One fine morning, after the usual interrupted sleep and somewhat interesting dreams (the kind that make me wonder what happens at the back of my mind when I am not looking 🙂 ), I was doing my usual; thinking through the day, and/weeks before; and then my mind chose to take a pause on me, literally!! Next thing I knew I had this one thought, that I had a choice.
I could spend today stressing over what did not work yesterday/ last week/ last month; the balls I dropped, those I didn’t pick up, the opportunities missed, calls not made that should have been…I could even worry about tomorrow/ this week/ this season; whether I will be fine, if I will lose my temper, whether I will meet my deadlines or deliver on my assigned tasks…list is endless.
I could be grateful for a new day, for the gift of life; for friends so dear, the kind that know you well and yet have stuck around. I could laugh at the teasing I have received for being ‘too serious’ or at the growing baby questions from well-wishing (I think) friends and family. I could smile at the fact that there are numerous libraries open to me and I can always find a good book. I could smile at the thought of the sound of rain on the rooftops or the smell of the ground after a drizzle.
And I am, grateful. For everything I so often take for granted; like eye sight, breath, food, a voice, security, music, water, random thoughts, sunsets, laughter. For the people who take time to take part in my ‘for entertainment only’ arguments; for warm smiles and For friendships I did nothing to deserve; for early morning texts from Dad reminding me I am loved and prayed for; for Mom’s updates and reminders to keep in touch; for the opportunity to live and work in another country and encounter similar but different cultures from my own; for strangers and new acquaintances; for trips with old and new friends; for the big things and the little things.
I like to think of a new year in life as a new dawn for me. A clean canvas from God especially for me… even though I cannot draw to save a twig, I can write, pour paint, or just print out things and post them onto this canvas. Waking up today, plagued by so much uncertainty and a few stresses, knowing not the details of what lies ahead, I choose to wake up daily and rather than get bogged down by the night that was- celebrate the new dawn and be present in that day. To work, pray, think, write, play,learn, laugh, hug, take the trips I can,and remember that He who made me, made no copies.
Maybe you woke up like me, with a clear list of all the things that did not go well yesterday; the plans you made but didn’t/couldn’t see through; the chores you had but we’re for some reason too exhausted to do; that one moment when you shouted at another for no justifiable reason. Guess what, that happened. But this new day right here, is a customisable gift for you.
Will you choose to accept and treat it as such? I sure hope so.
I wish you so many dawn’s, as many as you need to live out your purpose, to smile again,to keep learning and growing.
Belinda K 