When I drive between my son’s preschool and work, I like to listen to audio-books in the car. I’m currently making my way through The Achievement Habit by Bernard Roth. There is a part where he describes a random streaker breezing through a lecture one day as a gift. The event changed the energy of the room to a more positive learning environment. He then goes on to talk about the importance of random gifts.

My random gifts for the past week or so – since I listened to that part – include a mangy coyote that trotted towards my house, a dance party, and a professional kudos/ compliment from one of my library’s administrators.

The mangy coyote was about a week ago and we’d had a hard frost the night before. I wrote a poem about it the next day:

Random Gift

Another morning like any other

Hurrying to get out the door.

C’mon kid, get your coat on.

Turn around and then

I see it ~ the canine trotting towards the door.

Not a dog, but a coyote – a young one.

And one with no hair on her backside.

Poor thing, on such a cold morning.

She went in front of the window

and around the side yard.

No garbage can retrieving this morning, little dude.

Stick with me.

In the car, we talked about the pup.

And why I felt bad for it.

My son assured me that he didn’t feel bad for it.

And as we rolled down the street,

I saw her again under the mesquite tree,

Eating something.

The coyote was a gift because it shocked me out of my regular routine and sparked a conversation with my son.

The dance party was a gift because I can’t remember the last one I had been to prior… Parties are always awkward, but I just focused on dancing and had a great time. And I got a great workout.

And the kudos/ compliment was also a gift.

Thank you for all the gifts.