A few nights ago I had a dream...
In it, I got to spend time with my father, who passed away several years ago.
What I remember most was the feeling of gratitude. It was as if I had been given a second chance to be fully present for the time I had with him—to notice it, appreciate it, and not take it for granted.
When I woke up, I was bummed to realize it had only been a dream.
Yet at the same time it felt like dad had given me a message.
Live fully now.
I asked myself what I could do to be better at that.
Here's what came to mind:
It’s difficult to have your best life if you don’t take the time every now and then to actually evaluate the life you’re living.
And that often begins with asking yourself questions.
Last week, I shared a collection of autumn journal prompts designed to help us notice what is changing, what we’re ready to release, and what might be ready for renewal.
One of them I shared in last week's email and it really stayed with me this week:
What is ordinary in my life today that I may someday wish I could experience again?
Instead of simply sitting down with my journal and answering it, I decided to keep asking myself the question throughout the day.
What I discovered was not surprising, but a great reminder.
There is so much joy in the ordinary moments of my life.
I’ve become fairly practiced at savoring some of the moments I repeat every day—like sitting quietly with my morning coffee.
But there are so many other ordinary moments that can slip by unnoticed.
- The soft, loving touch of Curt’s hand on my back as he passes behind me in the kitchen.
- The abundance of green everywhere I look in my Kentucky neighborhood.
- The ability to step into my kitchen with enough confidence to simply play with ingredients and see what happens.
None of these moments are extraordinary, yet each holds a bit of sweetness worth savoring.
Sometimes, when something happens often enough, it becomes ordinary.
And sometimes, ordinary can begin to feel ordinary.
Asking myself that question changed the way I experienced these little moments.
I recognized that they were moments I might someday wish I could experience again.
And that made them worth noticing, savoring and being fully present for.
Doing this added little bursts of happiness to my day again and again.
If you'd like to spice up days a little this week, give it a try.
What is ordinary that I may someday wish I could experience again?
Ask it while you’re getting ready for your day.
Having a conversation.
Taking a walk.
Washing the dishes.
Winding down at the end of the day.
Doing things you’ve done a hundred times before.
Sometimes the right question really can change how life feels.
Have a lovely week, Julie
P.S.
If you missed last week's post and you’d like more questions to help you pause, reflect, and see your life a little differently, here's the link to Autumn Journal Prompts for a Season of Reflection, Release & Renewal.
I find the sweet spots in the ordinary.
What We Loved This Week
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