For no other reason than I seem to have had a plethora of them this week, I’m going to offer up small moments of great beauty or poignancy, which I took time to appreciate this week. I think in the grander scheme of things, we’re all so busy rushing around trying to get everything done (I know *I* am, at any rate – I won’t tar everyone with the same brush) we often forget to stop and absorb the moment, finding something within it to give thanks for – making the time to be present.
I read today in a book, that a life spent rushing is for amateurs, and in a way I can agree with that – we always have time, because we only have NOW, and we only really have NOW if we pay attention to it, immerse ourselves in it, experience it. Otherwise life is so much a string of wasted Nows, slipped through our fingers like kite-strings in a hurricane, as our eyes and hearts cloud with the *stuff* of the everyday – what hasn’t happened yet but needed to; what is still to come; what’s the priority to manage; how do we juggle all the things at once…life can only be lived one moment at a time, and we only have one life (and without wishing to sound maudlin, but members of my family were at a funeral today, so it’s on my mind) – and who knows how long we have to live it?! We may as well make the most of it.
Use it, or lose it, as they say.
A moment sat in the gloaming, looking out of the window at the quiet street, with a plate of tomatoes on toast – and taking the time to savour every mouthful of crisp, seed-filled toast, juicy tomato slices stacked atop it, and drizzled with a bright coat of golden, sun-distilled olive oil, a splash of balsamic vinegar, dark and tangy and sweet, and dusted with ground black pepper…the spice and fresh and pungent and deep, earthy flavours delighting me at every mouthful.
A moment cycling home, breath puffing out steam against the freezing cold, past ice still on the ground from morning, the world bathed in bright and glorious sunset, silhouetting the bare tree branches against the skies and casting shadows which stretched away behind my tyres, towards night.
A moment late at night, turning over to find Neff had slithered his way across the bed and was nestled, close-but-not-touching, breathing soft, snuffly (slightly garlicky) sleep-breaths towards me, harmonising with the quieter, lighter sleep-breaths from Niece in the top bunk, and thinking how lucky I am to have such wonderful children to fill the room (and my life) with their loveliness.
A moment hanging washing, feeling the chill damp cotton against my fingers and snaking around my wrists as I tried to make the garments acquiesce into straight lines to hang dry, knowing that they will dry soon, and I will have clean clothes. That I have the means for clean clothes. That I have clothes…
A moment hearing on the radio about another boat full of refugees breaking and sinking in the Mediterranean sea, with over half the passengers children, and offering up a prayer of not-sure-what, because it’s so, SO awful to know people’s lives are still so desperate, and at the same time feeling immeasurably thankful my life is not, and my family and loved ones are safe.
A moment sliding in between clean sheets with a hot water bottle already at the place where my feet would go, creating a pocket of delicious toasty-warmness, and snuggling right into it, feeling the heat creep slowly along my chill flesh, thawing my knees, then calves, then ankles, and finally toes, before hooking the hot water bottle up to snuggle it as I drifted off to sleep, warm, content, comfortable.
A moment of elation, walking in the darkness, knowing that all the packing had been done, and almost all the things were moved to where they needed to be, and would stay, and being nearly-so-close-but-not-quite-entirely-there of the way to being 100% moved out, and in, and onwards.
A moment in the pre-dawn, having turned off my alarm and looked at my phone, to find the messages I’ve now come to anticipate each morning, from cherished friends – the first voices I hear each morning when I wake up, snuggling back down into the duvet with the phone to my ear, and hearing about how their evenings were, what some of the last thoughts on their mind were, before life and their own nighttime routines took over. Appreciating the chance to send back sleep-befuzzled messages of greeting for their mornings, later, when they awoke and plugged in.
A moment of excitement and frustrating sticky-tape and battling with scissors and baffling cardboard to undo a parcel sent to me by a friend who knows me so well, each item, perfectly chosen for me, and absolutely right, brought a huge grin to my face, and my heart fair overflowed with happiness and delight at being thought of and cared about.
