It’s been a busy few days. Let me rephrase that: it’s been an insanely busy few days. It’s been so busy that we’ve barely been able to function. Well, all right, my daughter went to her grandparents’ house today while I worked a 12+ hour day, so her day went well.
This morning I was in a foul mood. I was feeling sick and I was not looking forward to said 12 hour day. However, I thought back to yesterday. It was also a busy day (see a pattern here), but for a brief moment my daughter and I stopped for an ice cream. We sat on a bench and we ate the ice cream. For a little while, we were both sitting quietly, watching everyone around us, enjoying the ice cream. This must have lasted for at least fifteen minutes. I must confess that I savored that fifteen minutes much more than the ice cream. It wasn’t because it was quiet, though.
It was because it was a moment of pure pleasure with my child. In an excessively busy day, we sat, we enjoyed ice cream and each others’ company. It was a lovely feeling. I need to replicate it more often. In part, I enjoyed it so much because the day was so busy. It was that small moment when the world stands still in a good way.
Even when we are home and having a lazy day, we are often doing. Granted, this doing is pleasurable too. We’re out in the yard tending the plants, or we’re hiking or biking. But sometimes the act of sitting and enjoying the moment is enough. Today I found strength in that moment of ice cream. Who knew?
Do you spend some time doing nothing with your child? How do you turn off the “doing” button and just sit?
(Image courtesy of Milan6 at stock exchange)