~The Magic Of Ordinary Days~

It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth ~ and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up ~ that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had. ~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

I have a book called Simple Abundance~A Day Book of Comfort & Joy which I purchased at a yard sale years ago. It truly has been a source of Comfort & Joy. It is written by Sarah Ban Breathnach who I find to be a gifted writer. The book is about discovering your "Authentic Self"....allowing you, through journaling, drawing & other fun exercises to figure out who you "truly" are. The book also has an accompanying workbook /journal which I also purchased at a yard sale.

Like many of the books I own..to which there are MANY....they are in every room in this house, lining several book shelves, dressers and decoratively stacked here and there...I will go months and not open them, then one day a little voice in my head will prompt me to take one out of it's "home" and breeze through it. Such is the case with this particular book this morning. I took it out, leafed through it until I found today's date, and happened upon the quote above and was very comforted in knowing...I do actually understand and live this way. What I took from the journal entry that accompanied the quote was that we should recognize the "magic" in our every day lives....the "ordinary" days which we all experience yet usually take for granted. We should delight & enjoy the small things in the every day that make us happy and truly make us who we are.
(hot cocoa this afternoon in my favorite mug~a Christmas gift from my sweet husband)

The last two lines in the journal entry say "We can no longer afford to throw away even one "unimportant" day by not noticing the wonder of it all. We have to be willing to discover and then appreciate the authentic moments of happiness available to all of us every day."

It felt good to read this particular entry and realize...wow..that's exactly who I am...I delight in the magic of my "ordinary" days; the regular routine of my humble little life...rising before dawn..coffee...news...answering emails...bundling up to fill the bird feeders just after the sun rises...coming in and tidying up the house...feeding our pets...then myself...showering and then heading into the studio for the day.....most days I get in a walk in the fresh air or do a bit of yoga before I shower...every day is very similar however they are each vastly different than the other. They do not always go as planned and there are usually some unscheduled events thrown into each one..... but they each have the "magic" of an "ordinary" day.
(Orange Chocolate Chip Shortbread)

I write this post because I often wonder..."geesh, do people really care if I say good morning to them on "face book" or what I'm having for dinner tonight ..... what I'm baking today..whether i've fed the birds..tended the fire.....drinking a cup of coffee on a snowy afternoon...what I'm working on in my studio...whether I ran to the post office or not....or whether it's snowing here in Vermont.....
(A recent wonderful and oh so snowy day..PERFECT)

These are all things I post here on my blog...on my website and face book on a daily basis and I often think to myself..gosh people must get so sick of what i'm saying as it's pretty much the same thing day after day..but then something like this happens..I open up this book, which I've had for years, and find a "validation" of sorts..that if...for no other reason..my daily "greetings" "post" and "good mornings" serve in allowing me to recognize what brings me "comfort & joy" and know "who I am."

The picture below is a little "sneak peek" of my newest bear...it is also a picture of the "magic" of MY "ordinary" day..............

I'm off now to put another log on the fire, make a batch of pumpkin scones, a cup of cocoa and then finish this wee little moppet.


Wishing all of you a "MAGICAL ORDINARY DAY. :)

hugs,
Doreen