Hello,
I found myself lingering this morning. My body leaning lazily against our open front door as I watched a chickadee scooting around the lawn and making multiple trips to the feeder. My little long-haired dachshund, Franklin, was curled up in a sun patch he’d sourced out on the lawn on this cool April day. With his eyes closed he was content as could be, which warmed my heart. “Why don’t I do this more often – spend time in this state of lingering?”, I pondered.
Merriam-Webster states that to linger is to “be slow in parting or in quitting something”. The notion of choosing to be slow in parting sounds luxurious in this moment. To slow down and be present. I feel an amused smile welling up from within even as I type this. Have I not learned this before – to slow down? When I do take my time, I find magic and often moments of unexpected joy. Joy that I don’t have to go searching for or add to my to-do list. Joy that already exists right here in front of me. What a blessing.
As the day moved along, I made a point of lingering a bit longer in moments of delight. Because of my time spent lingering I found…
I feel more present and connected with my surroundings – everything from the food I have eaten to the people I have spent time with.
I have noticed colours, smells and textures more fully. I heard the birds at the window, when usually I would have passed by without stopping to take notice.
I feel more alive and alert as the day has progressed. I have smiled more than I would have. And, I feel a beautiful sense of sustaining joy.
Such a simple thing – to linger. And, while I may not always perceive I have the time to do so, I am finding the lingering moments actually feel like they add time and space to my life.
This week my aim is to hold eye contact with my loved ones an additional heart beat longer, to rest my gaze upon the waves and watch the gulls skirt the water, and stop on my walks and really look at spring coming to life around me. With this, I will take the time to capture the miracles I find in those moments on my journal pages.
Unexpected blessings are just waiting for us to linger a while. Just one of life’s beautiful invitations to joy!
Love,
Jan
P.S. You’ll find this week’s free journal pages here. Pages that inspire and bring forth your creative heart!
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