Today, I'm going to share a secret with you. The secret... to my relative sanity.
Recently I received basically the coolest mug ever from my best friend Kate. It hilariously depicted a rather creepy picture of Mr. Potter, holding a cup of espresso, with the caption: Espresso Patronum (Harry Potter fans unite!). It was a really special gift that only my best friend could send. Of course I had to share the mug with my awesome baristas at the local coffee shop right away, and the moment was magical. It pretty much made my day.
This lead me to ponder the value of a single moment. Mindfulness can make the smallest thing pure magic. I've mentioned in previous posts that our family tends to live super slowly, we're painfully aware of the moment sometimes as we attempt to muddle through a day of vigilant special needs care, work, cleaning, life, relationships, etc., but it also provides so many opportunities for me to truly cherish the basics. I think that that is one of the keys to our survival. Perhaps survival is the wrong word... Because I feel like I'm flourishing, not just getting by.
So here is my special secret: if you want to be happy, revel in the smallest victory. Find joy in the small mundane moments we overlook so often. When I go to a coffee shop, it is an event. I make it one. I take the opportunity to lend the event a lot of significance, so that it is more than just another errand to run. It's a vacation, it's a spiritual practice! Even if I am in a hurry, or have a million worries, when I step across the threshold of a coffee shop door I leave all of that behind. I devote myself completely to the moment. I smile as I wait in line peacefully un-harrassed by my adorable children for a minute or two (I'd gladly wait 10...). I feel genuine joy and give my full attention during my brief exchange with one of the several awesome baristas (possibly the only adult conversation I will have that day). I sit quietly even if I only have a minute, and enjoy a sip or two of my favorite drink, and I'm replenished. The added bonus is of course the energy coffee provides as I power through the day. So that's it... It's not really a secret at all I suppose, but if you are experiencing a lot of stress or responsibility, just remember to stop and revel in little moments. Don't let your brain trick you into thinking you don't have time to drop everything, just for a minute, and be present. These little magically mundane moments truly make life worth living, and there are plenty to be had, my weird obsession with coffee shops is just one example.
Happy Holidays!
