Chasing Down The Muse: Pausing to enjoy the upcoming holiday

What a delight to wake up to these crisp mornings of sunshine and birdsong!

At this time of Thanksgiving one cannot help but compare this simple joy to the lives of those who may not know it. Each new day is a blessing to hold for whatever brief time.

And so I reflect.

Weekly drives to Los Angeles to care for my grandsons can easily turn to rote occurrences in the monotony of freeway driving. Yet there seems always something that occurs just on a given day to pull me from the rote to an appreciation of the special.

This week my “L.A. date” was changed by a number of factors.

A big change was not having my trusty yellow car to transport me safely there. I had been on foot for mostly a week while this aging vehicle was in for repairs and so had to borrow my husband’s car for the trip.

This meant that I had to not only drive a car I was unused to, but that I was leaving earlier and dropping him at work.

Expecting heavier than the usual mid-morning traffic, I was surprised at the easy flow of cars heading north. But, then, there was a gradual slowing near Long Beach.

The cause was soon obvious as flashing lights appeared ahead and traffic eased to the right. A three-car pileup. The middle vehicle really got the worst of it, but all three had major damage.

Immediately, my mind went to how quickly our lives can shift. One minute these folks were driving along on their way to work or appointments or even time with their grandkids like I was.

The next ... well, things have changed. Because of outside occurrences mingled with their own actions, work and appointments would not be met.

How many others would be affected and in what ways?

This is just one of so many ways that our lives change in an instant.

So, as this holiday weekend of Thanksgiving approaches, I ask only that there be pause to rejoice in the many gifts of the good moments.

Whether these moments are spent in solitude or with family and friends, there is much for which we can each be grateful.

I would like to leave you with some questions to posit as you go about the days ahead. Wherever you find yourself, ask these questions posed by the wonderful poet Mary Oliver in her poem “Gratitude”:

What did you notice?

What did you hear?

What did you admire?

What astonished you?

What would you like to see again?

What was most tender?

What was most wonderful?

What did you think was happening?

Listen to the birds. Feel the sun on your shoulders. Enjoy the soft caress of a breeze. Take a deep breath. Smile in passing. Relax. Be helpful and courteous to others and take care of yourself. Ask and answer Oliver’s posers.

I can almost guarantee you will feel a shift in your thinking. Please take the time. Drive safely. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Oh! And don’t eat toooooo much.

CHERRIL DOTY is writer, artist, creative coach, and much more, but most of all she is grateful for the blessings of each beautiful and mysterious muse-filled moment. She can be reached at [email protected] or (714) 745-9973.