Today was one of those days where at any minute it could have rained, but then sun kept coming out intermittently and I didn’t really know what the weather had in store for us.
After much debate, I decided to take a chance and walk. At first it was overcast and I was simply happy it wasn’t raining. And then the sun came out and I was incredibly grateful.
I thanked God for the warmth and brightness of the sun. It did wonders for my soul. I’d had a rough night‘s sleep and was having trouble getting my feet moving so far that morning.
While thoroughly enjoying the sun, it started to sprinkle. My immediate reaction was, Oh shoot, here comes the rain. But then I tuned into the sprinkles and noticed how wonderful they felt. I said, God it’s OK, I don’t mind the sprinkles. They feel like kisses from heaven!
I realized I could’ve let myself go down the road of seeing them as curses—as possibly the end of the walk thanks to the rain I was hoping to dodge. I could have spent the rest of the walk dreading an oncoming rain that may or may not ever come.
Continuing to walk, it was overcast for a bit with sprinkles. But then the sun came out AND the sprinkles continued. It was the best of both worlds. I was being kissed by heaven twice, with sunshine and sprinkles. I was giddy with joy.
Soon, I came upon a magnolia tree that I usually don’t notice. It was full of blooms. I stopped to take three deep inhales. Wow. If someone could ever bottle that fresh, delicious scent, I would buy it.
Walking can be a mindfulness meditation when we allow it to be. I tuned into my senses and realized that I was enjoying the heat, the sunlight, the rain sprinkles, the magnolia’s smell, and the sounds of nature. Even the cars going by were part of the experience and it was perfect.
I was tuned into all of it. I didn’t miss anything. I had my eyes and ears peeled for gifts and the biggest gift itself was presence. I spend too much time busy on a hamster wheel where I’m not even present with myself. Oh what a glorious gift I received on my walk today, to be present with me and everything around me.
I hope you can find a way to tune in and be mindful today. And I hope when life serves up something that could be perceived two ways, that you will choose to see kisses instead of curses.
