Just Enough
The skies are grey and wet. The temperature sits at 69 degrees fahrenheit. Today is Thursday.
This is the day when the plants in the house are watered, weekly. The outdoor plants were blessed with a bit of rain last night and early this morning. The broken recycle bin has been put out by the curb for pick up by the city since a new bin was delivered on Wednesday. That, in addition to hosting a peace-making session with two very determined parties, making dinner, having an inspiring glass of wine with the owner of a local spot in the plaza, and finally a 30-minute meditation to close out the moment – in one day. It was a perfect 24-hour cycle - just enough to hold the spirit and soul together.
And what a day.
The larger context: a man shot and killed by a sniper while speaking to an audience of an estimated 3,000 young people, a report of more starvation strategy and violence being committed upon children and the infirm in another part of this world, a leader in the country who is systematically dismantling and re-naming public entities to reflect an attitude of "eat what. you kill" (a phrase that lawyers used to use to describe the competition for business in running a private law practice where pay is pegged to client development). The larger context does not understand the idea of what it means to have just enough.
As the journey in life might have it for the intention being held this moment - the encounters with meaning and magic continue. It comes in the form of stories shared about creativity bringing forth a story about racoons who are famous for washing the things they eat, leading to a final scene of 3 racoons singing a song (not yet put to a tune or lyrics). The image conjures the delivery of a package to the creator – he opens it - and viola: someone he had not shared the story with at all - sent 3 stuffed racoons through the mail. Affirmation that his creativity must continue.
It comes in the form of a walk along the beach, where the skies fill with crows rather than pelicans on an early morning walk. And the ocean is holding surfers who are up early to catch a wave before going on to their day. Witnessing all of that, along with the beautiful white clouds that appear, no matter the condition of politics, individual struggles, creativity, conversations that move into intimate spaces – thinking about all of it, you realize: every day offers us the chance to experience the reality that too often goes unseen, unheard, and missed because we have not yet figured out that when we are blessed with sound mind and body and spirit – we realize that the secret to living without fear and doubt is to recognize: if you got through a day and can sit in silent gratitude, write a story, or read the work of a storyteller who has published a book – it is just enough to keep the edge of the cliff far away.