Livin' the Highlight...

I can't really tell you exactly when my obsession with writing utensils began, but I can tell you my textbooks in college never sold back to the bookstore for much due to my, at times, excessive use of highlighters. I actually bought one of "those" used textbooks once and vividly remember cursing the former owner. "Seriously? Did you really need to highlight the captions under the pictures too?" Little did I know I was looking at the work of a fellow HE (Highlighter Enthusiast for those of you unfamiliar with the acronym).

There's a lot to love about highlighters...the smooth application, the bright colors, the fact that they highlight stuff - you know important stuff. Perhaps there is a direct correlation to my love of highlighters and using exclamation points, I don't know. But I do know I often talk quite loudly and can sometimes find a reason to shout, in a happy way, about seemingly "small matters." For example, A Jimmy Johns sandwich shop is going in a shopping center that is blocks from our house! Robbie was driving and I looked to my right and there it was and I got very excited...I think my exact words were, "OH MY GOODNESS!!!! THEY'REPUTTINGAJIMMYJOHNS R I G H T T H E R E!!!!!!!!!" Let's be honest here, as a highlighter enthusiast, if I could have visually highlighted the words for Robbie I would have....in pink.

I suppose, given my personality, highlighters just make sense. In fact, going back to school was a real treat because I suddenly had a really good reason to buy highlighters, in every single color available. Much like purchasing a new notebook, purchasing highlighters can, at times, be, well, exciting. Yeah, I said it.

So you can imagine my joy (or maybe you really can't, I'm just not sure) when I started my new job and found highlighter usage was to become a very regular part of my work day. I get to use them on all of my paperwork and I also get to use them to assist patients with their schedules. I have even taken to choosing colors based on the person I am helping. Breast cancer patients typically get pink, unless they comment on how pretty one of the other colors are. More often than not I allow the patient to choose their highlighter color with the attitude of, "Hey, I just scheduled your entire week with nothing but day long chemo treatments, the least I can do is let you choose the color highlighter I am going to use!" I suppose when so much of your life feels completely out of your control making this seemingly small choice might mean more, or maybe the bright color might brighten a day, or maybe a connection might be made - more humanly colorful. I don't really know, I hope, but I don't really know. One thing is for sure...the HE in me recognizes the power of highlighting important dates and the importance of positive encouragement. Now, if only I could find a good reason to incorporate ribbon into the course of my day...

Comments

Anonymous said…
Have you seen the miniature Sharpies? Every time I see them I think hard about how I could use them, they are so cute! Once I figure out a use they are so mine...Mom
10:49 PM
Anonymous said…
I sometimes put the mini sharpie on my key ring and use it at work. I never have to look for a pen! I lost my last one but this reminds me to get a new one. So thats my advice. Put it on your key ring.

Brent
11:57 AM
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