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Photo: Andrian Valeanu
What a miracle that you are here! Wonder of wonders! Wow.
Truly! Reflect on all that it took for you to be here in this moment: the Earth being the perfect distance from the sun to support life, billions of years of evolution, your ancestors surviving long enough to bring forth the next generation, your parents meeting, the accidents that didn’t happen, the serendipitous occasions that did…
Practice:
In the coming week, upon waking say to yourself silently or aloud, “Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, savor you, bless you before you depart.” Observe how saying this makes you feel in your body, noticing any sensations or emotions that arise. Through your waking hours, gently carry the intention to appreciate the day–in all its extraordinary ordinariness–repeating any part or version of the prayer above as often as you feel moved.
How does beginning your day with the intention of treasuring it impact you?
What can you allow yourself to savor about the gift of simply being alive today?
Should you be inspired, please leave a reflection below…
This practice is inspired by Mary Jean Irion’s sublime meditation A Normal Day. Explore the full seven-day A Normal Day practice.
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Here I am at the end of the day reading reflections of a normal day. I was touched by every one that I read. So was today a normal day? I learned early this morning that someone was found dead about a quarter of a mile from my home. He was struck by a hit and run driver last night and I couldn’t help but wonder how I slept with an injured or already dead man so close with no knowledge. It has rained for days, flooding in many areas. What was this man doing out in the rain? Why did the driver who hit him not stop and check on him? Was he killed instantly or did he lay beside the road miserably wet and hurting? Is the driver suffering because s/he feels such remorse for leaving the person? My daughter who is bipolar quit all of her meds and has hit the depths of drug withdrawal and depression. I went to a twelve step program for people who have loved ones who are addicted. There were newcomer parents who cried through the meeting. But it was a normal day. At any place on this beautiful earth spinning in this glorious universe, someone has died, is dying or will die. Someone is struggling with addiction or losing a loved one, or suffering as many on this list have written. And yet we still love, still hope, still know that even though it has rained for so many days, there will be sun shining again or is shining in another place. There will be babies born, some to addicts, some to “normal” families, some into kingdoms. People will die tragically, peacefully, at a young age or old or in between. This happens every normal day. Winter ends, new life begins, the peach trees are budding out in a pink-purple haze for acres and acres. Babies, puppies, kittens, teach us to love on this normal day. We love, we grieve, we hope, we question, we learn, we overcome, we glimpse joy and beauty on this awful, wonderful, normal day.
Living with a loved one who’s living with Alzheimers taught me, that there’s nothing like a “normal” day – I learned to be aware of a meditative moment when brushing my teeth in the morning, I learned to cherish a tiny smile, a gentle touch, a sudden light in his eyes or even a whispered word. Every now and then we get an unexpected helping hand, a little child, that smiles at him and gives him an understanding hug, and he’s beaming with joy – and I’m in tears with joy! There’s no “normal” day for me, still I’m grateful for each and every moment.
Morning’s Measure
Awaken to first thoughts
Lay the carpenter’s square
Make your mark
Be it bold
Or light of hand
Behold the magic
You have drawn
Building gratefulness
Every day sounds now restored. No more choking smoke and roaring fires. Birds now can speak. Every day sounds restored. Not dead but bursting back to life
Incredibly full and grateful for the simplest of things.
“Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, savor you, bless you before you depart.”
At the end of the day-reflecting on the meditation, A Normal Day, and the earthiness of a normal day: the earthiness that is the ground from which we commence our day, the ground from which we receive nourishment, nurturing, shelter, centering and stability, that which holds together, structures, contains, holds, provides a place to rest, to stand, to plant seeds, to harvest… so much abundance within the earthiness of this normal day.
This day. This breath upon awakening. This new Sun filling these new eyes. Could not be normal if all the unpowers that unbe ‘used’ all their supposed power and wealth to determine it was so; upon All’s pain of death. To elucidate, a twig of the poetree 🙂
normal?
I don’t suffer, or, suffer from,
Euro-centrism, northern malaise,
Nor, academia, a blood disease.
If I weren’t me, an evolutionary leader named reality, I might prayer every moment of everyday for a day that is normal; yet, then one might retort, ‘normal for you’- and the answer would be the same. Yet, I, as life evolving must and try to adapt to reality, not the man-made machine worldly world; awaken as life born anew- as, before I was born, I agreed to. Yes, dying to the life in order to be born again; eyes, breath, aliveness, spirit’s flight of delight, awakening new day- may we be this day what it is to be this day. Finally, another twig of poetree elucidates 🙂
not just plumb, aplomb, true, heartening, you
San frontieres, a twig of poetree,
topological, roots and wings,
once more to the breach,
dancing betwixt ears, ungestured, bays,
I’d be as a mayfly, only alive a day,
rather than as long as an eagle flies, not whying.
Fathoming delves ley lines realizing increasing
wingspan, height of flight, intensity of sunlight.
Thanx for all you do; have a great day 🙂 reality
There is more awareness in what I do, and sometimes it is only a fleeting glimpse that holds me there, only to be savoured in my memory later. Like seeing a sunrise, its moving and changing colors.
The cuddle-huddle with my dogs at dawn. The silly-soft kitty who just wants to be held, more than fed. Little hearts held open for me, every day. The fresh winter air. The fresh hope of all the children and parents and grandparents in the library today. The generous shower of Valentine’s gifts. The open-heartedness this shows and celebrates. And reminds. Hearts need to break — open every day.
Reading everyone’s thoughtful reflections is a treasure on this normal day. Thank-you to all for your sharing! ?
