The sun was at just the right angle to cover the water with sparkles. It was beautiful, I was enjoying a satisfying day. Within a few minutes, the sun's angle had changed, and the sparkles were gone. Or, were they? From someone else's viewpoint they probably were just as fabulous. They were simply gone from my view.
Isn't day-to-day life kind of like that? There are brief moments that sparkle and shimmer. We look upon them with awe. We remember them. We talk about them. Of course, real life takes place in between the sparkles. It is how we fill the space between them that matters.Relationships are certainly made up of sparkles and spaces. There are the everyday moments in relationships that occupy most of your life. Those are the large spaces filled with chores and responsibilities, making tough decisions, cooking, cleaning, compromising, and shopping. These don't really sparkle. They are the mundane activities that fill your day whether you are alone or in any form of relationship. They are what we call living.
Then there are those times when you, your spouse or significant other, your best friend, or simply you and your environment are exactly on the same page. Everything is going according to plan. You are communicating well and any disagreements are minor. If you have children or grandkids, there are times when things just sparkle: a vacation by the lake, a great day at the zoo, a family night watching a favorite movie. You fill several hours with your favorite pastime, barely noticing the passage of time.
As a retired person, you have control over most of your day. At least you think you do. But, when you must wait for a repair person, or your car is in the shop you are still at the mercy of others. When you spend a few hours waiting for an overworked doctor you are reminded you are not in control quite as much as you thought. Menus must be planned, food must be bought, bills must be paid, gardens must be tended, the bike should be ridden. The days and weeks pass by so quickly you wonder where the time went.
Then, there are those moments when you grab a little time and sit down to read that new novel you've been aching to open. Your hobby bench invites you to build that project or fix the broken lamp you want back in the living room. You find some time to write, and out flows everything you have bottled up while the spaces of life are filled with everyday stuff.
You remember you have time with the school kids tomorrow night to tutor them in math or English. As they grasp the concepts you are explaining, their smiling faces come alive and shine. Maybe you sit in the sun at the coffee shop sipping you latte, reading a favorite blog, and people-watching the afternoon away. These precious times make you feel alive and vibrant. They are the sparkle , making a day special and memorable.
John Lennon once said, "Life is what happens while you're making other plans." That is the human condition. We want a life that we control. We would like a day with nothing but sparkles. No chores, no irritations, to disappointments, no hassles. A day that goes according to our plans.
But that isn't how things work. We can be much happier and much more satisfied when we learn to accept the large spaces into which we put our everyday life while being on the lookout for those sparkles of pure joy and beauty that brighten and enlighten.
John Lennon once said, "Life is what happens while you're making other plans." That is the human condition. We want a life that we control. We would like a day with nothing but sparkles. No chores, no irritations, to disappointments, no hassles. A day that goes according to our plans.
But that isn't how things work. We can be much happier and much more satisfied when we learn to accept the large spaces into which we put our everyday life while being on the lookout for those sparkles of pure joy and beauty that brighten and enlighten.
After all, if every meal was nothing but desserts, then desserts would not be so special. If all we saw were sparkles, they would begin to look rather ordinary and much less delightful.
To be on the lookout for those sprinkles of pure joy is on my list today. Thanks for the reminder
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome. You will be surprised how many there are once you are on the lookout!
DeleteI had a great sparkle moment yesterday morning. When my granddaughter arrived for the day, there was a spectacular sunrise as I stepped out the door to greet her. I had her stand still for a second and captured the sparkle (Or double sparkle!) in a photo. What a great start to the morning!
ReplyDeleteBob, I definitely can relate to this post. In order to stay visually attuned for painting, I carry a sketchbook each day, drawing everything, everywhere. After several decades of sketching, I see sparkles everywhere. For example, in a coffee shop I'll sketch the light on a woman's chin, the texture of a blouse, customers standing in line, the gesture of a hand, and the reflection on a coffee cup.
DeleteWhile outside, I'll sketch an interesting shadow, a squirrel grabbing a nut, the shapes between tree branches, and planes on a rock. At home, I'll sketch my own feet or my wife knitting. Even when I don't have my sketchbook, I'm sketching in my mind. It seems like I'm in a different world. I'm very grateful for this rich source of entertainment and play. Everyday life is a visual feast for me, greatly outweighing the hassles of life.
Mitch, what a perfect example for something that happens a lot, but we miss it by not fully opening our eyes.
DeleteJake, as an artist in training I love your examples. I am not sure I'd ever sketch my feet, but the light reflected from a woman's chin or a coffee cup are the types of things I am attempting to pay more attention to.
The advantages of drawing is that it forces one to slow down, taking a close look at the sparkles.
DeleteI strongly agree with Elle's comment below on seeing the sparkles from a healthy perspective, which is a pearl of great price.
Sparkle is all around us if only we seek it. In a world that seems only to want to speak of the bad, let us speak of the good :-) In a place that gets 11 inches of precip a year, we will have rain today! Who can be upset about the clouds this morning? Yet many will be mad. Sigh....
ReplyDeleteYour precipitation comment reminds me of the desert where I live. 7 inches of rain means every storm is welcomed with open arms.
DeleteI find myself appreciating the sparkles more as I get older. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI think it comes from wisdom acquired over the years. We appreciate the special moments more because we have the time to notice them.
DeleteThe 21 mo old I babysit laughing as she plays with her dog; the orange colored quarter moon on the horizon this morning; the morning & evening sky; the smell of 4 doz peanut butter cookies cooling on the counter; that special smile on my 13 yr old granddaughter as she comes to the door, then "hey, grandma"; waking to a new day. So many sparkles to be had. I think it's all about mindfulness & joy.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the moment, not thinking about the past or worrying about the future...that is when the sparkles make themselves visible. Mindfulness - you nailed it, Mona.
DeleteBob, This piece is wonderfully beautiful. It reminds me of William Wordsworth's "Spots of Time" in The Prelude. For whatever reason, we seem to have these moments that are permanently etched into our hippocampus. I think the connection to people and the world around us might be tethered to the concept of mindfulness and being present in the moment. Sadly, I believe much of our culture works against this perspective, and that loss -- for me at least -- seems horrific. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Paul. Any time I write something that remains anyone of Wordsworth is a compliment I will cherish.
DeleteI start each morning with a period of quiet meditation/mindfulness. Usually I find myself thinking of gratitude or life's blessing. That brief pause before starting the day seems to help me notice the sparkles later on.