It's the little things.
/The Universe has been "speaking" to me for a few months saying: SLOW DOWN.
A car accident.
A missed flight.
A bad fall.
I hear you, Cosmos. I'm at a standstill. Listening intently.
Speaking with the bereaved every day, and communicating with the deceased is an interesting thing. My fascination outside of the fact that, "Holy smokes, I can't believe we are actually doing this!" has always been: "Teach me, teach me...what do we need to know about living?"
Most of the wisdom can be summed up in a few short sentences, but my goodness, how we love to turn simple principles into epically complicated novels.
So here's one simple principle you can embrace and learn from today: the little things mean the most.
We can plan, scheme and spend on a wedding or special event for months or years and yet, if you ask a widow, "What do you miss about your spouse?" the answer is often something like, "He made the coffee every morning. Waking up alone is so difficult." Interestingly, I've never had a dead person tell me yet that they missed their HOUSE, only the people who lived in it.
Stop and consider this simple principle as it relates to your life. Where do you expend your energy? Are you investing it in something permanent...like relationships, including the one with yourself?
My son has been visiting for the past week, and I have become keenly aware of what "little things" I miss about him. Whenever he is coming or going, and I am around, he puts his arm around my shoulder, and kisses my forehead. Honestly, I don't think he realizes what he is doing, it's an automatic action for him.
When you take the time to slow down in life, or stop completely, you can actually discover great peace in the present and deeper meaning in the little things.
In a matter of moments, even the sunrise is over.
Can you appreciate life, in all of its forms? The entire natural world is at your disposal to enjoy and inspire. It serves to allay your burdens of grief, loss, stress and despair. Have you communed with the birds lately? Taken in the sunrise? Measured an unfurling leaf?
When hurled into a cataclysm of stress or loss we often obsess over the the BIG PICTURE OF THE FUTURE. That is an anxiety-ridden place to dwell. Get the hell out of there as soon as you can.
Slow down and get back into the present moment.
The beauty of a normal day, where nothing in particular is happening, can slip though your fingers like water unless you make time to actually appreciate it. In a matter of moments, it's gone.
Slow down for 10 minutes and meditate on what little things make you feel happy, loved or validated. Write down a few things and when you have figured out what makes YOU feel good, offer those to someone else.
From the Garden
This vintage candy stripe periwinkle was transplanted to my garden from my dear friend and neighbor, Katie Progar. It originated from her in-laws' home along Lake Michigan in the 1930s. Yesterday, I came across a newspaper article from 1998, written in honor of the Progars' 65th wedding anniversary. A life of love, devotion to family and in so many ways, the little things.
Katie was one of my dearest friends and I would visit her every afternoon for a dose of her wisdom and some baked treats.
"Never waste food."
"Always look on the bright side."
"Keep your basement clean."
"Mollie, stop working like a man." (this was my favorite!)
I never left empty handed. She would carefully put cookies or a slice of cake on a plate, and then insert it into a plastic grocery bag that she would hang on my wrist. "Just in case you fall on the way home."
She knew me so well.
I know her Spirit visits my garden and enjoys seeing many of her transplanted flowers growing happily and being appreciated for their beauty and loving memories.
©Mollie Morning Star 2014 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.