vast and mysterious objects it contains.

The astronomy calendar will also remind me of my friend Art Kotz whose funeral I attended yesterday. He was an amateur astronomer who took some beautiful, professional-quality astrophotographs much like the ones on the calendar.

Maybe it is age-related, but I need all the help I can get to remember even important things. If I get involved reading stories or writing one, I forget everything else. My wife even has to remind me to take breaks. I truly have a one-track mind.

So, I put all my appointments on my computer and on my iPhone. Still, if I’m away from my PC and don’t have my phone with me, I’m a hopeless case.

As some of you know, I attend church weekly either online or in person. Ancient wisemen (and women) realized that we need to be reminded weekly of important things. We need it to keep our faith strong.

A Quaker friend once quipped: a week without a meeting makes one weak! (I laugh, but the truth of the saying is evident.)

We humans, and especially we older humans, need reminders. Even to do important things like writing our next story, it helps to have people like my friend Trista Signe Ainsworth help us remember to do so with prompts and weekly challenges.

I just brewed myself a cup of tea. To get the taste the way I like it, I let the bag steep for 5 minutes. To insure I don’t forget and leave it in too long or take it out too soon, I set a timer. (Don’t you just love technology?) My formula for the perfect cup:

1 bag + 1 cup of boiling water + 5 minutes brewing = 1 perfect cup of tea.

(OK, the instructions say 4 minutes, but I like a stronger taste.) The important point is to have a reminder so you get a consistent, pleasing result. (Isn’t that true of life as well?)

When I got home from buying the calendars and set them in appropriate spots on my desk, an alarm sounded to notify me of my haircut appointment. (I’d be hopelessly lost without my iPhone and PC.)

Now, with my ears “lowered,” I feel like a new man ready for my next appointment, which will be in about an hour — my daily Gratitude Pause. At that time, my PC will tell me it’s time to pause and think of one thing (or more) that I’m especially grateful for today.

If I get stuck or if I’m not feeling particularly grateful, I can always refer to my gratitude list that I composed a while back and add to from time to time.

That Gratitude Pause helps me remember that “gratitude” is my guide word for 2022.

= = =

I started my “work” day with a 45-minute Quiet Time by reading devotions, praying, and journaling. I’ll end this part of the day with my Gratitude Pause. My plan is to start and end each weekday with a time of gratitude. My hope is to continue the practice throughout the year. Care to join me?

With the reminders I’ve set in place, I’m confident I’ll be successful.

Happy Reading, Writing, and Connecting, with reminders in the days and weeks ahead.