Well, it's Day #2 of living a more thankful life....the first FULL day of a life where I take note of the simple things that I know deep in my heart will mean something in the long run....vs the 'noise' that surrounds everyone on most days. And, how am I faring? Well, I'm currently sitting in a hotel room in the southeast U.S. waiting for a few meetings to begin in the morning. I spent 90 minutes on the phone with tech support just to get internet access, and on top of it all, when I got off the plane a text greeted me that our son, Max, was sick with a fever.
This isn't exactly how I planned on spending my first full day of 'a more grateful and peaceful existence'...aka a life of gratitude and thanks. But, you know what, it's ok. I'm ok with it. I'm at peace with it. Simplicity isn't going to happen overnight...like anything in life worth something, it's going to take some work. How's that for irony? That it's going to take some work to 'get to simple!' But, I am thankful...I'm thankful that I've gotten the message....that the fog has cleared and I can see that the complexity we've built into our life isn't what's important in the long run. I'm deeply thankful and blessed by this.
On my two-hour drive to the airport this morning, I listened to one of my favorite songs over and over...for almost an hour. It's a song I first heard at my childhood friend Jenny's wedding...."Variations on a Shaker Melody". It's a beautiful plea to look at simplicity as a gift. It seems this is a common theme with so many people I know...mothers, brides, colleagues...all say that they wish their life was just a bit more peaceful...not quite as fast. Maybe it's the time of year with the holidays approaching. Maybe it's that so many of us involved in rural communities experienced such a tumultous year. In any case, below I offer you my favorite version of the Shaker Melody if you're curious enough to listen to it. And, if you'd like, check out the other bloggers who are participating in the "30 days of..." series along with Holly Spangler at Prairie Farmer!
Holly Spangler: 30 Days on a Prairie Farm
Beyer Beware: 30 Days, 30 Things You Never Knew About Food
Black Ink: Beef's a Trip - 30 Days from Gate to Plate
Confessions of a Farm Wife: Life on our Farm
Le Jardin da ma Vie: 30 Reasons Why I Love Being a Farmer's Wife
Go Go Bookworm: 30 Days of Farm Kid Stories
Pinke Post: 30 Days of a North Dakota November
Go Beyond the Barn: 30 Days of Farm Life Blessings
Rural Route 2: 30 Days of the Not-So-Glamorous Life of This Farm Wife
Lyrics:
'Tis the gift to be simple, Its a gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
Will be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend, we will not be ashamed,
To turn, turn, will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right
'Tis the gift to be simple, Its a gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
Will be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend, we will not be ashamed,
To turn, turn, will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right
Till by turning, turning we come round right
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