Have you ever had those little thoughts that pop up, seemingly out of nowhere? It makes you wonder how your mind got from here to there. My morning walk, and yes it is the only exercise I get, found my mind travelling from here to there, or is it there to here, at warp speed.
It was chilly for Florida, only forty degrees but I wasn’t going to be deterred. Maybe this is the new me. Maybe its the New Year me arriving a little early. In the past I might have used a forty degree temperature as a really good, perfectly valid, totally natural reason why I should stay at home with a steaming hot cup of tea. But then I wouldn’t have had the seemingly out of nowhere thought.
The lake was steaming, and the water birds made themselves as small as possible, whether to keep warm or pretend to be invisible to their prospective prey I couldn’t say. Armed with a scarf and gloves…I know, I know, but I never said I wasn’t a wimp…I was warm and cozy as I strode out happily. Blissfully happy. Which got me wondering how many people started this day in bliss.
Is bliss something that sneaks up on us when we’re not looking? Do we have to do something to feel blissful? I used to think you had to be a really good person to feel bliss, maybe good on the level of sainthood, but that couldn’t be true because there was nothing saintly about me this morning, or yesterday, or even last week. Actually, never.
I did nothing, that I know of, to deserve that feeling of bliss, the one which elevates the spirit and lightens the heart, not to mention lightens our step, well this morning it was my step, but I’m certain it’s the same for us all. So where does bliss come from and can we all get a bit of it at will?
Samuel Ullman said “Lines may wrinkle the skin but loss of enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.” Maybe that’s a good place to start…enthusiasm.
What would it take to develop a workplace where people were honoured for their contributions, all people. Where people were encouraged to be innovative and mistakes seen as mere learning experiences. That sounds cool to me. A workplace with heart and enthusiasm. You might not have the power to make all these changes, but you could begin to encourage and honour your colleagues.
What would it take for a home to be filled with praise for the children, or your partner. Where opinions and differences were valued and respected. Where love and happiness reigned. A home with heart and enthusiasm. That’s doable.
What would it take for you to be filled with enthusiasm for your world, for your experiences, for your life? For you? Go on, you can do it. We can all do it. Maybe bliss will find us.
Encourage each other.
Elle.
xox
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2 Comments
Perhaps Elle, it’s when we allow the din of the world to quiet that we begin to well up with Enthusiasm and Bliss. In those moments, the beauty and joy of this life rush to the fore and we truly know we are blessed.
And what a lovely ideas you propose of keeping this Enthusiasm and Bliss alive at home and work . . .
Great thought Joseph. I appreciate your wise words.