What beauty are we blind to? — Toby Ord
Thornton Wilder’s play, Our Town (for which he won a Pulitzer Prize), is about life in Grover’s Corners, a small town in New Hampshire. One of the main characters is Emily Webb. The play follows her from a precocious young girl through her wedding to George Gibbs, and her early death.
In act three, Emily returns from the afterlife and visits her hometown, wanting to relive one day—her 12th birthday. She joyfully watches her parents and some of the people of her childhood, but her joy soon turns to pain as she realizes how little people appreciate the simple joys of life. She realizes how every moment of life—particularly the small, simple, mundane aspects—should be treasured.
When she visits her grave on the hill, she says, “Good-by, good-by, world. Good-by, Grover’s Corners…Mama and Papa. Good-by to clocks ticking…and Mama’s sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new-ironed dresses and hot baths…and sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth, you’re too wonderful for anybody to realize you.”
She then looks toward the stage manager and asks abruptly, through her tears, “Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?—every, every minute” The stage manager replies, “No. The saints and poets, maybe—they do some.” The play ends.
I’m admonishing myself in this post. I like to stay busy: I always have a to-do list, I’m goal-oriented, I don’t like to waste time, and I’m inordinately time-sensitive. But I’m probably missing out on a lot of wonderful things in life. I need to recalibrate my life so that I notice and savor small, slow, and simple things that don’t cry out for my attention but will reward it.
Things like: Buddy’s bark, Benjamin’s freckles, a perfectly shaped cluster of grapes, a well-tuned chord, holding Mary’s hand, a fresh blackberry, a perfectly still lake, a well-written phrase, a kind gesture, growing a plant from seed, the sound of thunder in the distance, the smell of a sliced lemon, gravity exerting its influence on a tomato plant.
Psychologist Carl Rogers noted, “The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.” He advocated launching “fully into the stream of life.” Our lives will be richer if we embrace adjectives such as enriching, rewarding, awe-inspiring, meaningful, and yes—small, slow, and simple.
Loved this! I so enjoy your blogs! At my late stage in life, this really spoke to me. Thank you! We recently moved to Florida and miss Stonebriar.
Thanks, Judy, for taking the time to respond to my post. Take care, Don.
Well-said! When we finally understand that “good life is a process… a direction, not a destination,” the hard times, even as you go through them, are not so hard. The hard times add “texture” to your life. In the same way that “there is no courage without fear,” there is no appreciation of peace without experience of conflict. Thank you again!
Ron, thanks for sharing these thoughts. I love the phrase “good life is a process…a direction, not a destination.” Take care. Don
Thank you for your wisdom. I have subscribed to many email lists over the years; various coaches, business advisors, and even spiritual folks. I find that many of them sit in my inbox unread. Your consistent style, humor, and wisdom encourages me to open your emails. Thanks.
Laura, your words mean so much to me. Thanks for reading my posts. Don
This really made me consider my own rushed spirit ( which God impressed upon me a while ago). We only have fleeting moments of bliss if we are not carefully aware of moments, not days. The things the old song says about “the best things in life are free” is right. Trees, moonlight, the sun, friends, …..salvation. Gratefully, Kay
Thanks, Kay, for taking the time to respond. I like the thought “the best things in life are free.” Take care, Don.
I’m so convicted by this post.
John Maxwell describes a man who was … dying to be a grown-up, dying to finish school, dying to get a job, dying to get married, dying to start a family, dying for the corner office, dying to become a millionaire, dying to retire … and then … he was just “DYING.”
God please help me slow down and savor the moments. It’s true of motherhood and it’s true for us. “The days are long, but the years are short.” Life is a vapor. We must enjoy the journey. Thank you Don.
Randy, it’s so nice to hear from you. Thanks for sharing the Maxwell quote. Yes, we all need to slow down. Take care, Don.
Excellent message. And funny cartoon. I can’t think of anyone, including myself, who wouldn’t benefit from taking to heart the advice to slow down, savor, and enjoy the small things in life. Thank you.
Thanks, Mary, for taking the time to respond. Take care, Don.
I played the role of Emily. Say hi to Mary for me.
Julie, it’s so nice to hear from you. I see you on Facebook and I rejoice in the full life you are living. Take care, Don.