Colm O'Regan: Nine small wins to embrace this weekend

Hotels don’t have to provide a biscuit, but if they don’t, the weekend is off to a bad start

Colm O'Regan shares some of his 'micro-cheers' Picture: iStock

Did you ever have the definition but not the word and then the word was there all along?

Sometimes it’s a lovely word, sometimes it’s a vaguely corporate sounding one. Still though, I’ll take micro-celebration for now. Taking a smidge of joy from the small wins. When the Big Stuff is getting sweaty, at least the small stuff will keep you going. Here are nine tight away wins I’ll take for now:

One4all vouchers

They say “get your finances in order”. Yes clear your credit cards but how about an easier one? The one4all vouchers in your life. You might think it’s a voucher but because its monthly “service fee” erodes the value every month after 18 months, a one4all voucher is actually a metaphor for your own mortality and wasted potential. That burden you felt wasn’t unidentified trauma. It was the €23.56, €8.70 and €0.36 in your pocket. In the pocket of your mind.

Good pockets

Good pockets — it’s not just a feminist issue. Let’s salute those who make huge inside pockets. The gold standard is the classic denim jacket with its original A4 sized pockets for hats, scarves, flags, headbands, and cans. On a winter’s day you could bring enough accessories to keep you warm and still have that peaked-at-17 cool look.

A 'warmed-up' pen

Staying with temperature, cherish those ‘warmed-up’ pens. Bank counter ones are best. The one that makes you think you might have recovered your handwriting despite the last 20 years growing a big SmartPhone Thumb. Previous pens have made a fool of you. Your weak little Tyrannosaurus hands struggling to write your name. The counter pen is ready for you. Yes, it’s been used by many and now carries more organisms on it than a Wuhan wet market but for a brief while, you are a calligrapher.

The perfect Tupperware fit

Micro-celebrate the times you trust your judgement and just go for it. It in this case is the correct Tupperware for leftovers. That sense of satisfaction when the big pile of food from the pot fits perfectly in the container you picked from the drawer.

A leftovers binge

On the flip side, enjoy the Left Over Charcuterie board — a left over binge has doubled the available square footage of the fridge. What’s on the menu? Stew, half an apple, some blackpudding and a stir fry — and that’s just for starters.

I appeal to the hospitality industry for two Good Things that will make many micro-cheers. Two tiny acts of generosity that have a multiplier effect.

The hotel biscuit

The first is the hotel biscuit. Generally a Biscoff but I’ll take anything. They don’t have to provide a biscuit in the hotel. But if they don’t, it’s tough to look them in the eye. The weekend is off to a bad start. You’ve hauled the bags up and the area near the kettle is Tea, UHT and sweet FA. The spuds at the hotel breakfast better not be soapy.

Poppadoms

In the other situation, the service comes to you. It’s the Poppadom Number in the Indian takeway. The cheapest item of all is the nicest. The one that hits you at your hungriest. Those who are generous with the poppadoms shall inherit the earth —Jesus would have said if that particularly flatbread was an option.

Connection

Ultimately, what keeps us alive though, is connection. You may think you’re a curmudgeon, a Man named Otto, but we all crave connection. I’m talking of course, in case you hadn’t already guessed, about introducing someone who needs to get rid of topsoil, to someone who needs topsoil. It is the most basic of human needs — connecting two people in a soil-based transaction. There are so many walking around this world with a topsoil shaped hole their hearts and another group who have love (soil) to give in a hurry and the builders are due in on Tuesday.

Mr Big Stuff who does he think he is? The small stuff is where the micro-wins are.