A Reminder
A Reminder
By Laura Mills
A sunny morning; your favorite song on the radio; the perfect dress in just the right size; a corner slice of the yummiest birthday cake; your first cartwheel; a glass of lemonade with ice on a hot day; your child’s laugh; a purring kitten snuggled on your lap; the music of rain on your roof; a cozy fireplace on a January night; the hand of your partner, held tight in yours; holiday songs; bed sheets just out of the dryer; the smell of a new car; really juicy peaches; giving someone a present; your favorite team winning the game at the last second; a sip of your favorite wine; a visit with a friend you haven’t seen in many years; newly-bloomed roses; a day off; rainbows; fresh-baked bread; a compliment from your mentor; the first time you lift your feet off the ground in Headstand; cooking a meal for someone you care about; a get-together with friends on a Thursday night, for no reason other than just to catch up….
We know the list; we’ve seen lists like this before. And we know they go on.
Life has always been, and will always be, full of amazing moments. At the same time, the majority of us are old enough to clearly remember life before September 11, 2001….
No matter how many times we’ve seen or heard it before, let’s never take any single moment for granted. Ever.
Cherish This
Cherish This
By Laura Mills
Right now I am sitting at my kitchen table in front of my computer, having just finished my cereal, drinking coffee, listening to classical music. The patio door is open and I’m looking into my yard, and I’m hearing the chirps of crickets and birds. Of course, not every moment of my life is this easily sweet; just this morning before breakfast I dusted the living room, swept the kitchen, and fed and cleaned up after my cats. Soon enough, I’ll head back upstairs to get ready for work. But right now, in this moment, I am exactly where I want to be.
We all experience snippets of life like this in which the immediate circumstances just seem right. We are content to breathe and feel and be without immediately moving on to something else. We think, “Ah, so THIS is happiness.” Our challenge, I believe, as I discuss so often with other yogis, is to nurture the contentment of these moments and apply it to the times when life isn’t so accommodating. Our yoga practices help; with yoga, we encourage our bodies, minds and spirits towards lasting and perfectly balanced peace.
But in the meantime, we relish the peace that comes easily. We sigh, take a deep breath, and give thanks.