What Have You Done for Me Lately?

Some people have a memory like an elephant. The rest of us are lucky if we remember why we walked into the kitchen. I can’t tell you what my best friend said in seventh grade that supposedly changed my life, or why my favorite aunt once gifted me an entire crate of green apples one fall afternoon. (I’m sure there was a moral in there somewhere. Possibly about baking.)

If you’re someone who believes in something bigger than yourself—and you actually pay attention to the world instead of scrolling through it—you’ve probably had moments that made you stop and think, “How did that just happen?” The kind of thing that feels like a divine tap on the shoulder. Profound, unforgettable… until, of course, you forget.

A friend of mine keeps what she calls a God Wink notebook. I don’t usually journal—my handwriting alone is an act of penance—but the idea appealed to me. It’s simple, low maintenance, and doesn’t require me to turn it into another project. You just jot down the small miracles before they fade into the general blur of errands and emails.

At night, I try something called Three Graces: I look back on the day and name three moments of grace, kindness, or something beyond coincidence that reminded me life isn’t just isn’t random. If I’d written them all down, I’d have 1,095 little proofs of wonder by the end of the year. Instead, I can’t remember any of them beyond yesterday—and that one involved taking a photo of where I parked the car because by the end of the day I can assure you I would have forgotten what level it was on.

So that’s my modest proposal: write. Jot down the good things. The odd blessings. The quiet winks from the sacred. Then, when the world feels particularly stingy, you’ll have evidence to the contrary—and you can thank the divine for reminding you you’re still paying attention.