Finding the Extra in the Ordinary
What do you think of when someone uses the term extraordinary?
My dear friend, Bree, recently posted this wonderful passage on Facebook:
“Make the Ordinary Come Alive
Do not ask your children
to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable,
but it is the way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.”
-William Martin, The Parent’s Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for Modern Parents
Bree mentioned how parents tend to over-schedule and over-push their kids and how they forget to let them sit back and enjoy what is as well. We tend to preach what we practice.
Finding the extra in the ordinary is the extraordinary. I think humanity misunderstood the homework assignment.
I'm certain that as a personal chef, Bree resonated with the tasting of tomatoes, apples and pears while her post got me to thinking about my counseling and calendars. Several moms, over the years, have told me that their elementary school-aged children delight in pouring over the photos in my calendars. I think Bree was even one of them. I took it as a compliment at the time but this FB thread got me to putting 2 and 2 together.
In early to mid elementary school we still value our relationship with enchantment. We can still look for, find and appreciate the extra in the ordinary. I think this is why adults tell children to cherish their childhoods—to enjoy life while they can. And I bet they can't really put a finger on why they think this way. In my belief children are reminding us that we can reconnect with enchantment rather than us telling them to brace themselves for the time when they will have to let it go like we did.
Losing the connection can make the reconnecting that much more precious because now we have maturity on our side and are choosing an enchanting perspective rather than it being a default setting. Life looks a lot different through the lens of enchantment. Adult enchantment is the view of life that speaks to the heart. I like to use the term "how interesting" when feelings are triggered rather than pretend that I already know why they've been stirred. It is the perspective that I use in my counseling practice—the perspective that empowers, enlivens and inspires living more honestly, loving more pure heartedly and being more authentic. Why you are triggered is usually not what you initially think.
If you are around early to mid elementary school-aged children this Thanksgiving I hope you will allow them to reintroduce you to enchantment—perhaps even by inviting them to pour over the nature photos on our calendar page. Start there and then you might want to re-read my previous post with the understanding of this lens that reveals the heart of the matter.
SPECIAL! In honor of enchantment and Thanksgiving our calendars will be on special through Thanksgiving evening! Click here for special pricing and photos...
Bree's jam's and jellies are incredible by the way. Enchanting even! Check them out at www.KitchenBravada.com.
Wishing you an extraordinary Thanksgiving rich with gratitude, enchantment and love.
Friends in this Love,
Dr. Trish