A moment, or, several moments, or continued moments, when I sit in the peace and quiet and warmth of the family home, and know I am home, and voice thanks, and am met with continued affirmations of being wanted, of it being delightful I’m here, of being loved.
And there, in those small moments, of paying attention and giving thanks, is perhaps the secret to all life.
Your turn – what have you been thankful for this week? Comment or write your own post, but DO join in 🙂
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have a great week!
https://ladyleemanila.wordpress.com/2016/01/28/being-thankful/
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Gloaming is such an excellent word. Very evocative.
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It’s one of those little-used words I just love, almost concept-onomatopoeic…
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I am glad to read your post for the second time; when I read the first time, I was inspired and want to comment, but my computer was not loading fast; so I gave up and wrote a thankful post; thanks for motivating me, today I read your post again and am happy to be connected; loved the pics and the words ” life can only be lived, one moment at a time” so true and agree that those moments lived with awareness makes a huge difference bringing in thoughts of gratitude… thanks for sharing:)
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Hi Angela -I’m so glad you were inspired to write your own gratitude post – that’s awesome. I’m glad you felt motivated, and that you like the pic and the words – I thought they were probably the crux of what I was feeling at the time 🙂
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Your descriptions transport me into your world. (And the spelling of “tyres” makes me feel properly English!)
I’m sorry that a funeral was part of your week. I wish you and your family peace and comfort.
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I forgot even THAT was one you guys spell differently heheh. And thanks – I hope you enjoyed a little view into my world.
The funeral was a good one, I’m told, and the togetherness shared by that family, and the way mine was involved, was good and healing, as I understand it, so that’s a definite thankful 🙂
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We really do have it good, don’t we? Sometimes, we get too caught up in the little bits to see the big picture.
When you come to ‘Murica, you need to get an electric mattress pad. So many things could go wrong with a hot water bottle in the bed with you!
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We do. We have it *really* good. And that’s my lesson for today – to just end the sentence there.
I’m GOOD at having a hot water bottle. I worry about electricity in bed though lol. In Ireland there was an electric blanket, which was just deliciously warm, but which TERRIFIED me…
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Beautiful in-the-moment moments here… What’s the name of the book, please? Because if that’s not fitting for my philosophy of living deliberately, nothing is.
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Ann Voskamp, 1000 Gifts. I think you’d really like it. If I finish it, I can bring it over and leave it with Sarah to pass on to you when you guys meet up…
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Oh! I have it – on my bookshelf. Good one. I read some of it when it was given to me a couple of years ago, then life got in the way. I have it on my pile to re-read.
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Oh cool! It’s very rich writing. Even a chapter at a time is sometimes too much, but it’s very beautifully done, and very thought-provoking.
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I am thankful for the comfort of my bed, the warm sheets, the heat in my room, my dog’s cuddles . . . Praying for people who does not have these luxury.
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Those are wonderful things to be thankful for 🙂
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So beautiful, as always my dear friend. I’m honored to have made it on the list and so glad you like your little gifts! Have you re-read your own post today? Based on our conversation… maybe you should 😉 Love you!!!
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I know, my dear, I know. It’s painful to read though, right now. Thank you, though. ❤ and HUGE thank you, for everything.
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❤️❤️❤️
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The moments you describe are soul-filling and I bet you were even taking time to breathe in and out in the moment. Someone gave me a plaque once that said, “We do not remember days, we remember moments.” I like your thoughts about we always have time because of NOW is the time. Hmmmmmmmm Ahhhhhhhhhhhh (That’s me exhaling audibly).
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I’m glad, OceanHeart. I’m glad.
My moments today were lost, and I’m foolish for letting that happen. I’m letting the nows slip away for nexts I’m not even sure I want or can have.
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I’m so mad I can’t go to Sarah’s celebration
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Awwwh that sucks 😦 Still, there will be time hopefully, if I make it back over for good, right?
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Absolutemente
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Lovely — all of it.
I hope to calm my brain some to be able to notice and appreciate those things. xo
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I hope so too, dear one ❤
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I can agree so much with what you said about life being about the moment. We have so much to thank for if we do not let our problems envelope us!
