Preaching the Gospel of Appreciation

I saw a teenager on the bus this morning. She seemed as "Happy as Larry" and was smiling and singing along to the tunes on her i-pod. She was drop dead gorgeous with a slim, petite frame, beautiful wide set eyes and a smile, full of the warmth of the summer sun. She was perfect in all aspects except one - she was missing an arm.

But, as she smiled at me, I realised, that while she may have lacked physical perfection, she had something that most of us could only envy. She had a supreme appreciation of the elementary joys of life, something I had long forgotten. And in that flashing instant, I was humbled.

Ever since that chance encounter this morning, I've been forced to sit back and reminisce on the many blessings in life. I'm embarrassed to say, that I've taken a lot of things for granted and have failed miserably in the fine art of acknowledging life's little pleasures.

We've all experienced tender moments like singing in the rain, being among people we love who love us back in return, being on a beach and laughing as the sand tickles our toes, strolling in the moonlight. It is all these precious moments that truly enrich us.

Why then, do we shelve them aside in corners of our mind where they are long forgotten? They are but fleeting moments, like blazing comets that fade away in the twinkling of an eye. Sadly, most often, we blink and completely miss them.

We are just so wrapped up in seeking further self-gratification. We seem to be always on the move, rushing to keep up with time, to race against time, to beat time. And in all of that time, we forget to simply pause, take a breath, to ponder and to smell the proverbial daises.

So, my friends, if you are reading this today, stop for a moment, take in a breath and treasure and celebrate the unembellished joys of life. You will feel richer for it.

I'm going to leave you with one of my favourite childhood poems, Leisure by W.H. Davies.


Leisure
- W.H. Davies

WHAT is this life if, full of care,We have no time to stand and stare?-
No time to stand beneath the boughs,And stare as long as sheep and cows:
No time to see, when woods we pass,Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:
No time to see, in broad daylight,Streams full of stars, like skies at night:
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,And watch her feet, how they can dance:
No time to wait till her mouth canEnrich that smile her eyes began?
A poor life this if, full of care,We have no time to stand and stare.

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