Last week one day I sat having lunch and there was a disturbance behind me. I looked and a coin was spinning on the floor below my chair. I looked around and saw that no one moved. No one was looking for something they dropped or snickered having thrown something to get my attention. The coin just spun under my chair until it collapsed on the floor in exhaustion.
So the story goes, as does the rest of my life -- an unexpected spinning until collapsing on the floor....seemingly valueless as it is just a penny and disregarded by most.
And then this morning I saw a pile of pennies on the street as I walked to the bus to get the train to go to work. Quietly, I took a few and left most for another who was possible in as much of a little fortune as I. Before stuffing them into my pocket, I counted seven. My fingers plucked up seven of the little copper reminders -- even the smallest of things have value.
I heard a motivational speaker quite a few years back talk about a friend needing to win the lottery and finding a dime on the street. His friend didn't pick up the dime because it was only a dime and he needed more. The speaker explained it was a reminder of the fortunes one is given that are often overlooked.
Now just before I heard this cat share this wisdom, I had a rough patch of time where money was scarce... In fact it was absent most days. I probably struggled no more than any other with finances, but with my brain, it was crippling emotionally to go through this neediness. At the time I worked in a suburb that I had to transfer two buses and a train for the commute. It was a long ride and there were days I was counting nickels for the fare. I had arrived at work one day and felt grateful that I got in. The commute was no different than any other day, but it was pouring rain and possibly the day I received my paycheck. Definitely a day I took a coffee from the break room. And I remember, still today, bring grateful for finding the coins in all the corners and jars and change purses to make the fare one more day.
I decided to take a moment and instead of making the to-do list, showing me at the end of the day all that I had not achieved; I decided to write all the things for which I was grateful that day. And I hear myself as I recommend this exercise -- there is the very trite, my friends and family, my kids and dog.... But that's not what I mean. Daily gratitude is the little picture. Its the pennies adding up to a bus ride and a free cup of coffee.
At the end of a week, I looked back at my little notebook. I had things about my kids in there, but i also had things like, uninterrupted bath and hot water. I had things like milk in my coffee and unexpected dinner invitation from my sister with a nice bit of fancy cheese.
I don't want to list the things for which I felt gratitude yesterday. I am focusing on today and those seven little things that should not be disregarded, but piled up into a mound of valued moments.
So the story goes, as does the rest of my life -- an unexpected spinning until collapsing on the floor....seemingly valueless as it is just a penny and disregarded by most.
And then this morning I saw a pile of pennies on the street as I walked to the bus to get the train to go to work. Quietly, I took a few and left most for another who was possible in as much of a little fortune as I. Before stuffing them into my pocket, I counted seven. My fingers plucked up seven of the little copper reminders -- even the smallest of things have value.
I heard a motivational speaker quite a few years back talk about a friend needing to win the lottery and finding a dime on the street. His friend didn't pick up the dime because it was only a dime and he needed more. The speaker explained it was a reminder of the fortunes one is given that are often overlooked.
Now just before I heard this cat share this wisdom, I had a rough patch of time where money was scarce... In fact it was absent most days. I probably struggled no more than any other with finances, but with my brain, it was crippling emotionally to go through this neediness. At the time I worked in a suburb that I had to transfer two buses and a train for the commute. It was a long ride and there were days I was counting nickels for the fare. I had arrived at work one day and felt grateful that I got in. The commute was no different than any other day, but it was pouring rain and possibly the day I received my paycheck. Definitely a day I took a coffee from the break room. And I remember, still today, bring grateful for finding the coins in all the corners and jars and change purses to make the fare one more day.
I decided to take a moment and instead of making the to-do list, showing me at the end of the day all that I had not achieved; I decided to write all the things for which I was grateful that day. And I hear myself as I recommend this exercise -- there is the very trite, my friends and family, my kids and dog.... But that's not what I mean. Daily gratitude is the little picture. Its the pennies adding up to a bus ride and a free cup of coffee.
At the end of a week, I looked back at my little notebook. I had things about my kids in there, but i also had things like, uninterrupted bath and hot water. I had things like milk in my coffee and unexpected dinner invitation from my sister with a nice bit of fancy cheese.
I don't want to list the things for which I felt gratitude yesterday. I am focusing on today and those seven little things that should not be disregarded, but piled up into a mound of valued moments.
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