My new year is getting off to a very slow start. I haven't really made any new years' resolutions. But I'm thinking! It seems pointless when they're destined to be broken almost immediately. Which isn't to say that I'm not determined to improve this year!
Something has to give in my sewing room. I will organize it this year. I think that featured in my new years' resolutions last year. And, possibly, the year before.... And still it's chaotic. But this year will be different!
I will listen more this year. I've been getting better at this in recent years. Which is a struggle since, according to the OC, I didn't just kiss the Blarney Stone, I chewed off a piece of it and swallowed it.... I'm finding it's true what I heard when I was younger---You learn a lot more when your mouth is shut. My dad used to say "a closed mouth catches no flies!" I will be applying this particularly in relationship to my father-in-law. I will not roll my eyes when he embarks on the nine hundred and ninety ninth telling of the same story [in which he is the hero. As he is in all his stories.] I will smile and breathe deeply and let it wash over me like the teacher's voice on Charlie Brown.
I like Chani's suggestion of picking a word as a theme for the year. Her word is "reconciliation." A list of resolutions is cumbersome to remember, but even I could manage to remember one word, if only I could decide what it should be!
I also like Lily's idea of focusing on the "grace of small things."
It's so easy to complain. And discontent is contagious. Much better to find things to be happy about. We all have them, but we often take them for granted.
So. No procrastinating [another goal for 2009!] Here, without further ado are five things that made me happy today.
1. A crisp and shivery, cold-for-Florida morning.
2. A ripped pocket here, a dangling fastener there, fixed! Without making a federal case out of it.
3.A paper-thin disc of pale white moon in the cloudless blue of late afternoon.
4.The pleasant surprise of finding yet another post on DD's blog!
5.Persuading sister-in-law to come over after the Ancients were tucked in for the night, to watch Dr. Zhivago, one of my all-time favourite movies.
Quick, can you rattle off five ordinary things that made you happy lately?
11 comments:
Five ordinary things.. wow.. that is a challenge for me, believe it or not. The ordinary typically bores me.. or even worse.. impinges.
Ordinary things... books, people, the computer, living plants, animals.
Does that work?
Not what Lily meant, I'm thinking! :)
~*
Have to agree with you in that ordinary pleasures are the spice of life. If we can take pleasure in everyday treats, such as a good book, cup of aromatic tea or what-have-you, we're blessed.
What a great post for reminding me to put all things in perspective. I am in favour of the closed mouth and smile tactic, and need to tatoo it on my forehead! :)
Hearing the boys laughing madly as they play with the cat, a cup of tea with the paper in bed, the prospect of 2 days at the beach, the random bits of boy-made artwork found round my house, the nice new flyer I made for my tap school.
Off you go, get that sewing room sorted.
Coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee and half a grapefruit.
Oh. Very Big Sigh. Dr. Zhivago. Swoon, oh Swoony, Swoon, Swoon. You've found my trouble with the one word concept -- too hard to narrow it down. And quick-like, my 5:
1. An entire un-interrupted day in the sewing room.
2. A new season from Ina Garten.
3. Rice Krispy Cookies.
4. A new post from Isabelle.
5. A new post from YOU!
I like the idea of having a theme for the year--but haven't chosen one yet. The description of your five things is very poetic!
My quick five:
1. The beautiful full moon
2. Heat in the house
3. A working computer
4. Bottle of filtered water
5. Chapstick!
Five ordinary things that gave me pleasure today:
finally getting the loungeroom back to normal after the Christmas decorations;
a cup of tea in bed brought in by my DH;
getting comments on my blog;
talking to my Mum on the phone;
eating the last chocolate from Christmas (for 2 reasons!lol)
That IS such a weird coincidence. Happy Sixth Birthday to your grandson! That's too bad that you don't get to see him very often...
Love this post.
My 5
our house, faults & all, I still love it!
sand underfoot at the beach.
my grandchildren.
my dogs.
my leisure time, to spend reading blogs, sewing or just dreaming.
Listening to my two children, home for family dinner, talking caringly to each other.
On a searing hot day, looking into the golden brown eyes of Lucy the Wonderdog and seeing love, pure and unadulterated.
The feeling at the end of the day after working in the garden and surrounds and seeing the result.
The unselfishness of my daughter and her yes I can or yes I will attitude.
Finishing a book and feeling sad because it felt like I was leaving good friends.
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