You know how we run our lives expecting that all will be well when we get all our ducks in a row or something. We plan endlessly expecting a perfect life. Save against that – insure against this. We roll along thinking I will get over this hump and solve this problem and sort this situation out and then it will be better. Better forever. I will be THERE. And then it isn’t better and we are nowhere and we are endlessly shocked. Like a mouse in a maze we keep racing along looking for the magic door that will lead us to a perfect life.
I think we have it back to front, inside out, upside down. 
There is no perfect life. There is not even a perfect day. Unless we realise that a Perfect life is FULL of bumps and jiggles. This is what life is. It is meant to be this way. Fat days and bad hair days. Running for trains or missing planes. Lost bookings and reluctant plumbers. Not enough straw or mould in the hay. Fences slowly falling and missing chicks. Money troubles and killing frosts and children gone off the rails and dogs dying and illness in the cattle and not one truck that runs and coughing cats and tires deflating. Pot holes in the track and air full of bean dust. I think THIS IS the norm. This is the way it is. This is an ordinary day. No need to complain about this day.
I think I need to wake up and work faster and say to each problem – Yes, Excellent, thank you. How can I fix this – then I/we spin to another corner and say again Yes, Excellent, thank you – what is the problem! I can do this. Then do it again. And again. Just Shut Up and Deal with it. There is no perfect. This is how our lives are. Fast, furious and sometimes life threatening. Heart breaking. Good. This is the way it is meant to be. These are the normal days. Good mean pushy days.Spit in your eye days. Days that challenge and stretch us. Days that deserve a drink at dusk.
A perfectly calm day without troubles is most unusual and should be celebrated! A perfectly calm day with no-one coughing and no-one dying and no mean decisions and no ice or snow and no bendy tree winds – These are unusually wonderful and should be celebrated.
Like yesterday. Charlotte the book illustrator in Milan liked the new words in the childrens book. I created an address book of 86 people who want to write for the next Fellowship book – Letters For my Baby Girl. (if you did not get your letter let me know) The big pigs and the little pigs wandered about the fields eating grass. The calves and sheep wandered about the other fields eating grass. There were no skunk hits or mink sightings. The chickens laid 11 eggs. I collected four buckets of pears and did not burn the dinner. It rained but only a little and it was not too cold. I visited the Old Codger, chatted with The Matriarch (who had kindly done all my laundry) and collected bags of vegetables for the pigs from the local store. The kittens got fatter, all the chicks were still in the loft and Poppy did not escape. It was a good day.
My good calm day was special and I knew it. Unusual. Worthy of celebration.
I hope you have one of these good calm days today. Just don’t be afraid of the crappy days. They are perfectly normal. Just say: Excellent – Good Now I know what the problem is – I will find the solution. Taking control of the problem is power. Don’t give it away. Push – all the time. Be the best You can Be. Always. And remember everyones best is different. Then embrace and relax into those gentle calm days. And charge your batteries.
Love your friend on the farmy,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
106 responses to “A moments respite”
Here, here!! Our mantra here is “We love it here” and we truly do, even on the bad days. If I feel overwhelmed or just plain grumpy at any particular moment I simply stand still briefly. In my busyness I often loose the focus of where I am, pushing it away. The pause and a deep breath allows my surroundings back in to embrace me; “oh yes, I love it here I truly do”.
Staying positive can be a struggle for sure, but the world around you seems to change when you do…cause and effect perhaps.
What a wonderful way to celebrate daily living. 😀
Well spoken words that are so true!! Thanks for always enhancing my day!!
Good morning Merridee, how is our boy Berit?
Berit is doing very well! He really likes his job at the Botanical Gardens and is looking forward to ski season. We head out to Denver to see him in just three weeks. I can’t wait!! It looked like you had a wonderful trip to NZ!! I’d love to visit one day. Your new little pig is adorable! I really enjoy your blogs!! Take care. (:
when you come back .. if you have a day free and the weather is good, come on down and fill me in on all the news.. c
loved this post, just what I needed today with stuff going on with work and family. Perfection isnt my goal, contentment, living in the moment, looking for and finding the good and enjoyment, focusing on what is important to me. All these thoughts flow from your lovely post. Hope your day flows well!
You cannot even begin to imagine how much I needed to read these words today. Thank you, my dear C. Thank you.
Your wisdom is like a magic pool, spreading all over the world and comforting us all. Thank you.
You are right – it’s an endless list of problems to solve and you have to keep putting the logs through the mill 🙂
Wise words indeed x
This was one of my “it’s a sign” moments… these words of wisdom – that spoke to me this morning. The post, the comments, all of the interconnectedness of of this group – is a healing balm of love. In fact, much of what has come to me lately is a message of the Universe… a shift of thought and perhaps an awakening. This fellowship is a place of support, comfort, encouragement and love. I have felt at home here from the very first time I knocked at the door.
Well said. I will likely reread this one as needed. 🙂
Reblogged this on Kunstkitchen's Blog and commented:
From The KitchensGarden somewhere in the Midwest has some kind words of wisdom to share.
Wonderfully said…this is one to reread and share with others.
Oh, your prose are so wonderful. You had me on the edge of my desk chair waiting on the foot to fall, but it didn’t. Whew. Yes – we have “DAYS” some good, some bad and some just ‘days’ but each one we live through should end with a thank you for letting me live through it and a prayer that if tomorrow does come, that we have strength, knowledge and willpower to arrive at another thankful ending.
A very wise post, Celi, one that I’m sure will be a help to many and not just those who’ve commented.