Ordinary Joy

“A leaf fluttered in through the window this morning, as if supported by the rays of the sun, a bird settled on the fire escape, joy in the task of coffee, joy accompanied me as I walked.” ~Anais Nin

I touched on this in my 360° blog but thought it deserved a bit more attention…

There is something quite wonderful about experiencing joy in the ordinariness of everyday life.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the little things – the everyday annoyances of work and money and household chores, aggravation with family and friends, the senseless dramatics and endless emotional rroller coaster rides that are continually going on around us. It’s easy, as well, to be lulled into boredom and apathy when the ride smooths out for awhile.

It’s easy, when you’re standing at the apex of some highlight in your life, to look around you and feel like everything is great, blissful, wonderful, perfect. Even though you know you’re sure to hit a low, it’s easy, in good times, to announce with a grin that “life is GOOD”.

It’s easy, when you’re sittin’ rock bottom, to look around and just know things suck, they’re awful and you hate everything. Not as easy, but common, is the knowledge that no matter how terrible life is at the moment, it’s going to get better. Cuz - be honest, folks – drama queens aside, we all KNOW that life is up and down and up and down and even the worst things are eventually going to get better (or at least be easier to deal with)

But when you can sit amidst the boredom and routine of everyday life, with nothing fabulous going on to make you feel high and nothing horrible going on to give you that consuming angst and pain to dwell on – and let’s be honest about that, too, since in times of both pleasure and pain we all feel exquisitely ALIVE and consumed with our own emotions, if nothing else – when you can sit amidst the boredom and routine of everyday life and feel JOYFUL… it’s a really cool thing.

Life is many things, filled with a multitude of emotions…
and it feels absolutely spectacular to realize that I am happy.

Sometimes I am ecstatic, floating on the high of the amazingly good aspects of my life, positive I couldn’t have chosen a better way. Sometimes I am consumed by misery and certain my life, and my choices, couldn’t have been worse. But in general I am… content. And the joy I find in that is beautiful.

~Peace