Delighting in the Details of Our Days

Amy Fauss
June 13, 2012

School has been out for less than a week, and I can already feel the stress and tension melting away from my body—literally, thanks to the heat. Now if only the pounds would follow suit. Summer's relaxed mood and state-of-mind is penetrating our family's life, and I absolutely love it. No lunches to pack, kids to rush off to school, homework to complete, piano lessons to practice, and so on.

This morning I woke up and had the house to myself for a few precious moments, as the kids were sleeping in after staying up late the night before. Who knew how beautiful a quiet house could sound? The sunlight was beginning to peek through the windows, and the squirrels were busily foraging around for breakfast. The world seemed at peace.

When life slows down, finally, we receive the wonderful gift of taking in the details. Taking noticing of life's little nuances can be soothing and restorative for our minds and our souls.

When was the last time you and your family stopped to enjoy:

1. Listening to birds chirping as you lay in bed.  What time do they wake up at your house?
2. Looking under rocks to discover what creepy crawlies live there.
3. Watching the path of rainwater (or water from a sprinkler) as it travels down the street, picking up leaves and twigs as it goes.
4. Noticing a brightly colored green lizard zigzagging up the side of your neighbor's house.
5. The first blossoms on your crepe myrtle tree.
6. The face of your mailman as he carefully sorts through bundles of mail. (Be sure to offer a kind word of thanks, and maybe an ice-cream sandwich to stave off the heat.)
7. The shadows cast by the sunlight as it streams in the windows.
8. Bird nests that have been tediously built high in the treetops, or the new inhabitants in your birdhouse.
9. Old photographs hanging on the wall which speak of your family's roots and past.
10. The faces of neighbors, and even strangers, who pass by as they walk their dog or ride their bike. What kind of day did they have, and what are they thinking about?

Take a few moments this week to embrace the slower pace of summer; breathe deep, exhale, and soak up the details of the day.