“When we have a toothache, we know that not having a toothache is happiness. But later, when we don’t have a toothache, we don’t treasure our non-toothache.”
-Thich Nhat Hanh
Today was a great day.
The weather was just right: not too hot and not too cold. The sky was a brilliant blue. I didn’t oversleep. The puppy did not pee on the rug and my face did not break out. My children were healthy, they did not fight with each other, and I didn’t have to chauffeur them all over God’s creation. I had enough money to pay the bills.
Everyone that I love and care about is healthy and well. The phone did not ring with any bad news. The house merely looks lived-in rather than chaotic. Nothing alarming came in the mail. I didn’t have anywhere that I had to be. My knees didn’t hurt, and I didn’t see a single spider.
By all accounts, today was an ordinary day; almost boring in its simplicity and lack of interest. I’ve learned, however, that these are precisely the kinds of days that bring me the most pleasure. They’re the days when I am free to just LIVE without feeling, as I do most days, like a mouse on a wheel chasing an imaginary block of cheese. Today, my mind is calm and I have the rare pleasure of being able to hear myself think.
I don’t think that most of us appreciate ordinary days. If we do, it’s often only after we are deep in the drama of an unfortunate occurrence, or an illness, or something else that pulls the rug right out from under us.
Today, I am going to be grateful for Ordinary. I’m going to give thanks for Boring. I’ll tip my hat to Status Quo. And for today anyway, I’ll remember to treasure my non-toothache.
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I've asked myself recently, "If this were my last day on Earth, how differently would I be looking at things? What beauty do I miss in the ordinary day?" I'm definitely working on making a conscious effort to appreciate the everyday things rather than getting bogged down with little frustrations.
Thanks for a reminder.
Buckeyedoc - I feel for you! My dog is a barfer so a day without puke is a good one indeed. I admire your ability to turn your thoughts around amid the chaos and choose to feel more appreciative. I can usually find my gratitude when things are going well but it's a great deal more difficult when having a day like yours.
Julie - How true: There's always enough drama in the lives of others without adding our own to it.
Thank you all for taking time to leave comments. I truly appreciate them.
I like the idea of appreciating the Ordinary. Good post.
Cheers,
another Lisa