No this gorgeous title is not mine. It is a book from the
author Katrina Kenison that I have been devouring over the last month. I have
read two out of three so far and look forward to the final one.
In doing so I have been taken on a journey of gratitude.
For my life, for my family, for my work and for everything else that I so often
take for granted.
Today was a perfectly ordinary day at the cottage and what
I have realized is that this is what I crave. Just the gift of a plain day. And
my husband feels exactly the same way-we both discussed this skating hand in
hand today.
As we get older (ok now I sound officially more than 40!)
I am learning to listen more to body mind and heart as far as my preferences
are concerned. We have been learning that although we might appear a bit boring
lately, we are very content just doing what we do best: hanging out and being
with each other.
There were years of our lives where we craved seeing
others, craved filling in time with more exciting things to do, when we wanted
to go out instead of staying in. Where we entertained much more than we do now
and seemed to have much more time to share. We were always homebodies to some
degree but not to the level we are now. Something has changed for us in the
last year or two making our time feel more precious and our preferences to
hunker down and stay home as often as possible just the five of us.
Maybe it is having two in high school now? Maybe one in
ski competition? Maybe the carpool we lost? Or the family nights, surprise
dinners and 1-1 dates that are more deliberate and take up more time? Maybe our
jobs are more demanding? Maybe we are just getting older?
Very likely is it that our 5 days a week careers are so
much more than jobs. They suck every ounce of energy out of us and are intellectually
very demanding. By the weekend there seems to be nothing left. We love our
jobs, but just like private school, they come at a cost too. Choices that have
massive benefits but also come at a sacrifice especially as far as energy is concerned.
That being said we would never change our careers.
So whatever the reason today was just cozy and nice. Our
boys both in final semester exams studies most the day. 1.5 hrs on. 1 hr off.
1.5 hours on. 1 hr off. Chocolate croissants in between and bread with creton.
Turkey aruglas sandwiches at the counter by candlelight at lunch. Girl picked
up and dropped off to skiing with hot chocolate and reading by the fire après ski.
A long skate hand in hand with Hubby and a long uphill walk back to the
cottage. Hubby cross country skiing back to the car when I organized the dates
of our Spring weekends to ensure we get to see all out family and friends and
make time for thing important to us. Working on the computers and ending the
day in the Jacuzzi with a martini (him) and lemonade (me). Showers and lists
with the kids to start the week of well and organized and smelling fresh. Chicken
burgers and homemade tabouli.
Orange
sherbet with lime yogurt and mini colored marshmallows for dessert.
I
look at the lives of some of my colleagues and some of my acquaintances who go
activity to activity, have friend after friend as guests in their home, go
event to event, one hockey arena to another…and I think “that is not for
me..right now anyways” I admire them a bit, I am in awe of them a bit, and I
also feel sorry for them a bit too.
Are they happy? Are they drained? Have they made
deliberate choices or did life just happen to them in that way?
It always takes me a bit by surprise that my husband and
I are so content and always have been with the gift of an ordinary day. My
kids seem to follow suit and that also makes me happy. And although I am
surprised, I am also very content that what pleases us most in live it seems is
the simplicity we each provide each other. One to the Power of Five (maybe our
new family motto because it always comes back to that and that only really).
And when things change, as they surely will…my hope is
that I can move into the next stage of life, with the grace and gratitude and
appreciate all of the gifts of ordinary days ahead in all of their diverse and unique
splendor.
