Soak up the Beauty that is left in the remnants of the Stillness...

Do you remember being a child during a power outage?  Maybe it was just unique to our family, but I remember it as a terribly exciting and fun event!  All family members would gather in the kitchen, where the gas stove was lit.  The four burners giving the only light to the blanket of darkness.  Once those were lit, and our eyes adjusted, Mom would get more candles and flashlights so we could navigate about the house if need be.  Most nights though, we would stay hovering around the stove or seated at the kitchen table.  Often Mom would open the blinds so we could see the storm with its flashes of lightning dance across the kitchen walls... almost competing with the flickers of candlelight.  With no electricity, came no television, no radio, no distractions.  Crashes of thunder were the soundtrack to our power outage family chats.  On the rare occasion that we had them in the house, Mom would even let us roast marshmallows on the flames of the stove!  What a wonderful way to turn an "unfortunate event" into a joyous one!

This memory brought to my attention how lost we "mature adults" get in the intricacies of grown-up life.  So preoccupied with our to-do lists and jam packed schedules, we often forget about these simple pleasures.  So accustomed to the constant movement, music, television, emails, video games...What if you made a decision to create your own "power outage" intentionally?  Turn off the phones, turn off the music, turn off the television.  The next step is very important, FIRST get your candles and matches or lighter in place and lit, THEN turn off the lights.  ;)  The rest is up to you.  Focus on appreciating the finer details of the rest of your evening.  Tune in to the wonder of your breath, and its effortless ebb and flow.  What other sounds will create the "background music" to your evening?  Are there birds that sing in the evening outside your home like at mine?  Are there crickets that sing to each other outside your window?  Could you time your evening of appreciation with the full moon?  Open up the windows or go outside and soak up the lunar rays and their beauty.  Spring is coming... and with it all the beautiful desert blooms.  Breathe in their delicate aroma, and exhale away any stresses from the day.  Maybe you could plan your night on a "high chance of showers" day, and breathe in the wet desert dirt smell, we natives have come to love.  Whatever type of evening you choose to create, the options of sensory delight are endless.  

There are many of us that mentally recognize that most of our experiences in life are dependent on our perception.  As simplistic as it may sound, this recognition put into action can be life altering, in the best way imaginable.  We constantly receive reminders that life is something that should be relished and thoroughly enjoyed, if we will just open our eyes and listen.  

On Friday, 2:45 came around and it was time to pick up my daughter from school.  I got my shoes and my two year old son, Elijah's shoes on. I grabbed my purse and keys, and took a deep breath.  (One of these days I'll write about the blessing/curse of being a stay at home mom, and all that it entails!)   :)  As I opened the door to walk outside, my happy little boy literally pranced out the doorway.  I quickly locked the door behind  me, and turned to see him half skipping, half running down the walkway to the car.  He stopped halfway, after realizing I wasn't beside him, and ran back to me.  His little hand grabbed mine, and he laughed out a giddy, "MAMA!  RUUUUUUUUN!  HAHAHAHAHA!"  What a lucky mama I am to have this little reminder of how we are meant to enjoy our moments!  What a beautiful thing.  He literally was beside himself with joy to run!  It didn't matter the destination!  It didn't matter the speed!  He just was happy to run!  Now, if you have the secret to enjoying running, then I need to read your blog!  I have not gotten there yet!  But the message is the same.  We choose the level of joy we glean from the collective moments that create our day.  Someday soon, make a "power outage" happen in your life, and soak up the beauty that is left in the remnants of the stillness.