The Pema Chodron quote that Chel uses as her jumping off point is a great one:
“Rejoicing in ordinary things is not sentimental or trite. It actually takes guts. Each time we drop our complaints and allow everyday good fortune to inspire us, we enter the warrior’s world.”
–Pema Chodron
–Pema Chodron
What ordinary things do I rejoice in? Where is my everyday good fortune today?
*In the amazing shades of green I see all around me. (Especially if I don't look too far into the distance at the hills and their whiteness.)
*In the heavenly scent when I walk by the lilac bushes. That smell is truly one of my favorites of the season. I could stand there for quite a while... I almost inhaled a bee last week, so I'm looking a bit more closely now!
*In the plethora of tiny cherries on the tree just outside my office window. Now for them to grow and turn color and sweeten...
*In my sugar-cinnamon mix that makes my oatmeal just that much better. (It also doubles as a glorious toast topping too, of course!) I don't remember having it a whole lot as a child, but for some reason, sugar and cinnamon together just *seem* like a total kid thing.
*In clean sheets. Even if they're flannel. In May.
*In kisses. And hugs. I am blessed by human touch, every day.
*In the garden sprouts. They made it through what was supposed to be freezing weather on Saturday night (I don't think Mr. Weatherman knew what he was talking about. At all.), and are looking pretty good in spite of the downpour(s).
*In my relationships; the ins and outs and ups and downs of living with two men. I think I learn something new about each of them, every day. I really should be writing this stuff down!
*In my to-do list. It's long this week, as a result of my own putting things off, and having the urgent become dominant over the important... but the list has been written (and will be updated as needed), and I expect it will guide my week so much more fruitfully.
I'm still working on getting fully awake--the constant gray really makes it difficult to come out of dream land and into reality. So if you see this post changes and is updated sometime in the next day or two, it's because I DID finally wake up and needed to edit!
Off to be a warrior in this wet world!
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I could REALLY identify with so much of this! I really love being part of a small family- the three of us have a dynamic that is hard to describe, but it *works*. And it makes me happy to be within that energy every day.
ReplyDeleteLILACS! Lucky girl! I am looking into some dwarf lilacs that *might* make it here. The recommendations from people are mixed- some say they could make it through the summer, others say it would be an exercise in futility. But the smell might make all the work and possible heartbreak worth it.
Clean sheets- yes! I just got new ones, and although I was a little wary of them at first, I slept on them last night and it was heavenly. I change my sheets twice a week, sometimes more. I just can't resist the feeling of slipping between perfectly clean sheets for the first time.
I adore lilacs too...that smell is addictive! I learned to check carefully, tho, before putting my nose close to any flower: when I lived in Japan, I went to sniff a rose and a ginourmous SPIDER crawled out of it! YIKES!!!
ReplyDelete"I am blessed by human touch, every day." - BD (before Dave)I wasn't...but I am now :-) Nice one!
I'll be playing along today...but not til tonight, since I have a 6 month cancer checkup and want to see if I have a really good thing to be grateful for LOL!
The sugar and cinnamon thing should ring a bell...don't you remember spreading it across fresh bread? Those are two flavours that work for me, over and over!!
ReplyDeleteSo looking forward to our lilacs that we planted last year to make a break for it and show their stuff!!
And for your friend, Janet, there will be others thinking of you today as you go for your check up.
Thanks for this, Sherilee...and Chel.
All of those common miracles you mentioned are reason for rejoicing.
ReplyDeleteThis will be our first year since we planted several lilacs... so we are excited to see and smell and enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteWhen you mentioned the list thing, I thought "the fruit didn't fall far from the tree."
I am happy to see more people who are grateful of life and love to share.
Haha, I totally laughed when you wrote Eeyore-ish! I know how that feels...even though some might think it's all cute :) Great list...definitely stopping to notice the little things...shows us all a new perspective on things.
ReplyDelete