What a difference a day makes. As I predicted, yesterday’s crankiness about starting my cleanse dissipated like mist and did not recur this morning. While I didn’t have much of a plan, I had more time to think about what I was going to do and did it. I was able to prepare myself a reasonable breakfast and lunch–even Jared partook of my lunch, even though it didn’t involve bacon. He indicated to me that he might join me in part of this process, feeling that he needs to eat better himself. So, while he won’t participate fully, I won’t be going it as solo as I’d first thought. So while Day Two of the Cleanse went significantly better than Day One, I’m sure I’ll still have the occasional bumps and cranky times in the days ahead. As always, I’ll do my best to approach those times with gentleness and kindness for myself.
Today I am grateful for improvisation–if you can’t do something one way, figure out how to do it differently. I was in improv mode today and it’s been good. In addition to improvising on the meals I made for myself today, I also had to make some adjustments to my regular walking routine. Sundays are often busy at the Park, but today was exceptionally so. After several times cruising the various lots and spaces, I couldn’t find a place to park my car. And, unlike weekdays when many fewer people are around (particularly now that summer is over), today the place was packed with people. There was virtually no place to park even adjacent to the Park. But, I had committed to walk–I’d brought the dog with me and needed the fresh air. So I adjusted my plan and headed over to a different part of the Berkeley Marina and walked there. Different scenery, still a lot of people, but Honor and I got in at least our usual mile-and-a-half (though there were no distance markers to let us know how far we’d gone), and I was satisfied.
Persisting and following through with something when the first avenue is closed off doesn’t have to be difficult or unpleasant. I could have driven home when I couldn’t park in my usual spot and walk in my usual place. Instead I figured out something different, and it turned out fine. I’ve had some practice lately adjusting to changing circumstances. Sometimes I am more graceful and undaunted, and others I am more grudging and uncomfortable. Changes in plans, changes in life circumstances, changes in the weather….changes happen. Sometimes life can turn on a dime. Given that reality, it behooves me to remain as flexible and adaptable as I can–to improvise. Now I recognize that sometimes things happen for which we are so totally unprepared that we are caught completely off-guard, sometimes devastated. But by and large, even in those situations, if we’re fortunate we can recalibrate and still make shifts in how we approach things. There’s a spark on the inside of each of us that gives us the strength, the courage, whatever it is we need to make those shifts and adaptations.
I imagine that over time I have become more nimble in adapting to changes. I am grateful that even when the rug was pulled out from under me several months ago, I was able to adapt myself to survive the changes and am now doing pretty well. Developing and maintaining a sense of gratitude for the many blessings in my life has been foundational in my movement forward. So I’ll say again as I’ve said before: I’m grateful for the place that gratitude has in my life. I appreciate having developed the determination to be grateful for something even in the midst of some pretty difficult times and truly enjoy and appreciate when I am in the midst of wonderful times. I look forward to more of those times ahead. In the meantime, I remain thankful.
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