Today is election day in the U.S. And this election is one of the most contentious in history. The subject for today's post isn't about the candidates or my views, though. It's about how different it was voting here in my newly adopted home. 

I know things are different this election year. That some places have voting booths with punch-card systems and others have written ballots. Some places mailed out ballots and allowed early voting while others made you wait until election day. 

Well here in Aspen/Pitkin County they had what I think is a perfected system. They mailed out ballots over two weeks in advance. And you could mail them in, or in my case I could take the 5-6 minutes to walk to the voting office and put it in the designated box myself in person. 

Yet I ran into a glitch. I went online (another service provided by my new, wonderful home town) and found out that my vote had been rejected. Eeep! I went to the voting office again and talked with someone there and found out that it was because they needed to get verification that I did, indeed, live here. I wasn't just visiting. Thankfully, it was straightened out and not only does it say online that my vote was accepted, I also got a text message confirming as well.

How great is that?  

I have a confession to make. I love soup. All kinds of soups. Or at least all kinds that fit my pescaterian diet. 

I also love "The Happy Page" on Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/itsthehappypage/  And their website:

http://www.lastlemon.com/

The authors/artists – by Lisa Swerling (Author), Ralph Lazar (Author) remind us of all kinds of things that can make us happy. Lovely, inspiring messages to uplift us – which we can all use. 

People ask me all the time why I chose Aspen as a place to live. After gesturing to the magnificent beauty of my surroundings, I also point out the cooler weather, which affords not only a more restful sleep at night but also an excuse to make a variety of soups. So far this winter I've made Creamy Potato, Shrimp Gumbo, Tortilla Vegetable, Clam Chowder and Black Bean soups. 

I'm not sure I'm as pure as Ludwig would want me to be, but I do love it. 

One of the greatest compliments I've ever gotten was when someone told me, "Brownell, you're the busiest person I know, yet also the most accessible."  

I loved that. Just as I love the quote for this post. I didn't know it was from Lucille Ball until I looked it up. That makes me love it even more. She was so much more than a talented comedienne and icon. She was a brilliant, driven businesswoman. 

As I look back on the 130+ days I've been here, I reflect on my accomplishments and progress. Have I achieved as much as I would have wanted to? What got in my way? What do I wish I had done by now? What do I want to do in the next 130 days?

While I'm not a "beat myself up" person, nor am I a "checklist" person, I do like to get things done. It's one of the things I love about my single lifestyle. Very few disruptions from things/people out of my control. So, as I look back, here's a quick top-of-mind list: Write a blog (almost) every day; Exercise (hike or walk) at least 6 days a week except during or just after the hospital trips; Start and work on a new book to come out in the next few weeks (more on that later); Meet quite a few new people; Trip to Taos and Santa Fe; Diligently fight evil on Facebook; Manage a great group on Facebook; Attend Aspen Film Festival; Write song lyrics; Co-Found the Aspen Screenwriters and Playwrights group. I'm sure there are other highlights to mention as well (like moving to a new city). 

Not bad, actually. And yet this past week has been that much more productive. Check in with me in 130 more days. 

One of my life's greatest luxuries is the opportunities to help others. To "reach out and touch." To, as this meme says, teach, encourage, instruct, etc. 

Some of us might not do this because we feel like we're more in "learning mode" than in "teaching mode." Or, said another way, we don't feel like we know enough to teach. And of course there is always more to learn, even if you have a P.h.D. 

But there is almost always something we know, some bit of knowledge or experience or wisdom that someone else might need to know. And if we don't reach out to offer that experience both people lose the opportunity to grow. The only way it can work is if one person openly admits that he or she has something he/she needs help with and someone else offers to provide that help. Like the Ric Ocasek (yes, the singer from the 80s band The Cars) suggests, if you don't ask for help, not only will you not get the help you need, but you'll also rob the giver of the chance to be helpful. 

Why this subject for today? Because yesterday I signed up to be a Mentor for a program here in Aspen. I've done a lot of teaching and training and public speaking but this is the first official mentorship I've participated in. I'm looking forward to it. 

Yesterday I met a new friend for lunch in a nearby town. Covering about a dozen topics, the list included the benefits in being single vs. being married. The whole "grass is always greener" discussion. I've always asserted that "The other side of relationship is freedom." So when I found this meme I thought it was a good one to discuss in today's post. 

When you're single, you have the freedom to choose what you do, who you see, what to eat, how to spend your free time, and so much more. 

