Hello, sun in my face. Hello, you who made the morning and spread it over the fields and into the faces of the tulips and the nodding morning glories, and into the windows of, even, the miserable and the crotchety – best preacher that ever was, dear star, that just happens to be where you are in the universe to keep us from ever-darkness, to ease us with warm touching, to hold us in the great hands of light – good morning, good morning, good morning. Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness. | MARY OLIVER
We have an amazing gift each and every day we wake up. We have life. We have breath. And with each breath holds opportunity to learn and grow and love and help and LIVE. I like to wake each day and actually count my blessings. I may not cover them all. It would be impossible to cover them all. But, to have this time of intention and awareness in gratitude sets the tone for my entire day. And collectively, these moments of gratitude, make me a happier more focused and balanced person.
This life is beautiful. We all have amazing gifts and opportunities for using them. If we don't give pause to reflect and recognize what we are actually doing here on planet earth... then what are we doing?
Give your smile. Turn away from griping and complaining and moaning and groaning and all the things that steal joy and block our ability to attract the good and wonderful. We all have aches and pains, challenges and obstacles and sadness... but we are all capable of basking in joy anyway! Isn't that powerful? We can even be grateful for the challenges... the closed doors, the hurts and failures and defeats... because they make us stronger. It's all about perspective. We choose how we interpret life. You are in control.
Feel the sun's warmth. That is for you. See the beautiful flowers. Those are for you. Breathe in the fresh air. Feel the breeze. Hear the laughter of your loved ones. Taste the sweet juices of life... how can we not be amazed at it all?
LOVE
first off, please stop telling everyone to turn away from moaning and groaning. personally, some of the best experiences of my life were spent doing just that and i wouldn’t trade them EVER for time spent letting the sun develop melanoma on my face.
ReplyDeleteThirdly, have you ever met somone like this? have you ever spent any time with someone who jumped out of bed, happy to see the sun rising, just waiting for you to stir and the first things from his dirty, ginger mouth were, "good morning brother! today is going to be awesome!" waking up to find your head sewn to the carpet is far preferable to this experience.
I suspect with a post like this you haven't. it is the darklness that makes the light possible and not ever the other way around.
First, there is a time for sadness and moaning and groaning. That is why I acknowledged that we all fall victim to it. The fact that there are peaks and valleys makes the good that much better... the light that much brighter. Have you ever spent any time with someone who mumbled and grumbled and complained all the time? I have (think Eeyore) and from my personal experience I realized my own tendencies for complaining and how boring it is for others to listen to. I'm not saying I don't have complaints... I am making a concerted effort to acknowledge whatever it is that is bothering me and then move on from it instead of letting it consume me. Also, you can appreciate the sun and its light without developing melanoma. I can create a separate post for you on all the ways to achieve this if you need me to.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I would like to point out that you jumped from first to third. What happened to second?
Thirdly... I am well aware of ups and downs and contrast and relief. Maybe it was my time in the dark that makes me... moves me... to write so much about the light.
“All censorships exist to prevent anyone from challenging current conceptions and existing institutions. All progress is initiated by challenging current conceptions, and executed by supplanting existing institutions. Consequently, the first condition of progress is the removal of censorship.”
ReplyDelete― George Bernard Shaw
I have a request! For your next post, maybe you could cover the topic of censorship and its relationship to the exchanging of ideas.
I felt like the back and forth that went beyond the first two comments was not relevant to this post... that's all. Your original comment ... a criticism of my optimistic tone... was left up and intact. :)
Delete