"Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it."
-Mary Oliver
I first encountered Mary's writing while on personal retreat in a peaceful setting. I was touched by her honest, lusciously descriptive and achingly human way of putting words together. Tender tenacity comes to mind.
I have been tuning into my own capacity to notice the world around me- little details that strike me as beautiful. The fading of a wild flower that gives way to seed; how much I enjoy the first juicy bite of watermelon; the moments of twilight when softness falls across the landscape; the sound of my laughter when I realize I am being ridiculous about something. Noticing is where I am invited into a more regular flow of awareness, a stream of consciousness that moves with and responds to my day.
What is making you feel astonished these days?
Will you soften just a little bit in order to welcome surprise in your days?
- KD