Joy is in the routine

Some days look like they’re headed downhill and try as you might, the brakes won’t work!

I mean, everything that can possibly go wrong, manages to, or tries its very best and succeeds!

Take this morning, for instance.

I woke up. I brushed my teeth. I smiled at myself in the mirror, ran a hand through my bedhead, tightened that scrunchie holding my hair.

Headed to the kitchen to get the coffee going.

Passed my altar on the way – which is a little room that doubles up as a pantry. Said hello to the Almighty, thanked her for a bright new day. Yes, yes, the Almighty IS a woman!

Just as I stepped into the kitchen, I tripped over and almost fell headlong into the big metal basket where I had stacked the washed dishes to dry last night. I just about managed to get my balance back without actually falling. Pretty close call!

Hey, I thought. No big deal!

Got the coffee going. When the saucepan of water came to a boil, I lifted it off the stove. And dropped it. The handle was a little loose and the slight shake threw me. Like having that carpet pulled from under you unexpectedly, you know? Hot water on every surface – or so it seemed. But I had managed to jump back to avoid the worst of it – with only some splashing on to my clothes. I survived.

Hey, I thought. No big deal.

It was only hot water and no real damage done.

I made the coffee without incident, offered a cup of milk with a little sugar at the altar, grinned at the Almighty (and I may or may not have shaken a finger at her) and sat down to enjoy my coffee.

Then my husband woke up and insisted I did not pack him a lunch box today.  I felt a little miserable. I was trying to get my voice out, much to everyone’s amusement, because, what can be more comic than someone croaking – what with a cold and a cough that threatened to drain me out.

I was grateful.

But then, a little while later, I thought about how tough it was for him to manage lunch if he didn’t take it from home – and got into action. I quickly cut up some veggies, stir fried them and cooked some rice to go with them. In 30 minutes, I had packed a box of fried rice, some roasted fritters to go with them and an apple. Cored and sliced.

I felt good. Okay, more like a sense of accomplishment.

Feeling energetic, I went ahead and cleared up the overflowing sink. Just the sight of its emptiness brought on a joyful feeling.

When I sat back with my second cup of coffee, feet up on the stool, I felt quite happy, if a little tired.

I realized it didn’t take much to put the sunshine back in my life. Sometimes, happiness is in the everyday little things. When we notice and enjoy our routine, even the mundane becomes a great achievement.

Now, as I sit to work, my mind is at peace. I feel all is well with the world. My world, at any rate.

Yes, I carry my own sunshine. And you know what? So do you. You only have to look!