Life is busy. If I’m not working at the 9-to-5, I’m juggling appointments or working on an endless list of tasks. Sometimes it feels like I’m running on a giant hamster wheel.
It’s at those moments I stop, take a deep breath, and remind myself life is more than just getting stuff done. It’s a magical gift. I’m a unique and powerful person. Someone who matters. We all matter. I am not what I do, but an individual living the life of my choosing.
Magic is all around me. I just need to be mindful enough to notice. Whether listening to birds chirping in the morning or finding animal shapes in the cotton clouds, I can find moments of magic throughout my day. While walking, I enjoy watching squirrels because they make me laugh. A fluffy twitching tail and adorable face gets me every time. Their agility and speed amaze me. They take death defying leaps between tree limbs in unending games of frolicking tag.
But it’s not only the daytime that holds magical moments. Since I’m a morning exerciser, I’m always up before sunrise. On running days, when I step outside, I take in the blanket of stars overhead. It gives me perspective on what’s important in life. We are one planet in a galaxy of stars and planets. And I’m one person on this planet lucky enough to be staring up at the stars. Then there’s the moon. That beautiful orb in the sky smiling down on us as we sleep (or run, in my case). Sometimes I’ll hold my arms out with my head tipped back, letting the power of the moon wash over me.
Different smells evoke fond memories. When I close my eyes and let myself indulge in the rich aroma of a freshly brewed pot of coffee, I think of moments with friends and family. Or the feeling of curling up with a warm, soft blanket and a good book. The smell of fresh cut grass sends me back to my childhood and playing in the grass with Snooper, our dachshund-terrier mix breed dog. Since discovering the Great British Baking Show last year, I’m obsessed with bread making. There’s nothing like the smell of fresh bread to bring magic into the kitchen.
I enjoy the sound of a thunderstorm, nature’s majestic show of power. Once or twice a year, I try to get out to the beach. While waves crash onto the shore and I walk along with my bare feet melting into the sand and breathing in the salty air, I get a feeling of calm and serenity. And those cute little birds that run from the waves lapping on the beach make me laugh. Laughter itself is magic, whether I’m laughing with friends or listening to children as they play. There’s no better way to lift your spirits.
I’ll go with the ‘my favorite things’ theme and list out some things that bring magic to my life. I love the hug of flannel PJ’s, the smell and feel of towels just out of the dryer, the casual caress of my husband’s hand, my cat curled up in my lap, the smell of hot chocolate, gingerbread and Bailey’s, cotton sheets, black bean burgers with homemade buns movie night, decorating the Christmas tree, seeing children in their Halloween costumes, campfires, and spending time with family.
I hope you have a day of your choosing.
