The other morning I woke up grumpy. It was Monday, it should have been Sunday and I was not a happy bunny. The very last thing I felt like doing was walking the dogs, but the only thing worse than walking Pebbles, is not walking her. Without a walk to take the edge off her exuberance, she stays a handful all day.
So off we went, me stomping moodily, Lalley trotting happily and Pebbles galloping madly squeaking with excitement! We do this daily, and every morning the dogs are as keen and happy as the day before, while it’s a bit more hit and miss for me. Some days I enjoy it but often it’s just another chore on my to-do list. So what’s the difference?
I honestly can’t speak for the dogs, who knows why they adore walking, they just do. They simply jog along thoroughly enjoying the myriad of sights, sounds and smells. I spend a lot of the walk in my head, planning the day, structuring how to fit everything in, and rushing to get it over so my real day can start.
As I plodded along bored and frustrated, I had one of those magical moments where I woke up to how ridiculous I was being. It was a stunning morning, the air was cool and crisp, the sun was shining and as I looked ahead, a monkey stood on two legs peering at me, before dashing back into the natural forest alongside.
We all have chores, things we have to do on a daily basis and we often clutch out while doing them. Maybe you love cooking, but when you do it every night, rushed and tired after a busy day, it loses its allure. We stop enjoying the smells and pleasure of creating something as beautiful as a meal for our family.
So before you cook supper tonight, or get in the car to drive home or fetch the kids, take a moment to give your attention to the task you are about to undertake. Notice the weight of your body as you sit or stand, smell the aromas, see the colours, feel the sensations and remember this chore, right here in this moment, IS your life.