Unexpected Joy

I often find joy simply by paying attention.

During a morning walk near my office I pass an Indian restaurant that has a small flowerbed in front.  I always enjoy the bright orange and yellow dahlias – their lovely blossoms seem to peer up at me. I appreciate the time someone has spent to cultivate this tiny plot.

Sadly, a few weeks ago I noticed that many of the flowers had wilted, presumably from lack of water.

I’m happy to report that last week the irrigation system had been replaced and the petite garden is again thriving. I am grateful for the renewed splash of color each morning.

When the Los Angeles weather is warm, I typically enjoy my breakfast on a small deck just outside my kitchen.  I especially like the red bougainvillea in the back yard, which always seems to be in bloom, and the tree with yellow trumpet flowers that blossom every three or four months. I take pleasure in being surrounded by natural beauty.

Last Saturday one of my adult children visited, and we had a wonderful, and unexpected, three-hour conversation. It was the highlight of my day, and I’m so glad we found the time to connect with each other.

During the past year, we haven’t been able to enjoy the pleasure of seeing a movie in a theater, or sharing dinner with friends inside a restaurant.  I know exactly the number of friends and family I’ve spent time with at a restaurant or theater since late March, 2020.  That number is zero.

After Saul Bellow won the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature he was asked how he felt. The writer is said to have paused, then answered, “I don’t know.  I haven’t written about it yet.”

I might never be awarded a prize, but I do discover delight whenever I write. My thoughts often surprise me, especially when they seem to appear from nowhere. Often I discover a truth that helps me understand myself better.

During the pandemic we have all slowed down.  That has made it easier to notice everything. I hope that as we gradually return to what our lives were like before COVID, we will still remember to listen to our natural curiosity and sense of wonder.

Let’s continue to pay attention – to peek out at the world closely, as often as we can. And may we always allow room in our hearts and minds to be charmed by small, unexpected joys.

Alan