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Sometimes we have non-problems that envelop us, and that’s just irritating. *sigh* I need to get back to being thankful.
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Hmm…I’ll take your plate of tomatoes please 😀 Awesome description. A really nice post Lizzi. I will never tire of hearing this sentiment, spoken, written or otherwise expressed:
“And there, in those small moments, of paying attention and giving thanks, is perhaps the secret to all life.”
For sure, one of the “secrets of the universe”.
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Yes, I think so. I loved that plate of tomatoes on toast. Almost wrote an entire post about it then just lost the thread, and lost the will.
And thanks. I need to try to remember that – if I have things to be thankful for, it’s worth continuing.
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I need to appreciate more moments of late.
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I can think of some – dog butt, your accountant, vidchat, tiggers in general, your good luck 🙂 *HUGS*
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feeling the chill damp cotton against my fingers and snaking around my wrists
…the imagery, not the experience. (However, I have had the experience in ‘real’ life), but the words were so well chosen as to feel the grasp on the wrist.
cool
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Oh COOL! Thank you 😀
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Sometimes those small moments are the best way to salvage a terrible day. I remember when the kids were little, and we would have a day full of vomit and poo and crying and fighting and unhappiness, consciously stopping and finding the good things that happened amidst the awful was the only way for me to make it through. Even if it was simply acknowledging that the vomit never landed on me, it was something for which to be grateful and help my mood.
It’s easy to forget to pay attention to these small moments. I’m glad you are taking note of them.
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Yes…I’ve had days like that. And the small, good things are IMPORTANT.
I’m impatient, I know, but trying very hard to adopt an attitude of thankfulness and ‘present’ness WHILST I’m here, because it’s important to appreciate the now, not wish it away.
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Oh the magic in the small moments. Thank you for sharing yours.
And is there anything more comforting than a hot water bottle ready at your feet on a cold night?
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Ohmigosh, not MUCH, I don’t think! I was never a big fan of having a hot water bottle (or, a “hottie”, as WonderAunty calls it), and for the life of me I can’t work out why – I’m a total convert! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed this 🙂
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The quiet stillness of a morning, on the deck after feeding the dog, and feeling the promise of heat later in the day.
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Now that sounds GORGEOUS…the promise of heat…how wonderful 🙂
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Except when it’s in the high-30s (*C) by the end of the day and won’t cool down easily…makes it hard to sleep. But I *do* like heat better than cold, b/c heat usually means sun and cold (around here) means clouds & drizzle, maybe rain…
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Ohhhh that sounds beautiful. I love that kind of heat! Clouds and drizzle are miserable – we have those most of the time.
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We had a perfect moment today at the playground in the snow. Even as it was happening, I knew I’d stay thankful for it all weekend.
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That sounds beautiful. I’m glad you had that moment 🙂
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Love this post, love moments! Will think about the moments I’m thankful for.
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Thanks so much, Juni! I’d be fascinated to know what moments you’ve enjoyed this week 🙂
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Aw Lizzi.
🙂
Beautiful tiny moments of perfection.
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They really were 😀 I loved them
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But not another boat disaster.
😦
What a horrible situation, every time I hear about it.
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I loved not being part of it, and part of me felt immensely guilty for feeling that.
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I know what you mean. TToT helps. It helps me not feel quite so hopeless and helpless.
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It’s a tiny bit of control we can reclaim -a determination to see the silver linings and seek good, no matter the circumstances.
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I must confess that I have not been paying as close attention as you have, at least to the point of being able to pick out such particular moments. Today it was seeing multiple poems posted by our friend, Hasty – such a treat.
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Ahhh she has such a beautiful way with words. Her poetry tends to bypass my eyes and go straight to my heart, or soul, or the dark, jaggedy bit which rears its head now and again 🙂
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I love everything about this post. We build a well-lived life in moments. I hope I’ll remember the best moments and be glad I did.
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FRIST! And GOOD – because I know you’re all about the moments, and making memories, and having things to keep in mind, to sustain future years 🙂 I’m sure you’ll remember your best ones 🙂
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