The Compound Effect

For the last couple of years, Ron has given each of the kids a book that really helped him during the previous year. This year the book he gave every one is called the Compound Effect, by Darren Hardy. Its a tiny book filled with how you do one tiny thing and it will have a compound effect on the rest of your life. He gave one to me as well as I wanted my own copy to write in and underline.

Ron also gave me a present that still makes me cry, because well, its very special.

Last year at the beginning of 2016, he started a small journal about me. Each day for 365 days, he wrote something nice. Every single day. He gave it to me on January 1st. My first thought was how on earth could anyone find 365 nice things to say about me? But, he did. Reading though it, is like a time machine. Everything that happened, things I forgot. Things that were so horrible I still can't think about them. Yet even on the lowest days, he could find some nice thing to say about me.

 

Some are funny, some are poignant. Do you know, I never even found out? I never even walked in while he was writing. When he is home we are always together so that amazes me.
I have to tell you, though. When I read in the Compound Effect that the author did it for his wife one year. I being such a idiot. I told Ron, " I hope you never do that for me." He went pale, but soldiered on. I knew I had hurt him horribly. When on January 1st came and  he showed me the journal I just wanted to die. I really was afraid to read it. I don't know what I expected. So we read it together, me crying, well crying most of the time and laughing. We had walked that same path only he had recorded it.
As long as I live, I don't think I will ever again receive a gift that has blessed and yet overwhelmed  me.

 

In my other life, I was a marriage counselor. When women would come to me with their issues I always started with this, go home and make a list of all of the qualities you like about your husband. Every day I want you to pray that list. More often than not the next week they would come back madly in love with their spouse.
Knowing Ron did that about me, just humbled me. I guess that was why I was afraid. I don't like being humbled.  I want to be the one who out gives him and he just out gave me as our soon to be president says, "bigly."

I have thought about this over and over. Did I want to share it? It really is so personal. I thought I would just because its so sweet.

I can tell you that my 2017 is off to a great start. We have lots and lots of rain in the forecast. Not to mention having this very sweet man I married. I am so glad he has never given up on me. Even when I am an colossal
b***-head!

~Kim~

A new year ... a fresh, clean start! It's like having a big white sheet of paper to draw on! A day full of possibilities! It's a magical world, Hobbes, ol' buddy ... let's go exploring!”

 Bill Watterson