Every Day

Why is it so difficult to love your life every day, never mind every moment? Oh, it's a question for the sages. But it's admirable, it's even courageous to try. And one is usually rewarded. Or at least often. For even in the most mundane moments lie happiness, ideas, interest. I say this again and again, to all you, to my writing students, even sometimes dare to say it to my relatives, my most unflinching critics.
Speaking of my writing class (which I do quite often these days as my students are often in my thoughts), I was watching them last night, writing away, working on an exercise. And I realized I had not done this before. Just watched them write. I for some reason didn't think it was polite. Or I was too busy doing my writing -- I usually do the exercises, too, so as to encourage them and be able to give them examples if they ask. But last night, for a goodly time, I just kind of surreptitiously watched them. And I was gratified and amazed and humbled. They were all so absorbed, each in their different ways. One was studious and poised. Another very workmanlike. Another lay back in her chair as if it were a recliner, looking dreamy as her pen moved across the page (which I understand completely, as Laz-Y-Boys are my desk chair of choice). They were lovely. They were inspiring. They were working on something that came out of my head. And that was the humbling part.
So those moments, when I watched them doing the fairly mundane activity of writing, became charged with interest, with caring, with happiness. It seemed like nothing special, but it was, because I was really PAYING ATTENTION. So I come back to this again and yet again:
to increase your happiness, to love your life, really pay attention EVERY DAY, for as many moments as you can. It helps to record your observations. Write it, draw it, make your happiness book in the most unlikely places, at the most mundane moments. Today, don't go anywhere special. Try not to. Do everything you usually do, but PAY ATTENTION, as much as you can, whenever you can. Write or draw your favorite moments, the bits that made you love your life.