A Different Perspective

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I sip my morning coffee on the kitchen porch five steps up from the sandy beach. From here, I watch the marine traffic, soak in the sounds of wildlife as the morning air feeds my thoughts. Some days, if the wind hasn’t kicked in, the possibility of strolling on the water seem real. The weathered teak chairs have comfortable worn pads. Low to the ground, the seat is deep enough so that I can sit Indian-style with arms resting outward, both hands cupping the ceramic mug. I like my coffee with a hint of fresh cream, the kind that comes in the small glass bottle direct from the dairy to the boutique bakery at the neighborhood corner. This is a daily routine.

But today repairs to the porch interrupt the daily routine. Morning coffee is shared on an upper deck overlooking the water. I sink into a low-slung beach chair, a painted white wood railing separating me from the world I see. I prop a pillow behind my back so I can sit upright without moving my head to take a sip. The morning sun hits my face. I close my eyes as I absorb its energy. The blue of the sky seems lighter as if more exposure has diluted its crispiness. From behind the railing the water seems distant. The marine traffic seems to pass without the same sense of urgency. From here, my perspective changes. Just a level up and I feel removed. No longer can I touch the water. But when I can almost touch the sky, and with the boundaries of the kitchen porch eliminated, my mind expands.

A simple change in venue can make the difference. Stand up. Sit down. Change my seat. Change my view. Listen with my eyes closed. Feel with my eyes wide open. I must remember that it’s the simple things that change my perspective about how I want to live today.

 

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