Late Summer Decor … and … Savoring The Beauty Of My Everyday

For me

One of the gifts of aging is learning to appreciate 

my everyday.

No longer do I feel the need to 

race to 

be more

do more

acquire more.

I have enough experience and wisdom 

to appreciate my everyday

Today.

Because I know my everyday

won't even  always be what it is today.

My youngest son

won't  always be returning from a very early shift at UPS

home for breakfast

before leaving for another day at college.

Making  his breakfast 

and

spending quality time in that hour

is an everyday event 

that I am now old enough and wise enough
to cherish.

I plan my days around this opportunity.

I am cognitive

of the blessing it is

that I can 

drive over and visit my parents.

I am ever so cognitive of time.

I am grateful

for my conversations with my girl

after her day at work

and 

the luxury of spending time with her

in her new city.

I am happy for Friday night dates with my husband

and
 coming full circle 

to going out together once again.

I still have days where loneliness
and
missing
my old life
as a full time mother
come thundering in.
So very often they seem out of the blue.
An aching and sadness
that can take my breath away
in an emptiness I never saw coming.

But I have learned
to stop
and
acknowledge the grief
let it runs its hard pounding  currents of grief through me
because I have learned by now
it will pass
and
denying it's existence
only expands it's visit.

I realize it is another grief
that can't be packed away
in a box to be checked
taken care of for good.

I have learned to make a place for grief
because sometimes it is in the darkness
we find new lights.

I try to encourage  griefs departure
by refocusing
on the good
in my everyday
today.

To focus on gratitude
for even the flicking summer light and breeze.

I am savor time working in my gardens ...

because 

how hopeful is planning and planting

for what is yet to be.

I am even savoring house chores

always so grateful

for this little house that  I cherish.

I had decided this week 

to take a week off from work

and 

have some summer fun.

And every time

I thought I could go out and do …

I realized how much of a luxury 

it can be to stay home

and 

be fully present 

in savoring my day to day.

Some days savoring 

the simple, slow aspects of my life

can be a truly beautiful thing.

And by doing so

I realize how much new  joy

I  can  get out of my  new everyday.

Taking the time to be present

makes me so very grateful

of my everyday

Today.
Just as it is.

The older I get

I realize

it is truly the small moments

that are the big moments.

It is truly savoring

time with family and friends

with no agenda or expectation

just

being together

where so much of my life's riches come.

And 

it is often time alone that  is just as important

to reflect

and

be grateful

for my day to day.

Today.

As always my friends


I wish you love and joy
as you style your life