10_17_2020

Appreciating Each Day

                I find it helpful when I am periodically reminded that I have a lot to do with how I experience each day in my life.  None of us have full control over how each day unfolds.  BUT, we do have control over how we choose to welcome and greet each day.   

I doubt that anyone would argue with my assertion that we are all living in the midst of some challenging circumstances presently.  Many people are carrying burdens brought on by the Pandemic.  They may be concerned about the impact of the restrictions in place on their children, or they may be trying to juggle assisting children navigate virtual learning environments.

                Some, if not all of us, are concerned about contracting the virus and the disruptions that could cause in our immediate and future abilities to function in healthy ways.  If we are over a certain age, we are aware that contracting the virus could ultimately end our lives.  We’re all having to become more self-reliant as some of the support service that have been readily available to us are no longer available or are considered safe to access.

                Many of us are worried about our financial situations, and if not ours, that of our children who are not in a position to be as financially secure as those of us who have had more time to build up our assets.

                I am witnessing the range of impact that social distancing is having on people.  For people who are less comfortable spending time alone, the lack of opportunities to engage in social contact is very wearing.  Even simple gatherings like meeting at a favorite restaurant for a meal are still pretty much off limits.  The space in which one lives matters as well.  One of my dear friend’s mother moved into an independent living complex almost two years ago.  She moved from a two-story, six-room house to a small apartment that consists of living room, small kitchen, and bedroom.  Because the residents are over the age of 70, they were confined to their apartments for nearly four months.  Meals were delivered daily, and they could sign up for a brief time to walk outside, weather permitting.

                On another note, I have friends who chose to downsize from a home to a small apartment or condo, and they too, have been confined to spending their days in a small living space.

                By contrast, I am still in my home of many years, and I have more choices to consider regarding how and where I spend time.  I have a yard with multiple gardens, and all of these “blessings” also require some level of maintenance in order to be able to fully enjoy them. While I might think of these blessings as chores, I think of them not so much as chores but as areas of my life that call for attention if I am to enjoy them fully.

                And we have been living in a contentious political environment for some time.  Depending on the level of concern that we feel for the future of our country, those anxieties are tapped into each day as one takes in the news.

                How then, can we go about setting our intentions to celebrating and enjoying each day as we make our way through this stressful period? 

                When I first wake up in the morning, my feet don’t hit the floor instantly.  Instead, I often make use of the snooze alarm on my phone.  I like to wake up slowly, and often if I go to bed early enough, I find I wake up before the alarm.  I use this time of transition in several ways.  I usually begin with some gentle stretches, checking in with how my body feels.  Fortunately, I usually feel surprisingly good.  Next I check in with my mental/emotional spaces.  If I am aware of dreams that I have experienced during the night, I try to bring them into clearer focus.  This effort many times allows me to connect the dream with something I have experienced lately.  It is fun to tap into these connections, as my dreams often reveal to me some of the underlying emotions and pulls that I haven’t yet processed from recent events.

                The icing on this process if thinking about what I want to add into my day to bring some joy into it.  There’s always something I can adjust a bit to enrich my options that day.  I might decide to walk in a nature reserve nearby instead of my usual walking paths.  On a beautiful day, taking in the extraordinary beauty that one can find in a tree-lined environment and all that if offers is quite uplifting.

                I might decide to bag my chores for the day, and instead decide to spend the day preparing food for the next several days.  This usually requires searching for new or favorite recipes that I haven’t made in a while.  With the arrival of cooler weather, I look forward to having a soup simmering during the day, and of course, there’s the delight of baking homemade bread.  After baking some scrumptious delights, I find myself going for a short walk just so I can have the pleasure of opening the front door and experiencing the wonderful, comforting aromas.

                And there are days where I just decide that I think of as my indulgences.  These usually involve curing up  with a good book, and just enjoying escaping into another world.  Reading for me is such an enriching experience.  Good writing whether it is fiction or non-fiction allows me to deepen my understanding an appreciating the human experience.

                We are so blessed to have the gift of life.  It is this very gift that I have come to appreciate more and more as I age.  It is also this gift that opens my heart and mind to accept the possibility of a Divine Source.  I’m not opposed to calling the Source, God, as I have become more comfortable inviting some of my early learnings about God back into my life.  I have been able to render some of those lessons into a version that is more in line with other parts of myself.  I know longer visualize God as he was depicted on holy cards.  I can accept a God without picturing him as white, whit a beard and blond wavy hair.

                And the last think I say aloud before my feet hit the floor is, “Thank you for this gift of another day of life.  I am grateful for the many blessings and gifts that have been bestowed on me, and I will use this day in a way that honors and celebrates them.”