Wednesday, August 24, 2011

What Makes Up a Day

Tonight at my book club I led the discussion on Mrs. Mike, a book my awesome friend, Susan, recommended. This quote will forever stand out to me and quite possibly has changed my life forever:
"You'll see, you'll come to understand. These big things, these terrible things, are not the important ones. If they were, how could one go on living? No, it is the small, little things that make up a day, that bring fullness and happiness to a life. Your Sergeant coming home, a good dinner, your little Mary laughing, the smell of the woods --oh, so many things, you know them yourself."
Of course, this character was talking to our heroine about death, disease, burying children, fire, and living up in the wilds of Northern Canada in 1907. But for me, tonight, it has given me some strength to ignore the big things. The depression, the possible changes, the exhaustion, the house --and to focus on the little things.

Here are my little things tonight:

*My son actually enjoyed his first piano lesson!
*Herbal tea is divine and can calm almost any nerve.
*The beautiful painting of my children is so large that I see it in the corner of my eye even as I type this. The beautiful painting of my children praying.
*Enya Radio on Pandora is my favorite.
*I can read. I can write. I can understand what I read and write.
*The anticipation of ripening peaches makes the waiting almost worth it.
*Since coming home from work, my hero (a.k.a. my husband) has been to Costco for me, set up something technical for the Stake, attended a Stake meeting for all youth leader/parents, and went over to a neighbor's house to fix a computer problem. And he looks dang awesome in a suit!

Tomorrow will be a big thing (flying to Portland, yo!), but instead of focusing on the mileage I'll have to walk, I'm going to take this quote with me, and I'm going to focus on the little things: The women on my team, the scenery, the ocean, the awesome drop in elevation for my lungs!

What are your little things lately that make life full and happy for you?

3 comments:

Amanda D said...

I love the quote and will need to remember it.

Today was a rough day -- the kids are ready for a school routine, I think.

Our little things from today are - Bryan bringing home cookies from the funeral, a last minute hair client, the kids cleaning their room, the bedroom getting a little more organized.

Thanks for letting me think about those things - because I tend to forget!

Judi said...

Loved the quote Cheryl...will need to copy and remember...
I hope the "walk in Portland" is wonderful...

As for my little things...
* being asked and accepting to be the PTA Vice Pres at the Jr High (i've never been in PTA before!)
* reading an email from my missionary son and realizing that he has less than 200 days until he comes home
* playing Wii with my son and laughing our heads off, best part, me beating him at bowling
* hubby going to buy me diet Pepsi at 10 PM because I knew that I would need it for work today (and I did!~ working for and airline company when there is a hurrican isn't fun!)
* reading your blog today and finding your quote - thanks for helping me and the rest of us remember to reflect on the "little things"

Mama D said...

My largest little thing today: finding your blog (linked on Silver Rain's sidebar) and reading this quote from Mrs. Mike!

Thank you. I will be back often.