This week's blessing is this very moment, and every very moment that preceded it time and time again. I think I first learned this lesson years ago when I worked part-time as a waitress. Though everyone is hungry at once and wants everything served at once and wants to be the center of the universe at once, a waitress can be in one place at one time doing one thing at a time. Learning that one meant being able to do more things and to do them more efficiently than I could have if I had been pulled apart by the demanding eyes of all those hungry people.
When my daughter was born ten years ago Wednesday, I relearned that lesson. From the moment she landed all warm and wet on my belly and hungry and noisy, she was the only project on hand at any given moment until started working again. Dust settled. Laundry accumulated. Chores piled up. But nobody died or suffered as a result. And the time to address those needs presented itself in such away that I am not typing from under a ten-year accumulation of dust and debris.
Having returned to full-time work, I find myself living this lesson every day. Nothing is more important than the person right in front of me. Nothing. When they go away, the next person is the most important person. And on and on. This is a beautiful thing. It makes even the atrocious moment and those people who resist being liked at all costs somehow essential and beautiful (though sometimes more so in retrospect).
This is a lesson that makes it possible for me to step away from everything and read the Tao and attend a Buddhist teacher's meditations on the lessons of that text and to take it in and let it make the most of me one moment at a time. In a way, this means my daughter's milestone birthday; its celebration; and my private, personal, and very happy thoughts about her life are every bit the blessing to me that the worst nightmare of a child is in my toughest class. That is true. The difference: my daughter is my daughter, for all that can mean to a mom.
It's all true. It's all good. Thank you for being here. You're all that matters, and you are beautiful.
Blog Your Blessings
When my daughter was born ten years ago Wednesday, I relearned that lesson. From the moment she landed all warm and wet on my belly and hungry and noisy, she was the only project on hand at any given moment until started working again. Dust settled. Laundry accumulated. Chores piled up. But nobody died or suffered as a result. And the time to address those needs presented itself in such away that I am not typing from under a ten-year accumulation of dust and debris.
Having returned to full-time work, I find myself living this lesson every day. Nothing is more important than the person right in front of me. Nothing. When they go away, the next person is the most important person. And on and on. This is a beautiful thing. It makes even the atrocious moment and those people who resist being liked at all costs somehow essential and beautiful (though sometimes more so in retrospect).
This is a lesson that makes it possible for me to step away from everything and read the Tao and attend a Buddhist teacher's meditations on the lessons of that text and to take it in and let it make the most of me one moment at a time. In a way, this means my daughter's milestone birthday; its celebration; and my private, personal, and very happy thoughts about her life are every bit the blessing to me that the worst nightmare of a child is in my toughest class. That is true. The difference: my daughter is my daughter, for all that can mean to a mom.
It's all true. It's all good. Thank you for being here. You're all that matters, and you are beautiful.
Blog Your Blessings
39 Comments
Great thoughts on such a frivilous day. Happy Halloween. Pappy
ReplyDeleteEloquent and moving. Your words shine like sky reflected in water, and rest lightly as a floating leaf. Beautiful photo of the Universe.
ReplyDeletethanks I needed that after I just told rambling woods about my blue day yesterday because of health issues.
ReplyDeleteWell- It is halloween now and no one comes to our retirement village on the outskirts of town so that is a blessing. I used to hide out at my grandkids house on halloween eve to avoid the trick or trickers or watch a movie in the dark. Now I can just be.
I like your focus on each person at a time. It's been a struggle in my writing group as there is a strong dominant person who tries to control the group in a critical way. I have to overlook that and try to send her value while still staying focused with what I want to accomplish with the group book. She is very unhappy in her marriage and emotionally needy. Aren't we all? lol!
Blessings to you, mom.
ReplyDeleteYou're words are inspiring! The leaves in the water are beautiful!
ReplyDeletewow! so sweet sandy and the photo, very beautiful! just perfect for the post.
ReplyDeleteAnd you are very beautiful, Sandy and so full of love and peace.
ReplyDeleteNice photography for the day. I like it.
ReplyDeleteI forgot about theme day today so I just found some of the books I wrote and took a photo and published that. Too late to be included in the group but it worked for me. LOL
To respond to your wiping things out as you went being lefty...
ReplyDeleteThere are two ways a left-handed person writes. One is hooking the hand over the top and that must be how you do it.
The other, less popular way, is to write under the writing like a righty. It works but most left handed writers don't write this way.
