It’s not about asking for a lift. But those days when things go OK – in fact, go to plan, or if we’re lucky, even better – they do lift us. So today’s thing to treasure is life going better than expected. Sudden rays of sunshine when the forecast was for cloud.
What brightens the internal sunlamp? Going shopping with a list, and being able to get bargains for the items on your list. Arriving somewhere early (see yesterday’s post too) and having time to listen to some peaceful music in the car for five minutes. Expecting the November gloom when leaving the swimming pool and, instead, finding it streaked with a raspberry ripple of a sunset.
It says something about adulthood that these examples are moments to rejoice over. We know how hard it is to get things done in the way we want to, without circumstances, others’ agendas, cutting in on us. In fact, we can feel like pinching ourselves when things do go our way, because sometimes, it can be hard to take in.
I was reminded of the song ‘O What a Beautiful Morning’ when thinking about a title for this post. Perhaps it’s the confidence of a sunny morning that allows us to say ‘I’ve got a wonderful feeling // Everything’s going my way’. Because on those occasions when life does go our way, it can feel pretty wonderful. If we let it be so.
Time to start patting ourselves on the back? No. We know the value, and the infrequency, of times like this. Time to stop pinching – and start appreciating, however fleeting these moments may be. They are still real. They are worth delighting over.