(Written Thursday, January 9,
2014) --
On any given day there are those moments that touch us. We respond to various events with a variety
of emotions: from happiness to sorrow, from the purest joy to the most
heart-rending sadness, from the serenity of peace achieved to the fire of anger
erupting. These feelings tell us we are
alive, that we are sentient beings whose time is measured in a myriad of sensations.
My day today has caused me to think
(and babble in print) about how we often say that something "made my
day." Some days, like today for me, it's hard to choose which of the day's
happenings might have been the "one."
The truth is that there have been many and the day isn't over yet. As I reflect on these moments, I realize that
a big part of finding the joy is acknowledging it when it is felt.
Many
of us can relate to the joy and magic we feel when we watch a perfect
sunrise. Though I didn't see a spectacular sunrise
this morning like thos, I did begin my day today with a view of the sunrise through the
window in our front door in Charlotte.
Our house is positioned to see the sun come up through that little half
circle that perfectly frames it. On many
days, like this one, I have that early morning joy of seeing the sun's early
light there.
Then there was the phone call with a
longtime colleague and friend that I've not spoken to in a few years. He is brilliant and eloquent and shared his
newest venture with me. He has found new
challenges in his life, living in a new city, reaching new goals. His voice was filled with all the positive
spirit I've always found there and enjoyed.
Our chat was thought-provoking and nurturing, inspiring and
engaging. I've missed our talks and
relished the minutes we spent catching up and moving our thoughts forward
together.
There was our puppy, Sassy, happy to
see me when I picked her up from her grooming appointment, wriggling madly to
get into my arms. She bounced into the
house when we got home, showing off her new "do" with zest, prancing
and unwilling to stay still to have her picture taken, though Mike persisted
and finally captured her new look. That
done, she has spent every waking moment since in pursuit of her toys from one
end of the house to the other. She
supplies so many reasons every day for
joy and laughter.
Then we went to see the movie
"Nebraska," a marvel in black-and-white. A moving story and a great cast make this one
not to miss. The bleakness of the
landscapes and the almost bitter reality of the circumstances might be grim if
it were not for a script lavishly laced with humor, directed and acted with
sensitivity and authenticity. It's a
winner.
Drifting throughout the house this
day is the smell of a roast in the Crockpot, a mouthwatering aroma that's part
of a favorite dinner to be shared with our son and daughter-in-law this
evening. Some sensations, like the smell
of good food, bring an almost primal joy.
Now the sun is down and I missed the
gorgeous red glow that I often see through the trees on the back of the
property. I was reliving the joys of my
day at the laptop, so missed that one.
Those sunset memories are clear from many days past, so I have no
regrets.
I've been lucky enough to travel all
around the world. Those are sweet
memories that I cherish. What I
appreciate more each day are the everyday joys and a contentment--feeling all
the feelings, knowing that I'm capable of all these emotions because I am fully
alive. While I have the aches and pains
that come with age and the inconvenience of psoriasis, I am experiencing the
grace of retaining and even increasing my joy in living. That is, indeed, an amazing grace. My goal in this new year is to seek and find
the joy and be grateful for the gift of its awareness in all the days to come.
All photos by Mike Lumpkin
