Have you heard Mary Oliver‘s great poem The Summer Day? Since I’m no poetry analyst, I’ll leave you to read it for yourself. The poem has inspired joy and reflection for me. For example…
I used to feel guilty about not gardening, or painting, or odd jobbing it around the house. I know some people really enjoy that stuff. I’m OK with dishes and laundry, but I’m no handywoman.
But I started to really think about it, especially after I read Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less and chose essential as my #oneword. It seems to me that many of us, me included, spend a lot of time feeling bad about what we are not, instead of embracing, enjoying and trying to make better what we are. My faults and shortcomings are easy to point out, as are everyone’s.
The truth is that I do not enjoy house chores. I love sitting on my front porch or back deck. I enjoy keeping space for my shoe collection (it’s a bit of a problem). I enjoy a little separation from my neighbours. In other words, I like living in a house. It’s a privilege that so many in our country and around the world do not have.
Instead of feeling bad about what I should be doing, now I focus on what is important and try to do it. First, reading, thinking, planning, and writing. What else? Being outside, walking in the woods, running, swimming, riding my bike. Hugging my family. Connecting with friends. Giving to others. Trying to be a better person. That’s enough for me.
And what about you? How will you use your wild and precious life?
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