Sometimes perfect days happen with a lot of fanfare – celebration, music, good food, maybe some dancing, people coming together to honor a special occasion. A marriage. A graduation. A new job. A new baby. Celebrations that recognize major life events.
Sometimes perfect days are so quiet and calm and beautiful that you can miss them if you aren’t paying attention. Sometimes they’re about what you’ve done or will do. Sometimes they’re about just being in the precious moments.
I just had a perfect day. There wasn’t a lot that was extraordinary about it. It was just time spent getting little things done and also just being.
I woke feeling strong and grounded. I was going to start my walking plan so I went out for a relaxed, leisurely walk. I didn’t have any distance or time plans. I just wanted to walk as far as I was comfortable and then come home when I was ready. I walked .97 miles. I know for someone who used to do 6 miles a day that’s not a lot, but I felt powerful. I haven’t walked much by myself at this point. The distortion in my vision caused by the winkle in my left retina and everything I’ve gone through with the breast cancer, diagnosis, surgeries, and recovery have kind of put me off my balance game again. But this morning, I had it. I felt so free and it was so lovely outside.
I exited the condo to birdsong. I felt like I was being greeted and welcomed back into the world. Hummingbirds, mourning doves, and pigeons were the most vocal. But there were also robins, thrushes, and blackbirds raising their voices on this glorious morning. A neighbor was drying laundry and I could smell the warm, slightly scented air of fabric softener. I’ve always loved that smell. Snapdragons, pansies, and roses delighted my eyes, as did the xeroscape landscape with cacti and rock gardens throughout the complex. I was fully present in the moment and I loved it.
When I came in from my walk, I made my breakfast shake and sat down to wait for sales people to come and talk with me about flooring for our condo. We’ve been trying to get new floors in our condominium since before we moved in. It’s been a challenge because of HOA regulations. We’ve researched multiple places and just couldn’t find products that met sound requirements. Without much hope, I contacted a place that was having a great promotion, explained my needs, and requested that they only send samples that met the HOA requirements. And they did! I had 11 samples to choose from, all of which met the requirements. That was a delightful win!
Then Andrew and I went out to one of our favorite hangouts for lunch, talked, laughed, and played games together on his phone. It was lovely, a playful, happy time together.
Then we decided to get psychic readings done. I got them for Andrew for his birthday. It was fun. I liked how the reader saw Andrew‘s and my connection, our individual strengths, and the power of our relationship. While I was getting my reading, Andrew went to a popcorn store nearby and surprised me with my favorite popcorn – part caramel corn, part cheddar cheese. I learned about this combination years ago while in the Chicago airport heading to an academic conference. A friend recommended it to me. Yum! Then Andrew took me for a custard at an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. It felt like the sweetest mini date!
We do wonderful, joyful things together all the time. But sometimes it’s really cool just to make it a date and to say that’s what it is and just do little things where we’re 100% focused on one another and ourselves. It was really special!
After we got home, we snuggled and watched silly TV for a while. It was such a delightful way to end the day. I love how easy and open and connected we are. Andrew works at 4 AM, so he goes to bed early. I never want special days to end, so I stay up late. I found myself not wanting the day to end, so I got up to game with Stef. My son is my late night WOW partner.
What a wonderful day of little moments and just being together, of being fully present. Sometimes perfect days aren’t made up of fanfare and celebration. They’re made up of simple, quiet moments of connection and love.
Deborah's Deliberations 