If you do something, then forget you did it, and come back to do it, only to find it’s already been done, that’s Act III Magic.
This week I looked at an item on my list: “make the bed.” Box unchecked. But when I walked into the bedroom to do it – behold! – the bed was almost perfect – not Suzanne perfect – but enough to take her off the suspect list. Sheets tucked tight, pillows lined up like choirboys. Did elves swing by? Eventually I was left with hypothesis that I actually did it myself and forgot while I went downstairs to grab something that I didn’t want to forget before I forgot it? Bottom line: I was left with the exhilaration of trying to decide what to do with this bonanza of free time? Write a blog on Act III Magic? (Unless I already did. Did I?)
That’s the beauty of Act III Magic. You think you’re behind, then discover that sometimes your past self has been quietly covering for you. It’s like fudgie oatmeal bars cooling on the counter in the house when you’re home alone. Confusing? Yes, but I figure I’ve plowed through some dark sides of Act III Magic, like when I dry myself after the shower and realize I didn’t rinse out the conditioner, so back in the shower I go (that’s how the hair care industry gets ya). So… yes, darn it!… Act III Magic owes me: pass the fudgies!
That’s the beauty of Act III Magic. You think you’re behind, then discover your past self has been quietly covering for you.
I’ve also noticed that in Act III, even the lists change. Once upon a time, I could just write “get ready for today” and somehow that covered exercise, showering, dressing, taking your vitamins, shaving, making the bed, studying something inspiring, and all the other things involved in being presentable for the world as a grouped task. Now? I have to ungroup them down into smaller chunks: “exercise,” “take morning meds,” “shower,” “get dressed” (had to ungroup the last two on account of that one time). It’s less “get ready” and more “Self assembly one piece at a time.” And every check mark feels like a small medal of honor. We must take them whenever we can get them.
A Fine Whine
So, yes. Sometimes the magic misfires in a bigger way and finds me looking at a bottle of pills in my hand and wondering if I’d already taken one while my brain must have been on Oahu for the last few minutes. But even these bigger blunders come with a lesson. In Act III, it’s not about perfect memory or spotless lists – it’s about forgiving ourselves for the slips and celebrating the small mercies when they appear. Life, it turns out, is still conspiring to give us little wins, but we may have to dig a little bit more to find them.
So if you stumble into a small miracle today, welcome it. Don’t dismiss it as embarrassingly insignificant. Just nod, smile, and say: “Thank you, Act III Magic.”
[Note to self: go through this post one last time to make sure I caught all the notes to self.]
I love this, Dennis! Well said. I will adopt your term!
Thanks, Beth. Big fan of your work. By the way, if you really want to ease your creative load, you should think about getting a nom de plume and splitting the work between you. #protip
It’s not whining if you have medical stuff. Detailed lists, I hear ya. Gratitude for life’s unexpected little wins: worth every smile.
Thanks, Michele. Let’s hear it for little wins!
#protip from an older pro — Get those pill boxes (the ones with extra-large compartments) that say not only the day but the time of day. Get Suzanne to fill a week’s worth for you. Doing this will lessen the chance of you finding yourself standing there looking at pills and wondering if you’ve already taken them. The tricky part will be remembering which day of the week it is, but you can always ask Alexa or Siri to tell you. Oh, and by the way, speaking of conditioner, have you washed your entire body with it yet? Or do you have that to look forward to? xo
You speak the truth. The great pill dilemma at the kitchen counter triggered a leveling up to where I now have plastic pill pouches labeled for not just times of the day but days of the week. I still manage the occasional fumble, but Suzanne kindly air traffics me around to an alternate runway. And as far as conditioning my entire body goes, maybe you’re onto a new way to get into condition. Must look into this…
You are your own elf! I’m my own good fairy.
So funny that I did that – the forgetting to rinse out the creme rinse – just the other day. It makes for drying with a damp towel the second time around, I must say…
Ah, yes. The luxurious experience that is drying with an already damp towel… pure bliss.
Good to know that it happens to the best of people!