Be Open to the Unexpected

 We often get caught up in the stress of the moment and fail to take advantage of the unexpected gifts that come our way. When we get too busy to smile back at a caring neighbor or chuckle with a child who is tugging at our coat, or lend a hand to an elderly person who is walking across the street, we are out of sync with what’s really important in our lives.

We can get back in balance by shifting our priorities, as Sally experienced:

I was busy working at home and my two-year-old daughter came running over to me. I asked my babysitter to take her away. I kept trying to get through to my boss but was unable to. From the next room, my daughter was persistently calling, “Mommy, come in here.” It dawned on that maybe I should take a break. Left to my own devices, I wouldn’t have realized that I needed one. But my daughter knew better. We spent a lovely half hour rolling around on the floor and playing with her favorite ball.

When we participate in unexpected sources of enjoyment, we nurture our spirit. And we are able to go back to the tasks we were working on with renewed enthusiasm.

How have you recently taken time out to enjoy an activity that wasn’t on your to-do list?

 

Excerpt from In Her Power: Reclaiming Your Authentic Self, by Helene Lerner