Recently, as I raced to get ready for
work as usual, a sparkle caught my eye.
The morning sun was shining on earrings that hang on an old, lace scarf
pinned to the bedroom wall. On most
days, I scan the earrings looking for a pair to wear. That particular morning, I paused for a
second to notice translucent, multicolored stones sparkling in the sunshine. The rainbow of light delighted me.
Then I chose a pair of earrings, put
them on, and rushed off to work.
My momentary pause that morning suggested
a ritual I could fit into my busy days.
I like rituals, small markers of our days
and weeks. And lately, I’ve been seeking
ways to mark time, so that I do not just race from one task to another, from
one day to the next.
I have considered lighting candles or
incense to mark the end of the day—but often wonder whether I can declare the
day done. I like making pancakes in the
morning; stirring the batter and adding fruit make me happy. But I don’t do this regularly enough.
The earrings suggested a ritual I can
perform each morning: I can take a moment to notice something beautiful. Something that is already in my surroundings,
something I might otherwise overlook. Beginning
with that ritual can color my whole day.
