today’s entry, october 16, in my simple abundance daybook (sarah ban breathnach…buy it. it’s profound in the enjoying-the-small-things kind of way)…
ceremonials for common days
“there are numerous holidays throughout the year, falling just when we need cheering up. we respond to them as if company’s come to call, bringing out our special dishes, linens, crystal, flowers, candles…”
however…
“we actually do most of our living among the common days, taking them for granted just the way we do people we love. yet myriad occasions during the course of each day cry out for consecration.”
which got me thinking…
whilst i gush about harvest decorations and upcoming christmas rituals–(and, don’t get me wrong, i went to costco today and they have christmas trees up….CHRISTMAS TREES!! and velvet christmas ribbon…and snowmen for the mantle…and toys…and walking up and down the aisles with my little knowing she’s old enough to really enjoy it all this year had me downright giddy in the heart-crazy-palpitating kind of way)–however, i know it’s all the in between stuff that’s really life, and i want to be remembered for making the everyday stuff–the common day rituals–worthy of that kind of celebration.
“a liturgy of commonplace moments ripe for personal ritual…”
and lest they be overlooked between the more recognized events of, say putting up the tree or watching the thanksgiving day parade…i can’t help but pay homage to the celebratory events of common life today….
my first cup of coffee in the morning in my favorite mug…saving for a long-desired purchase and finally being able to buy it…hearing the sound of brett’s footsteps enter the laundry room after a long day at work and watching lainey run to meet him…feeling more confident than i’ve ever felt at twenty-nine…having a good cry…jumping right into conversation when my sister calls without even a hello…dancing to a good song in the car…rocking a footy-jammied baby…playing tug-of-war with the dogs…coloring with sidewalk chalk in the driveway…a bowl of cereal before bed…snail mail in a colored envelope that stands out among the rest…eating popcorn at austyn’s football games…sunsets…tomato soup and grilled cheese…reading my dad’s comments on my blog…the way my mom still calls me “pumpkin”…slow-cooked oatmeal with dried cherries…my camera…brett lookin’ all cute in a tight black t-shirt…brunch with my girlfriends…samantha brown’s voyages on the travel channel…mopping my kitchen floor…crockpot dinners (dot, i promise…more recipes to come…now get back to your bold & the beautiful)…afternoons in barnes & noble…when i see my brother’s name on “incoming call”…ups pulling up to my driveway with a package…baby fingerprints all over my windows–and not caring one bit…bubble baths…having best friends for across-the-street neighbors…greek salads…candles…lainey’s sweet baby breath…sliding into clean sheets at night.
“there is no shortage of common day ceremonies waiting to be enjoyed…only weary imaginations in need of inspirational transfusions.”
loving our common little life tonight…
(go #13!)…what i love most about austyn’s games: watching brett be all proud. i arrived tonight right after an awesome play austyn made, and in verbally replaying it, brett looked down, smiled and said, “look, i have goosebumps.” i love what a good daddy he is.
high up in the bleachers with my zoom lense, i secretly caught cubby feedin’ daddy popcorn far below …and i love that he had no idea i took this.
…enjoying the common-but-not-so-common things. ~k
this time, if you comment (and do…i love them!)…leave me one common day ritual you love, worthy of celebration…i love being inspired by others.
Great entry… and so true! I am the first to comment:) You inspire everyone Kelle:)
my daughter, my miracle…waking up each morning to the sound of Skye talking to her mobile…seeing her face light up when she sees me…the smell of joe as he kisses me good-bye each morning for work…eating me eggs in the morning…oatmeal with blueberries and strawberries…talking about babies mine yours anyones…having play dates with all our friends…eating ice cream… laughing out loud…sitting on the patio drinking a beer with Joe and Skye in her bouncy next to us… Joe because he is mine…taking a daily walk with Skye…our weekly get together with coffee and bagels….watching a movie while after our angel has gone to bed for the night…watching joe smile when he sees skye after work…my mother living here loving my daughter like she is hers…life
reading your blog.. all of these blogs… inspire me! Gotta do it first thing in the morning so the rest of the day is in perspective! Yep, a hot cup of coffee and blog reading! Great ritual!!!!!
Kelle – there is no need for me to buy a book, you are my sarah ban breathnach. I love reading what you write; it inspires me to be a better more creative mommy. Thank you for inpsiring me today to really think about and enjoy my daily rituals.
hearing j’s morning noises on the baby monitor…talking to j on the phone when i’m at work…knowing that he’s so loved at gramma’s…$2 latte mondays…updating pictures in picture frames…iyuyoo’s from jonah…rocking a baby to sleep…relaxing with nathan after j goes to bed…finishing a dsb page…my soon-to-be be tuesdays HOME with jonah (just the thought is inspiring).
I wish mopping floors was on my list…how do I get there? Help me learn.
Every morning, I wake up in my queen-sized bed on sheets that should have been washed yesterday with my husband, kid, dog and two cats. Always, by 6am, one of the four kids is mewing or panting or cooing or something to pry us out of slumber.
Checking my friend’s blogs and feeling a bit closer to their lives.
I know you asked for one and I gave two and I am sure that throughout the day, I’ll think of more but I am supposed to be working right now so I’ll try to refrain from coming back and leaving more meandering comments….
Setting the bread machine at night and waking up to smell of fresh bread in the morning. divine.
love niki’s “meandering comments”…
lunches at schuler’s books.
first cup of coffee.
feeling as I run that I can accomplish anything in the world.
somer climbing into bed with us.
savannah thanking me everyday for making her lunch.
calls from my sister.
sydney still calling me mama.
dreams of tomorrow.
mmmmm…life is grand, is it not?
giving eskimo kisses and butterfly kisses to my sweet baby, kissing my dogs soft squishy furry mouth and kissing my husband,. kissing…it’s underrated, but a very simple pleasure.
I know that you wrote this years ago, but I am loving your archives. It has become my end of the work day ritual to read some of your old entries for ten minutes or so. My favorite daily ritual is getting back into bed for a few minutes after my shower. I love that moment of crawling back into my cozy soft bed to just relax and think about the day ahead for five minutes. It’s the best!
I am currently expecting our first child, but only have a doggie for now, and my favorite ritual is right when we wake up, coming out to the living room, where she is sleeping on the couch and has groggy-doggy eyes, but always rolls over and picks up a paw, as if to ask me to come over, and I give her lots of hugs and kisses and rub her ears before I go wash my hands and get my coffee 🙂
Loved your list of common things! One of mine is letting my littles help cook!