(This woman is meant to be jumping for joy – print and original available here.)
(Quotation by Richard Wagner)
I must tell you that being healthy again after being under the weather for a few days has really given me an opportunity to love the life I live. (OMG being feverish and ill as a mother is dreadful.) Mr. B was laughing as I told him about my trip to the grocery store one morning this week. I could not walk slowly enough to take in the marvel of it all – the colorful flowers, the fresh fruit, the magazines at checkout. Amazing the choices we have, isn’t it? And there were so many people to exchanges smiles and greetings with! I really believe 99.9% of people are good eggs. We’ve got out outshine that other 0.1% that are getting lots of attention lately.
This shift has carried over to everything. Getting dressed in the morning, I am so happy to not be wearing my pajamas and to be moving my body! I choose comfortable clothes. I reorganized my closet. (Yes, again. Sssh.) I enjoy doing laundry, loading dishes into the dishwasher, holding hands with my daughter as we go about our day, snuggling her to bed at night. I am just having so much fun being alive and healthy!
This post on Momastery says it all. And I am completely adopting Glennon’s word “perspectacles.” I, too, feel grateful for everything we have and get to do in this first-world life of air conditioning and Target stores and ice cream and friendships and books and medicine and enough of everything we need.
I just feel so JOYFUL all of a sudden! I want to smile and sing and hug people. Lol. I had a delightful shopping trip to get a pair of khakis yesterday. I was humming along to myself when picking out some things to try on and laughed about it with another lady when she starting singing my song. In the dressing room, I literally told myself out loud, albeit quietly, “No judging allowed” and someone a few dressing rooms down said, “Amen sister!” It was so fun! And then the check out lady and I had a lovely chat as if we were in a small town and we knew each other, all about school starting and her job and wishing for a break in the humidity and heat. It was so fun, I tell you, and I do not for the life of me know why I made shopping for food or clothes or even just brushing my teeth into such a dreadful burden before.
I think this attitude is how we are meant to feel about being human beings, living in our sensory bodies. We are meant to delight in the wonder of things. I am sure of it. I am keeping my pair of perspectacles and wearing them proudly!
While I was making my artwork yesterday, my daughter made a canvas too and she said she wanted me to share hers here also “so [she] can be famous too.” I had a good laugh at that one! She probably will be famous someday, but I am famous only in her eyes. 🙂
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So good to feel the joy in your post, it’s contagious! Isn’t it funny to appreciate strange things as mums… I remember one time how I couldn’t wait to go to the dentist so that I could relax (I used to be absolutely terrified of dentists). I don’t know if that was your daughter’s intention, but I see a tree in her painting 🙂
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I totally see a tree in there too!
Yes, I love the dentist for that very reason these days. I think they should have a mani/pedi person there at the same time, and I’m honestly not sure why they don’t take that suggestion seriously.
YES! This is the way we are meant to live, taking joy and delight in the ordinary but amazing life around us! Love “perspectacles!”
Gail Haile recently posted…Something interesting in the ordinary
Thanks so much, Gail. 🙂
“Internet famous” is a kind of famous. It’s not always the kind of famous we’d want….
I am hoping for a good perspective change to slot into place soon.
SKJAM! recently posted…Book Review: Trafficking in Magic, Magicking in Traffic
You made me laugh out loud at that one!
You are blossoming before my very eyes! I LOVE the view from your perspectacles…
janet forrest recently posted…Our Justice System
I think your daughter is following the impressionist school of painting. Does she like Vincent Van Gogh? I completely agree with you that all of us in the 1st world are soo fortunate, and we ought to notice that. Those of us who can have some extra time and money to spare are even more fortunate, but somehow, we tend not to notice that consistently. What a good perspective you have captured in this essay! Last night, my grandfather Gross died at the age of 100. He had recently taken a major turn for the worse, and it wasn’t unexpected, but it does remind me that we only have so much time to live and love, and we need to make the best of every single day we get. He was very fortunate to still have all his wits about him, to be living at home, and to have the best of care, arranged by my aunt.
Lol. Yes, she DOES like Van Gogh actually. 🙂
Condolences on the loss of your grandfather, and I think you are right in that he lived a blessed life until the end. Mine is turning 90 next week and I am so glad for his health and good humor. So many people have told me I don’t even know how lucky I am to have a set of grandparents still alive, and I realize that is a precious thing. Realizing that we have an “expiration date,” no matter how far from now, does help us focus on living and loving from our hearts.
Thank you for your beautiful comment!
How delightful that she appreciates ancient artists. 🙂 I forgot to say something very important, that I am so glad you are feeling better!
It is so true! Everyday I feel good is a beautiful day. Gratitude overflows in the details. Great post
Thanks, Paula. When someone notices that it’s raining and says it’s a yucky day, I remember that the sun is shining above those rain clouds. It’s all perspective. 🙂