Wonderful thoughts today. I think we can learn a lot from dogs. They are in the moment, right now, every day. It makes life less complicated.
ReplyDeletePeace - D
Happy Birthday to your daughter. :)
ReplyDeleteMy blessings this week is that this cold hasn't killed me yet. :)
I thank God every day that I am up and about, able to make our lives a little joyful...it's all due to Him...thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeletehugs
Sandi
You've described the moment perfectly here and I totally agree. It is, perhaps, another condemnation of the ridiculous, dehumanising culture we have today that they try to pull you every which way at once.
ReplyDeleteWell.. that helped me give the pressures of the day the old Heave Ho!!!
ReplyDeleteI think I'll just finish reading a few blogs. let the floors wait to be mopped, the phone calls wait to be made, the clean dishes wait to be put away, the shopping wait to be done... I'm going to trek up to the high upper pasture and walk in the autumn sunshine with my hubby while it's still here to warm us.
Today is GLORIOUS outside. I want to tuck a little of that glory in my soul.
Thanks again, Sandy. You've hit the mark yet again. I do somehow, feel an undercurrent of something in your writing.... I don't know what.
My prayer is that you will experience the same depth of peace that you offer to so many of us.
Well.. that helped me give the pressures of the day the old Heave Ho!!!
ReplyDeleteI think I'll just finish reading a few blogs. let the floors wait to be mopped, the phone calls wait to be made, the clean dishes wait to be put away, the shopping wait to be done... I'm going to trek up to the high upper pasture and walk in the autumn sunshine with my hubby while it's still here to warm us.
Today is GLORIOUS outside. I want to tuck a little of that glory in my soul.
Thanks again, Sandy. You've hit the mark yet again. I do somehow, feel an undercurrent of something in your writing.... I don't know what.
My prayer is that you will experience the same depth of peace that you offer to so many of us.
So true. The now. I think Lennon said "Life is what happens while you're making plans." Amen!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very poetic photo!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Sandy. We have many blessings, of which our children are our greatest.
ReplyDeleteStunning photo but I enjoyed the writing! it is true the most important person is the one in front of you. I do Buddhist meditation it help me think. on my blog roll there is a blog called HummingBird and that is a good Buddhist blog, they have videos on meditation.
ReplyDeleteoh, sandy, this is so beautifully written! there is great wisdom in your words and the picture is just magical. :D
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely photo and great post. Each day we spend with our family is a great blessing.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your daughter.
I had to look twice too see what this was!
ReplyDeleteI meant Stephen Hawking. When he first lost his voice he communicated by raising his eyebrows when his wife pointed at a letter. Similar to the book you describe, I think I shall read that! Thank you.
A wonderful blessing about what's really important... and a happy birthday to your daughter!
ReplyDeleteThank you, and you are important to me.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blessing...love the reminder to be aware of Presence and be present! Gorgeous photo also!
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts on the important things in life!
ReplyDeleteLovely image … and perfect reminder for each of us today.
ReplyDeleteYes ...‘It’s all true. It’s all good. Thank YOU for being here. You’re all that matters, and you are beautiful.’
Amen to that ;--)
Hugs and blessings,
You are beautiful, Sandy, and such a testament to the peacefulness that can reside in a human soul, inspite of everything. I loved reading about your blessing. And such a beautiful photograph, too.
ReplyDeleteit is wonderful that you remember the important things in life
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to your daughter! I hope you copied it for her scrapbook too!
ReplyDeleteYour daughter sounds a wonderful blessing.
ReplyDeleteI think my children & grandchildren are some of my blessings.
Congratulations on POTD.
Sandy, just wanted to come in again and say congrats on the mention in Post of the Day!
ReplyDeletehugs to you
Sandi
Sandy, I really like that "Nothing is more important than the person right in front of me. Nothing." It is how I live my life. Not always by design, but it has always worked well for me.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on making David's Post of the Day list.
Peace!
Lee
Sandy, I really feel your heart in this post. Very, very nice and meaningful.
ReplyDeleteI would love to find a Buddhist teacher close to me. What a gift that would be.
Beautiful blessing, and a lesson I certainly need to learn :) Thank you Sandy!
ReplyDeleteYou're so=uch a loving Mom and your daughter is very lucky to have you....
ReplyDeleteLovely writing, it has a quality of truth and stillness.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on POTD mention!
ReplyDeleteSandi
your blog is a blessing...poignant words indeed...
ReplyDeletecongrats over from Davids
Thanks for being here.