Chasing Bliss
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I’m fighting a bit of a cold this week. It could definitely be worse, but I am just feeling off my game. Have you ever noticed how a cold impacts your whole body? My hair looks dingy and my face gets dry and dull. I feel my posture shrink up, wanting to curl up in the fetal position on the couch. I’m normally full of energy, ready for my next project. This week, however, the ambition is seriously lacking.
We’ve been enjoying a somewhat Indian summer in the northeast. Last weekend, we had temperatures in the 80s. My family and our friends spent the time in southern Maine, which was unbelievably beautiful and relaxing. We stayed at a house on Bunganut Lake, in the town of Lyman, about 15 miles from the coast. The fall foliage around the lake was outstanding. There was one morning while we were there that Gavin woke up really early. Olivia and Adam were still sleeping, so I took Gavin down to the lake to fish off the dock. The sun was out and there was a light fog hovering over the water. The colors from the trees reflected onto the lake and it was extremely quiet. The result of all this was a moment of bliss. I define moments of bliss as experiences when you feel completely present, happy, and not wanting to be anywhere else. On this particular morning, I specifically remember looking over at Gavin and feeling so thankful that he had woken me up for this pajama date. Of course, for him it was just any other day. Kids experience bliss all the time, which is why being a kid is so much fun!
I’ve noticed over the past few weeks that the topic of happiness has been coming up in many of my conversations with friends and family. I think it has a lot to do with summer ending. The weather drizzles and days are shorter. There is less doing and more thinking. And here we find the root of the problem; trying to think up happiness. There is a difference between daydreaming and just plain old over-thinking things. I have spent the past few years working through my tendency to manufacture stress. I’ve had to lighten up a lot. I have made a point to seek out moments of bliss. It’s why I garden. It’s why I escape to my porch swing on a regular basis with a kid on my lap. It’s why I now have two bird feeders in my yard, so I can chuckle about cardinals and chickadees. It’s important to have outlets for fun and to make sure that you’re pouring your energy into what’s most important to you. For me, finding my happy is not difficult anymore. If something interests me, I explore it. When I capture a moment of bliss, I savor it.
Of course, we all have our days. This week I feel a bit like a wilting plant, fighting off this cold. I will allow myself some time to rest, think, and hydrate. But then it will be time to exfoliate my skin, wash my hair, and get back to life.
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Lovely thoughts, Jenny! Hope your cold passes quickly. Anything in/on head that hurts is so distracting. Your pictures are superb. Always wanted to see new England in the fall so happy you’ve been ably to. So darling story of and picture of Gavin
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What a special moment with Gavin and even better that you recognized it and appreciated it! Beautiful post! Sure hope you feel better soon.
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