It’s early morning and I am happily engaged in my usual routine. I arise long before my husband and father-in-law so that I might enjoy the quiet time when even my neighbors are still slumbering in their homes. There are few sounds other than the drone of the air conditioner working to trick us into believing the wretchedly hot July weather is cooler than it actually is. As the sunshine becomes brighter a few birds begin singing their good morning tunes, announcing that another day has begun. Now and again a car starts in the distance signaling someone who is making an early start for work. It is the most peaceful moment of the day when I am able to gather my thoughts, count my blessings and feel thankful.
I open the blinds in all of the rooms of the house save for the places where the men are sleeping and watch the splendor of sunrise. I sip on my tea and nibble on my breakfast while offering birthday greetings to my friends and family on Facebook. I have watched everyone grow older since I joined that social media platform over ten years ago. The heartbeat of life goes on until it does not. Far too many have left this earth and I tend to think of them in the stillness of the day’s beginning. They are still part of me, part of my story and I do miss them.
I read the morning news from several sources. I like it best when nothing tragic has happened while I was asleep. I still find it amazing that with a click of a few keys I can instantly learn what is happening in the moment. The technology of our modern world enigmatically keeps us constantly connected while also pushing us farther and farther apart. It seems that we have yet to figure out how to use our conveniences perfectly well. Perhaps we have too much information too soon and never have enough time to process what we have learned. I suspect that it keeps many of us in a continuous state of anxiety. Maybe we would be best served if we were to limit the amount of time that we set aside to respond to notifications on our phones,
Sometimes I find inspiration from a news story or a post from a friend that carries me through the entire day without an unpleasant thought. Other times I learn of someone who is suffering and I find myself thinking of them and wondering what I might do to help them in their time of sorrow. More than anything I enjoy hearing good things about the young people. I know that the working of the world will soon be theirs and I have every confidence that they will know what to do, but I worry that we have left a bit of a mess for them.
Before the others arise I meditate on many topics. I try to get my mind free of the kind of thoughts that inhibit my ability to enjoy the precious life that I have. Most of the time I do quite well with that, but other times I let my imagination get the best of me and I worry more than I should. Life is all things at once. In the same moment I can remember and feel all that has been good and all that has pulled me down, made me weary. I suppose that each of us is tilting windmills, battling demons while also living our dreams. If someone hangs around as long as I have they will have also endured nightmares and tragedies that seem unbearable while they are unfolding. I have learned that it is okay to be angry now and again, but we each have to be careful not to allow the darkness to enshroud us. At some point we have to dust ourselves off and move past the disappointments, suffering and loss even when it is intensely painful to do so.
Each new dawn provides us with another opportunity to become just a bit better at living life on this remarkable planet. As a mother and a teacher I have seen that hard work and patience can make dreams come true, but no life is ever perfect or without challenges. Some have more setbacks and tragedies than most of us would be able to endure. We would so well to remember that our good fortune often came only from being born to the right people in the right place at the right time. As my mother often reminded me, every human on this earth desires safety, security, love. Some have to fight harder than the rest of us to find such things.
My morning musings are eventually interrupted as the people around me awaken. We all have tasks to do, places to go. Life gets noisier and more complicated. I hope that I am ready. I want to be pleasant and accepting even if I’m hit by curve balls that change the direction of my plans. I know that being human I will no doubt get irritated now and again, but I don’t want to be hurtful either by will or accident. There is enough anger and sorrow around us. I try not to be the cause of more. May goal is to be better today than I was yesterday and to forgive myself when I don’t quite measure up.
I love the mornings. They set me straight, determine my goals, chase away the terrors that infect my brain in the dark of night. I begin again. Maybe today I will get it mostly right!
All It Takes Is A Little Love 