I was staying in MA with a friend a few weeks ago while helping my parents' transition. Helping them with their needs in between remote client sessions and caring for my dog has been a bit of a juggling act. Those who have had glimpses of my journey know this to be an understatement.
Inde’s been a trooper but he’s a high-energy dog. In the absence of playing amongst his pack at doggie daycare and running off leash through the woods near my home, he really needed a good walk. On this day, .jpeg)
in addition to everything else on my plate, I also had to take rain into consideration and the fact that I had only brought my spring jacket and a down vest (because it had been unseasonably cool)—no rain gear. I forgave myself for not listening to my intuition—rejecting the idea to bring my waterproof jacket along with the other two—and resigned myself to the 'fact' that I was just going to have to get soaked. The thought, "That's why God made dryers," made me chuckle and comforted me.
Why am I telling you all this?...
When pulling up the shades in my friend’s living room on this mid-April morning, I was thinking, “When would be the best time to get soaked?” But much to my delight it was snowing! Considering my outdoor attire options the plan for my day appeared to be unfolding much more elegantly than expected. I threw on some clothes, my jacket and down vest, leashed up Inde and seized the moment for that good, much-dryer-than-expected walk.
As we stepped into this Currier and Ives moment, the melodies of songbirds reminded me that it was spring. Based on the temperature of the air against my skin it should have been raining but instead huge, delicately, laced snowflakes were freefalling from the sky and melting on the pavement. I hadn't brought gloves with me and I wasn’t missing them.
Immersed in the scene, I noticed that my brain was having trouble computing all this conflicting data—
songbirds, mild temp versus unseasonably cool, comfortable without gloves, crocuses, snow, mid-April. I also noticed that my heart was thrilled. Then it hit me, “This is an enchanted moment.” Nothing was particularly logical. Was it snowing because I didn’t bring a raincoat? Some things can never be proven and who cares, it definitely worked for me. But Love works in mysterious ways so I couldn’t help but wonder. Rather than take it for granted, let it go to my head, or find it interesting and then promptly dismiss it, I breathed it all in, letting it touch me to my core. When I allow an experience to touch me in this way it takes me to this place of immense gratitude. As one of my mentors, Sam Horn, once said, “You can’t fake that shit.”
My challenge for you: Revisit one of your own past experiences, perhaps something you have taken for granted that worked for you in a way you never would have expected or something you are grateful for that you let go to your head and inflate your ego or something you found awesome then promptly dismissed. It could be as simple as a parking spot that 'just' showed up. Look at your experience through the lens of ‘awe’ and ‘wonder’ and see what happens. Don’t forget to breathe it in until you touch that place of gratitude because when you let awe and wonder touch you in this way it deliciously nurtures your heart and soul. If you have trouble digesting an experience, don’t force it; take it in, in small bites with a touch of curiosity on the side.
Sometimes what we are starving for is soul food. It leaves us feeling content, fortunately it does not have an expiration date and boy did I appreciate it in the midst of helping my parents with their transition.
Enjoy the journey! 
Dr. Trish
