Today is a GIFT

Published on January 22, 2014 by

I choose to embrace today as a giftWe all have times when sleep eludes us and it affects us all differently. Some people get cranky. Others get goofy.

I get doubtful and cynical. And it can really ugly. About the time when I consider burning the latest project, succumbing to a celebrity magazine and eating through a box of chocolate, a thought usually stops me: "why don't you go to bed early and get some sleep." (pure brilliance, right?!)

That isn't always possible but last night it was. I went to bed earlier, missed all my sisters texts (sorry sis!) and woke up thinking and feeling much.

I had a few moments of quiet downtime before the day began and was playing with Made with Studio, an app to create fun designs to share online. I started thinking about "being present"  to what is currently going on in life.  Sometimes I'd rather not be present; I'd rather daydream or even wallow in regrets than face the reality of today- all the good, the bad, the ugly.  Creating art, dealing with the consequences of past mistakes, trying to be healthy, maintain good relationships- all this takes up a lot of work and energy.

But not staying present to the moment robs me of the gift of the only thing I have: the gift of today. And what I'm doing here and now will affect all of who I become in the future.  I miss out on all the good gifts God is blessing me with today.  I don't want to miss these gifts.

I don't want to miss the opportunity to create art and the ideas and the art- the good art- typically comes when I am busy being present, taking notice, paying attention.

Needing a little structure to help me cement down how I was going to find these gifts in the day, I thought of an acronym. I just learn things a little better with some color and a phrase.

Embrace today as a gift. All of it: the good, the bad, the working through hard stuff, the monotonous stuff, the inspiring stuff.

G- Give.

Who can I give to today? Can I be aware for opportunities to give something to someone? An encouraging word? Opening a door? A phone call? Can I accept what others give to me?

I- Inspire.

I love this definition of inspire: "to breathe life into." What am I breathing life into? Who or what am I allowing to breathe life into me?

F- Fight.

Did I participate in the beautiful fight today? There's fighting that's worth it (I don't fight enough for the right reasons). And there is fighting for what things that are petty, all about ego, or things that won't even be relevant in two days.

T- Touch.

Am I going so fast and staying so busy that I miss out on moments of touch; when what is happening in life right now connects with my spirit and heart?

It is so easy to stay busy. It's easy to wallow in regrets over the past. It's easy to become consumed with what the future might hold. It's easy to imagine someone else's life (if you have a vivid imagination like me, that is).

What isn't always easy is embracing the gift of today, of listening to yourself- what wants to be heard, of completing the monotonous parts of a project, or giving up some time on a project to watch a sunset for fifteen minutes, call a friend, or go to bed a little earlier.

Today I was given the gift of a train ride along the a beautiful scenic route.  I gave the gift of a listening year. I was inspired by my sister's sweet text that greeted me when I woke up this morning (she often breathes sweetness into me!) I fought through apathy and worked through another chapter in the next novel. I was touched by a gorgeous sunset.

How do you keep each day fresh? Do you see each day as a gift?

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