04_04_2021

Attitude Adjustments Are Within Our Reach

My day today was packed so I didn’t get a chance to walk until late in the afternoon.  What a gift!  I was listening to myself be annoyed over silly little things throughout the day and decided I needed an attitude adjustment.  The goddesses of our spirit  cooperated as the weather was perfect: sunny, no wind, with temps around 50 degrees.

Surprisingly, given the lovely weather, I had a strong sense of stillness as it was quieter than I expected.  I saw few cars and even fewer people; perhaps given that we are in the midst of Passover and  Easter, people are away, or attending religious services. 

The stillness mutes the distractions and I feel like I notice more of what is happening in nature.  I love noticing the bright yellow daffodils, the intense purple of the johnny jump-ups, and the pansy baskets that are beginning to appear in planters on porches.

The colors inspired me to make a connection with the meditation series I am in the middle of.  Led by Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey, the 21-day series focuses on Getting Unstuck: Creating a Limitless Life.  Midway through the series, Deepak offers some tools to help us recognize when we’re getting stuck.  One such tool that I find helpful is to recognize when I’m going over the same issue repeatedly.  Basically, that repetition is a sign that I’m stuck. 

Recognizing that I am stuck is a clue that I need to find a way to adjust my attitude.  Putting myself in a new setting, especially one as beautiful as Springtime in New England, definitely lets me work my way to a better space.  As I was walking today, I leap-frogged from realizing I was stuck, to seeing color and beauty, to an awareness that our yearlong Covid experience may require extra effort to lift our spirits.

Thinking of Easter, I was reminded of the song and words of Irving Berlin’s, “The Easter Parade.”

“In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it,
You’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade.
I’ll be all in clover and when they look you over,
I’ll be the proudest fellow in the Easter parade.
On the avenue, fifth avenue, the photographers will snap us,
And you’ll find that you’re in the rotogravure.
Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet,
And of the girl I’m taking to the Easter parade.”

Hearing the words resound in my head, I started thinking about what drove people to get all dressed up, sporting their unique Easter Bonnets, and parade on 5^th Avenue.  I decided that putting  effort into creating spring outfits was a form of “adjusting their attitudes.”  They used color, replacing the darker tones of winter as a way of stepping out, expanding their lives. 

We can do the same, and we may need to anticipate that it might take more effort this year as we are still in the period where we need to be mindful of ours and others’ safety.  The inspiring words in the meditation series remind us that we can introduce something in our lives every day that helps renew us.  We always have access to our inner creativity, and if we feel we’re not that creative, the Internet offers us a rich resource to Google ideas to inspire us.

I’m definitely conscious these Spring days about dressing in lighter colors.  Women have the gift of accessorizing, and scarves go a long way in adding variety and color.  Spring hats are another way to dress up an outfit.  Hats can be practical, funky, chic, or elegant….we have many choices.  One of my pleasant discoveries during this period that has eliminated our shopping excursions is that I have looked to make better use of the clothes I already have.   I may not have been so adventurous had I been able to add in “something new.” 

 Working with food is another way to get unstuck.  I decided I wanted to cook something special for Easter, so I started digging through my stash of recipes.  I have a big accordion folder with labeled pockets of different meal items, e.g., salads, soups, main dishes, desserts, etc.  I came across a recipe for potato waffles, and I was hooked.  I did a little research and learned that there are recipes for savory waffles, many of which have a potato base. 

My Easter plan is to do some innovative cooking, start re-potting my containers to prepare them for new plants in May, and just enjoy what is predicted to be a lovely Spring day.  I may create my own Easter Bonnet to wear on my walk.  We’ve all been through a lot in this last year, and each step we take, can help us feel hopeful and renewed. 

However you choose to spend your day, I hope you find some small way to experience at attitude that offers insight on ways to grow, create, and expand your life.