One woman's view
Contributing writer
Have you ever noticed how easy it can be to ignore happiness? When I am angry, depressed, or frustrated, I am very much aware of my feelings. A simple, serene sense of well-being does not always make itself felt.
I got to thinking of all this on a recent day, when I suddenly became aware of a deep sense of well-being. It was a cool day, after several days of nearly unbearable hot weather. I did a little mowing, and then put a load of clothes in my drier, which happens to sit in my garage. While the clothes were drying, I took a book to the glider in my south yard, where I could hear the bell when the clothes were ready. I was walking back to take the clothes out when it hit me — the sheer delight of my body's easy motion with no pain (a rather unusual experience for me), the cool air, and the satisfaction of doing ordinary chores.
I wonder if other people are like me in this respect. Usually I am aware of happiness only when I am "having a good time." I feel happy attending a party, chatting with friends, playing games, or watching a ball game. I seldom notice the simple everyday pleasures that come with day-to-day living.
However, when I delve into my mine of memories, many of the best memories are of quiet times. One afternoon nearly 40 years ago, when I was living in Durham, I took a book, walked about a mile west of town, and sat under a big shade tree to read. Out of a lifetime of experiences, it is strange that such a quiet afternoon would stand out in my mind. I even remember the Sherlock Holmes story I was reading that day.
In my childhood I often sat on a big boulder above our farm pond for a spell of daydreaming. Once as a teenager I rambled in a cottonwood grove near my home and described it for an English assignment. I can recapture a great contentment in remembering those times.
Why is it so easy to focus on the negative? For me at least it is impossible to ignore grief or depression. They hammer at the consciousness. I am going to try to develop a greater awareness of the good times. Not necessarily the exciting, highly successful, mountain-top experiences, but just the blessings of every day.
It was not until the next day that I even remembered to thank the Lord for the blessings revealed to me that day, the simple joy of a supple body, tasks to perform, and the ability to do them, the sunshine and cool air and the pleasant spot where my glider rests.
On the wall of my bedroom there hangs a beautiful piece of cross-stitch made by my late sister-in-law, Agnes Pecinovsky. It says, "Remember to give thanks for the beauty of today." Let's all do that.
