A few days ago, I had a note go a little bit viral, bringing in an influx of new subscribers — if that’s you, welcome! I’m so glad you’ve joined us in this little corner of the internet. If you’d like to get familiar with the rhythm of this publication, start here. The monthly theme gives an overview of what we’re focusing on for July (it’s all about en{joy}ment). Otherwise, keep reading for this week’s intention.
Hello, friend.
How was your weekend? Mine was a bit of a whirlwind, but it ended up being a good mix of summer plans with people and set-apart time to recalibrate for work. All that and the complexity and grief of being human in this time and space. It is difficult to remain engaged in compassion without being overwhelmed by the seemingly constant tragedies that befall us. Still, I do the work to keep showing up. Part of the way I do that is by prioritizing moments of self-connection in the day-to-day.
Life is intense, but the lightness of joy is necessary. I refuse to sacrifice one for the other. I must make a way to remain open to bits of beauty as they meet me, and I must also turn toward the hurting with my heart open and hands ready to hold. If you find yourself walking that line, too, welcome. We’re in this together.
As we focus on what it looks like to embrace the day, please know I’m not advocating that we overlook the pain and suffering around us. It is my deepest hope that this will be an encouragement to embrace the beauty of the ordinary as it meets you in quiet moments. We need connection. Our souls are hungry for simple joys. Can we make room for the both/ands of life and nourish ourselves with presence? I know I’m willing to try.
“The way to capture the moment is to slow down and look within, to simplify and celebrate the everyday.”
—Rosie Steer
Most of life is lived in the middling places. These are the spaces between the peaks and valleys of life, otherwise known as the mundane.
We learn early on to celebrate the big wins—graduations, beating the odds, big life achievements (you get the idea!). We also mark the dips of life—funerals, health scares, job losses, relationship endings, etc. The intensity of the highs and lows demands our attention. If we learned, as many do, that intensity equals value, we might miss out on the power of peace within the mundane, even if we crave that very thing.
We might not feel safe or content in moments of calm if we’re used to staying alert to what might go wrong at any given moment. If we feel like we have to prove ourselves in order to be celebrated, taking time to slow down and enjoy the mundane might feel unnatural.
The good news is that we can learn a new way. We don’t have to keep repeating the same patterns in our lives.
The most meaningful things in life aren’t encapsulated in our extraordinary moments; they’re found in the stuff of the everyday. The simplest things can bring us joy if we take the time to celebrate them. We can learn to embrace the beauty of the ordinary.
A morning walk around the neighborhood pond gives me the opportunity to pay attention to what is close. There’s a blue heron in one corner, standing tall and still. There are mulberries on the paved path, and both birds and grubby hands collect the fruit from overhanging limbs. There are dogs and their owners, doing the same daily ritual as my dog and I. Another day, I see an eagle feasting on a fish it’s caught. As the seasons change, the landscape does, too. Morning or evening, there are slight differences in the world around me, and when I pay attention, I can see something beautiful in the commonplace.
Today, we are living in what will become our past. Let’s embrace the day, sipping on delight when we find it, and savoring the precious, ordinary moments of connection. If we don’t enjoy the days as we have them, we will still look back with longing on what has passed, reaching with nostalgia for what once was. Why not enjoy what we have while we’re living it?
Summertime is the perfect time to embrace this slower approach (psssst—we talked about this last week in Ditch the Hustle). A little bit of mindfulness can go a long way in connecting us to the simple joys of the moment. Taking time when we can to tune into the present—giving our attention to how the air feels on our skin, who’s around us, what sounds we hear, the taste of ice-cream, watermelon, or other summertime favs—can heighten our experience.
Even if we only give ourselves a few mindful moments each day to slow down, look within, and capture the moment, we might find a gentler pace. Grace where it meets us—in the way the sun glints off water midday, in the laughter of children playing, in a friendly smile that reminds us that we’re not alone, or in the affection of a pet.
Today, I’m planning to sneak off to the lake before sunset for a swim with my pup. I’m going to embrace the heat of summer by escaping it in cool waters. That’s one mindful moment. But it starts here, now. Writing this to you.
I hope you know how very loved you are, simply because you’re you. I hope you know that you are worthy of attention, care, and support—even, and especially, your own.
As you move your awareness to this very moment, notice what the air feels like as it enters your lungs. What do you hear right now? What do you feel in your body?
Take this awareness into the rest of your day, and look for the little glimmers of goodness around you. Ordinary gifts abound each day; I hope you look for them like hidden treasure.
How difficult or easy is it for you to embrace the day you’re in?
If you find yourself often jumping into the future or past, identifying something you can ground your awareness in in the present can be a helpful tool. For some, that’s a mantra (like, “I am here in this moment, and that’s enough”). For others, it’s a practice like meditation, prayer, mindfulness, or an awe walk. It might look like giving your full attention to the closest living thing.
Set an intention to look for ordinary beauty (joy, peace, love, connection—beauty in any form) each morning this week. This is not about showing up perfectly. Tune in a few times to be as present in the moment as you possibly can. Rinse and repeat.
I’m curious how this lands for you. Is embracing the ordinary in each day something you already practice? If so, what are your go-to ways to do it? Is it something that is a bit more difficult? What keeps you from engaging in this way? Any and all thoughts welcome! ⬇️
Love this Sara, you always brings me back to reality , I’m feeling particularly overwhelmed at the moment and full of injustices but normally I try to live in the moment but it’s gone haywire! I’m going to practice this week.
I feel that tension between the brokenness and beauty here on planet earth. May we learn to hold both. As a recovering optimist, I am better at savoring moments of beauty and just learning to be curious when my mind or body alert me that things aren't as they should be.