My friend Dickie posted this quote on her blog yesterday and I had one of those YES! moments reading it, because this so clearly sums up the intentions that Drew and I have set for this year, for our life. Well, the simple things with a dash of glitter, that is.
“Learn to like what doesn’t cost much. Learn to like reading, conversation, music. Learn to like plain food, plain service, plain cooking. Learn to like fields, trees, brooks, hiking, rowing, climbing hills. Learn to like people, even though some of them may be different… different from you. Learn to like to work and enjoy the satisfaction of doing your job as well as it can be done. Learn to like the songs of birds, the companionship of dogs. Learn to like gardening, puttering around the house and fixing things. Learn to like the sunrise and sunset and the beating of rain on the roof and windows, and the gentle fall of snow on a winter’s day. Learn to keep your wants simple and refuse to be controlled by the likes and dislikes of others.”
-Lowell Bennion
That last line especially resonates with me. I’m on a serious life-is-short kick right now, and must admit that my answer for everything these days is, “Life is short! Why would I/we…” This is not entirely all fun and games, it’s also motivating me to get my booty to the gym and eat mindfully and clean up a little more etc because life is short! Why would I live in a space I’m not proud of? Why would I neglect my health? Why would I jeopardize even one single ‘extra’ day with my son way on down the road? So you know it’s not all vats of butter and sleeping in and disco balls, but there’s a little of that too. I just really want to do this human experience well, to suck the marrow out of life, to cry over those bird songs and laugh about spilling the milk, to have 100 pictures of Asher’s eyelashes (check) and aqua walls (check) and tread lightly but dance hard. I’m working on it. I’m learning.
Flux Capacitating 
Thank you. I love what you quoted, but I especially love your reflection on it. You’ve managed to articulate the feelings I’m having lately: longing for change, but not upheaval, hunger for a serious appreciation of my life and what’s in it and all around it, but not a seriousness devoid of curiosity and joy, and a kind, warm recognition that time is quickly moving which is antithetical to a feeling of hopelessness or an apathetic resignation to decline. Thanks again for being the kind of enchanted mirror that you are. Your words are more a part of my moments spent deep in thought than you likely know.
Whew, Rachel, there’s a lot there! I think it’s so true that we are prone to “a feeling of hopelessness or an apathetic resignation to decline” as you put it, and it’s funny that it feels like we have to sometimes work harder to keep things simple, but that’s what I love about this community, we’re all in this thing together! No apathy! No declining! Just jumping for joy! 😉
xo
Hi Amelia\
Sounds like your old poor dad. what goes around comes around.
Daddy
Wonderful post, Amelia!! Love ‘Tread lightly but dance hard!’
Pingback: Wordy Wednesday | Flux Capacitating
Pingback: Balance « Flux Capacitating