This year, we’re finding joy in unexpected places
Generally speaking, the sound of Christmas music in October annoys me. It is not time yet; I have way too much to do before Christmas so stop pushing it on me now!
I have not even considered the many gifts I have to buy, the decorating and cleaning I have to do, the baking that is coming. But not this year. This year, those beautiful classics are music to my ears, literally. I needed that. We needed that. The world needed that. A message of hope, coming to us through music.
While I have always enjoyed my gardens, the idea of planting seeds and having wonderful crops grow before my eyes, of tending my rose bushes and seeing the beautiful and aromatic results of that labor, of enjoying the sea of colors which dot my front yard in the form of many types of flowers, all bring me immense joy.
But I normally find the chores of autumn outdoor clean-up to be tedious. Not this year. I’m finding joy in raking leaves and admittedly jumping in the leaf piles. I’m seeing beauty in the bright blue autumn skies and the incredibly vivid and colorful autumn sunsets and sunrises. I am enjoying the animals as they search for food in the remnants of my vegetable gardens.
I’m happy to trim back bushes and trees, and to burn the branches in my firepit. The sights and smells of the flames, the sound of the crackling fire, the warmth generated to help keep away the autumn chill. It’s all magical.
I had the opportunity to babysit my youngest grandchild this weekend; she is justv 1. I watched her closely and absorbed the lessons she gave me. Dancing makes ever ything better. Music makes you smile. Finding unexpected “treasures” in the yard can evoke ear-to-ear smiles. An old paint brush, a plastic fly swatter … all hidden in a massive pile of leaves … wow! She hoisted them overhead, as a hockey team would hoist the Stanley Cup. Ah, the small pleasures. Seize them, treasure them, savor them.
Another lesson learned from my granddaughter: always look out for your best friend. Her best friend happens to be an 80-pound dog who follows her around like … well, like a puppy. She uses this pup as a pillow, a step stool to reach the windowsill, a cuddle partner and in return, she has the most loyal friend a kid could have.
My grand daughter shares her dinner with her pup, taking a bite for herself and giving a bite to the dog. Maybe in another year, I would have tried to stop her. Not this year. She even takes great pains to show her pup pictures from the nearest phone, to make sure she shares the experiences with her. That is how to treat your friends. Share. Have compassion. Share the love.
It may have taken this year to teach me the most basic of lessons, things that maybe in the hubbub of everyday life, I had forgotten. Slow down. Take it one day at a time. Get as much joy as you can from the little stuff. And try not to worry about the big stuff.
It seems a great time to share one of my favorite quotes, from my favorite aunt.
She said: “If there is a cure, why worry? If there is no cure, why worry?”
How apropos indeed, at this time in our lives. She said this to me many years ago, as a general philosophy of life. She could have had no idea how appropriate it would be in 2020. The message is simple: some things are completely out of our control. Therefore, we need to focus on only the things we can control.
For ever y thing else, have faith that things will get better very soon. If you can’t control it, let it go. Don’t let fear get the best of you. Not this year. This year, I’m just grateful for the blessings that abound, small and large.