I realized this past weekend that while having a list of rewards is great – you can easily pull one from the list when the time comes to celebrate an accomplishment – spontaneous rewards are especially wonderful.
Spontaneous Reward: A circumstance that pops-up unexpectedly and where taking advantage of the moment, in recognition of completed milestones, brings total delight.
Here’s an example. Over that last month I completed several smaller milestones but had not stopped to recognize the progress I had made. And this last weekend, as a strategy to keep moving forward on the writing of our Launch Your Tomorrow books, Melissa and I holed up in a Best Western on Bainbridge Island to work. And work we did. I finished a solid draft on Chapter 6 amongst other things!
On Saturday, we took a break in the late afternoon to get some fresh air and then dinner. Walking through downtown Winslow, I spied a tucked-away little shop called The Lost Quill. Intrigued, we opened the door and walked into another world. Everything about it was wonder filled. My senses were tingling in that way where you know you are in for something special. The glass and wood cabinets display beautiful fountain pens made from coconut wood, aluminum, resin, sterling silver as well as other writing implements. There were several secretary desks open with books, papers, ink wells and quill pens on the writing surfaces and treasures peeking out from the cubby holes. The wooden table held calligraphy works in progress. Books, chairs and pictures all conveyed a warm, cozy, welcoming place that drew us into an older time. I could smell the alluring combination of books, paper and rose-scented ink. Annabelle spoke with passion and a charming accent. And then we got to hold and try out the fountain pens until we each found one that fit our hands and writing style perfectly. The right heft, ink flow and, in my case, sturdiness of the nib (I can use a lot of pressure). I actually love to write on paper (a somewhat surprising pleasure considering almost 50 years later I still vividly recall getting a C- in penmanship in Second grade and am mad about it to this day). The whole experience of being in the shop, talking about the art of writing and finding a perfect expression of the art left both us grinning from ear-to-ear – thrilled with the whole experience. And each time I use the pen, I will associate it with the writing of our books.
We chose an unexpected reward that we couldn’t have dreamed up and put on a list. I now love
the idea of purposefully saving a few rewardable events so I have an opportunity to relish that moment when I claim an unanticipated experience for a few jobs recently well done.
And as a bonus, I have a new reward for my list – taking a penmanship class at The Lost Quill. Perhaps when I complete Chapter 7.
I’ve included a picture of my new pen in its fabulous Liberace’ish box. It needs a name. Any ideas?