Abundance and Garnish

— WORD FOR THE DAY —(for today, June 8, 2023)

When we pause, we are able to observe our interdependence—from a harvest taken from the soil by a stranger’s hands to the electrician who keeps the lights and Wi-Fi on. We are surrounded by the abundance we create for each other.

JOE PRIMO (Chief Executive Officer, Grateful Living)

I am sitting on our back patio this morning, my first real summer morning after the school year ended. It’s cool enough to need long pants and a light jacket as I sit here. I love that! Heat and humidity had hung around for over a week. I see the abundance and interdependence referenced in Joe Primo’s quote. My husband Darcy made breakfast. The garbage trucks are busy in our neighborhood already. Road construction will soon be underway a street over.

And the non-humans offered several reminders of that abundance and interdependence as well. My friends, the squirrels, brought me smiles and a touch of joy as they raced across utility wires and made their way up and down trees and poles. Frolicking. What a way to start your day! We have cardinals in our neighborhood too, and one alighted on a wire for a few seconds to say hello.

Darcy’s grandmother’s peonies are either in bloom or on the brink of blossoming. I love this too.

A recovery friend and I were also recently talking about self-care and how difficult it can be for us to show ourselves compassion and acceptance. The word garnish came up in our conversation. Garnish: decorate, adorn, embellish, enhance. It often refers to food, but why not decorate and enhance our lives, our selves, and our days in lots of other ways too? It beats the self-defeating overthinking and overdoing traps we can easily fall into.

I was thinking about this idea of garnish as I took an evening bike ride yesterday. I put some garnish on a good day with some beautiful views, like this one of the sun heading toward the horizon:

Pause in abundant presence a few times today. Add some garnish for a little flair of awe. Be well.