It was refreshing talking with my (married) friend who understood and appreciated the freedom that comes with singledom. So many people – married or single – try to get you paired-up, like your life is half empty without a partner. 

We also talked about the whole "half-empty" analogy, within a different context. Yet another example of how society tries to get us to think that having a glass half-empty is a bad thing. Like we must be depressed without a full glass and should lament that we either didn't get our full share or we must be missing that first portion of the drink when there's still more left. 

Yet I assert (and my friend agreed) that half-empty is a GOOD thing! That a certain amount of angst is CRUCIAL for a happy, or at least a fulfilling, life. It's the basis of all creativity and innovation. If you've already heard the perfect song, why would you listen to anything else? If you have a favorite book, why wouldn't you read it over and over again instead of looking for another author? If you were thrilled with your cassette tapes, why would you consider an MP3 player? If the world was content (or, perhaps a better word would be complacent) with things as they are, they'd never strive for more. For different. For new. For better. 

When people ask me to define myself, I tailor my response to fit the audience, vacillating between saying I'm a writer, a marketer, an inventor or an innovator. The other day a friend called me a "creative mastermind." Yeah. I'll take that. 

And even though the lyrics are talking about something completely different, I can't resist…

I was talking with a friend the other day who suggested that she might not be as happy living here because she probably wouldn't be as interested in the groups I'm drawn to. Makes sense, of course. My rebuttal is that there are as many different groups here as there are diverse interests. You just have to find the ones that "fit" you.

Who are you? Who is your tribe? For many of us, especially those who stay put in the same location for many years, stay connected to the people we've known forever. Even if the only thing you have in common with them is a shared history. 

But one of the exciting things about moving somewhere new is that you can seek out your tribe. You can look for the people and causes and events that resonate with your vibe. For me, it's a wide variety. Guess it must be the Gemini in me. 

So in addition to becoming active in the writing and screenwriting communities here, I also felt drawn to check out the entrepreneur group here. What a delightful surprise to see the meeting so crowded! And in the off-season! I instantly volunteered to become more active. My goal isn't to get help with my businesses. I'm more motivated to help and mentor the others. Looking forward to it. 

While I do have an appreciation for the finer things in life, I'd rather find a good bargain than be one of those people who need to have the "best" of everything. And I most certainly don't need the "latest model." I honestly couldn't care less about impressing the Smiths or keeping up with the Joneses.

With a history of volatile income, from a decent salary to homelessness and food stamps, I've experienced the ups and downs (and can't) afford. 

When your finances are severely strapped, you experience what I call "the plight of the poor." You have no choice to either get the cheapest item which inevitably breaks, costing you so much more. Or you put off "preventive" expenses (like dentistry, automotive and medical issues) entirely, resulting in financial disasters.

So I had to make a choice when looking for ski boots. Do I get the less expensive boots, saving a lot of money upfront? Or do I go for it, getting the best? 

To me, the best is the one with custom orthotics that will be the most comfortable, allowing me to ski for longer and more days per week. The best is the one that will last longer so I don't have to replace them as quickly. The best is a convenient retailer who will guarantee fit and promise endless adjustments or replacement if needed. 

So when I found a "locals-only" sale at that retailer I went for it. Oh yeah, and they're cool-looking too. 

I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

We have 61 days left in the year. Sixty-one days to accomplish the New Year's Resolutions we pledged ten months ago. 

I'm saying this a little tongue-in-cheek, because I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions per se. I do think the new year is a great time to reflect on the past year and project your anticipations of the next 365 days. What did you accomplish? What was a surprise, good or "bad?" How did your "oh, wow" moments compare to the "oh, crap" ones?

What a difference a year makes. Or perhaps just 365 days. 

There was a part of me that wished I'd started this blog in January, mainly because it would feel clean. Defined. 

But then that's not what life is about, is it? Life isn't "clean." It's complicated and messy and miraculous and mysterious. 

I personally believe everything happens for a reason. Heck, I literally "wrote the book" on things happening for a reason – and what the reasons are. (My book Five Reasons Why Bad Things Happen: How to Turn Tragedies Into Triumph.) The reasons are complicated (hence a 300+ page book), but suffice it to say that some are predetermined, some we consciously create and some are influenced by outside forces. More on that later.

Let's get back to the 61 days. What will you do to "catch up" to where you thought you'd be by the end of the year? And perhaps more importantly, how will you treat yourself if you fail? If you succeed? Is there a difference?

And here's a song that I'm listening to right now. I love discovering new artists!