When I began traveling with my husband, Tim, a manufacturer’s representative, I was determined to do what I could to make our travels more enjoyable. I left my position of 18 years as the director of a local Habitat for Humanity affiliate to be his travel buddy, and when I left that position, I jokingly told Tim I would need to direct something. And I’d definitely need a title. A relative overheard this conversation and in jest suggested, “Director of Happiness.” It stuck, and the pressure was suddenly on to live up to my new title.
At the top of my happiness list was my determination to introduce Tim to the idea of listening to music while driving long hours across our territory. This man can ride for hours and enjoy listening to only one soundtrack—the hum of the air conditioner. As the new Director of Happiness, I wasn’t having that.
I’m no singer, and those who know me well would affirm this, but boy, do I sound beautiful (I bet you do, too) while riding down the road, bellowing out my favorite tunes. I’ve convinced myself on quite a few occasions that I was surely on the way to stardom after a long trip and hours of making a joyful noise.
I quickly realized Tim was okay with the music idea, but my singing was a different story. So, in an effort to keep my new happiness title, I find myself occasionally caving in and actually enjoying the quiet, mind-numbing hum of the air conditioner.
One particular day, a long way from home and in the middle of nowhere, while waiting for a train to pass, Tim looked over and asked, “What are you thinking about?” I remember when we first started dating, he would ask me this same question, and I’d feel a bit put on the spot, like I surely needed to answer with something wise.
But this particular day, my reply was, “Nothing, what are you thinking about?”
He replied, “Nothing, that’s why I asked you!” Don’t we all find ourselves from time to time thinking about absolutely nothing?
It reminded me of a little plaque that for years hung in my Grandmother’s bathroom. It said, “Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits.”
Since last March, we’ve all done quite a bit of sitting. If I had to guess, I imagine a lot of you are like us and have found yourselves sitting and thinking about when things get back to what we all consider “normal.” We’ve also used some of our sitting time to think about ways we can serve our customers and the companies we represent in the best way possible, even if it’s remotely and while safely sheltering in place.
I think you would agree with me, more than ever before, we are very fortunate to work in the outdoor industry. We’ve all found a new appreciation for our outdoor spaces. Like so many of you, our outdoor space has been a refuge, a much-needed change of scenery (when there has been no travel), and a place to safely distance and enjoy the people we love. It’s a place to sit and think, and a place just to sit.
Like everyone else, we’re expectantly looking forward to what 2021 holds for us all, and of course hoping for an end to the pandemic. Meanwhile, I hope you will allow yourself to sometimes sit and think, and also give yourself a little time to just sit.
Jamie Wood of Southwood Marketing hits the road with her husband Tim, representing brands such as Telescope Casual in the Southeast.