I signed up for this practice because for ten years now–since my mother died–I’ve had her little plaque with the “Normal Day” quote on it hanging in my kitchen. Right now I’m happy to have the Normal Birds coming to the bird feeder outside my study window, and to have a sink full of Normal Dishes that need to be washed!
I appreciate the suggestion to notice how saying this first thing in the morning feels in my body. I plan to focus especially on my heart and tune in to my aliveness, but also to feel into any blocks or “yeah buts” -in my body-not my head.
What a great way to begin my day with this mantra. Good news to hold each day as opportunity, possibility and yes, NORMAL……THANKS!
This puts me in mind of Maya Angelou “Today is a wonderful day, I’ve never see this one before”, which I regularly say first thing. Well, after I’ve said good morning to God & thanks for this day.
I shall be adding “normal” and expressing gratitude for this wonderful normal day.
Welcome, normal day with your treasure of life. Pour out on me your warmth, joy, comfort and caring to share all day long. Thanks for your beginning and ending, and coming again.
As I read the normal day mantra which is designed to set my intention for the day, I realized that of late my focus is not on each day but rather on how I can accept the physical and emotional pain I’m experiencing gracefully. I regularly pray to let it be my teacher but find it hard to accept it as normal. I’m chuckling. Many years ago I played the character Luisa in a musical called the “Fantasticks.” The first act is based on Luisa’s fantasies and Luisa ardently seeks adventure and cries out , Please, God, please, don’t let me be normal.” In the second act, Luisa experiences a solid dose of reality. The act opens with the song, “Try to Remember.” by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones. Mary Jean Irion’s intention is a beautiful prayer that reminds me to be present to the day not just my pain. I will”Try to Remember” this and follow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh, so mellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain so yellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a young and callow fellow,
Try to remember and if you remember then follow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That no one wept except the willow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That dreams were kept beside your pillow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That love was an ember about to billow.
Try to remember and if you remember then follow.
Deep in December it’s nice to remember
Although you know the snow will follow.
Deep in December it’s nice to remember
Without a hurt the heart is hollow.
Deep in December it’s nice to remember
The fire of September that made you mellow.
Deep in December our hearts should remember then follow.
Then follow
I am a list maker. I have many responsibilities, personal and professional, and ticking off the activities as I complete them feels great! A list on my desk awaits me, but this practice encourages me to approach the list differently. Gratitude practice has become a large part of my life. I can expand this to be fully present to each list item, looking for what I can learn from doing it as part of savoring today. Here we go.
I am struck by how profound this simple intention is. As I repeated it, I found myself slowing down energetically…nothing needs to happen today. I also found myself opening…even when the unexpected or perhaps the unwanted happens, I could consider it part of a ‘normal’ day, and be grateful. A normal day is simply today, however it unfolds. and that somehow gives me solace. It breaks the anxiety that always hovers unseen. Thank you for this direction.
I am a planner and a list-maker. It is always funny to me that I decide, “So today I’m going to plan to not plan my day, but to treasure it as it happens, and to just savor the gift of simply being alive today.” I realize now that I can plan the day, but as I move through those plans, I can be more aware of truly savoring what I’m doing, how I’m feeling, hearing and listening to others, smelling the world around me, as I’m moving through those planned activities. And remembering all the people and events that went in to making each thing unfold – whether I’m dusting my furniture, picking up a friend at the airport, or eating a meal – has the potential to help me be more alive.
I was struck by an image of a need to do some inner housekeeping—that my ability to begin the day with the intention to treasure it has been obscured by an accumulation of expectations and projections, that feels like a film or crust that I was not aware of. So, I get to do that housekeeping or refresh, to begin my day with wonder and optimism, and let that permeate my view of this treasure of a new day.I get to be here, and to foster wonder and optimism in a way that nurtures not only me but others I encounter in my day.
My most cherished grace in life is to have learned to live one day at a time. It embodies the concept of being in the moment – importantly, being aware. Awareness and open-mindedness allows for gratitude and thoughtful choices. living each day with spiritual practice as the foundation – especially gratitude allows me to savor my life – the sharp and the full, the ecstatic and the painful. This being alive is adventurous, spicy stuff!
To direct attention beyond the mind’s hum and chatter, to savor, to treasure, helps me feel the warmth of the heating room, taste and appreciate the food that gives pleasure, and along with life-saving medications, the ability to meet people and places I know and yet have never met in the way I and they are today. I feel energized and open to possibility, now let’s see what happens after I walk thru the door!
This helps me not to take my ‘normal day’ for granted, but to see new possibilities and be grateful for them. At the moment I am savouring my ability to enjoy , at leisure, my flat white coffee. It’s freezing outside, but the sun is shining brightly.
I woke up this morning, I am alive and well! I am in where it is warm and dry and able to see the beautiful snow that is falling outside. I am able to read this beautiful practice, comprehend the words and be so inspired by it! Words cannot express the gratitude and joy I feel for being alive! Thank-you God!!! Thank-you gratefulness.org for this beautiful practice!!!
With heartfelt love to all, Sheila ?
It changes my perspective from “what must I get done today” or “what must I do to get through the day” to seeing the day differently – as a special gift I can and should enjoy.
I think just taking a moment to be quiet and say a prayer of thanks for the blessing of this very special gift. Brings on a tingling sensation.
What an aspiration with which to start the day. I love the idea of allowing the day to impact me, to allow myself to become intimate with what it offers me, both the ease and the difficult.