Happy
Autumn Weekend
“The
power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life
lovely.”
Louisa
May Alcott
I’m
going to the lake today—one of my favorite things to do. Sitting on my morning
porch right now, I’m struck with the quiet. Just a week ago, the cicadas were
deafening, and birds were still providing a morning symphony. Now, the only sounds
I hear are squirrel chatter and dogs barking in the distance. I wonder how the
wildlife at the lake will have changed since I was last there in mid-summer.
Louisa
May Alcott was an independent woman for her time. One of the things she said is
that she no longer feared the storm because she was learning how to sail her
own boat. This weekend, I will be in good company, sitting on the dock to watch
the sun set, taking in our favorite college football game on TV, talking about everything under
the sun and savoring chicken chili and crusty sourdough bread. These are the
moments in life that I enjoy most—simple pleasures with friends.
When we
find beauty and contentment in our lives, in our surroundings, and inside our
own skin, we know the real meaning of happiness. I’m reminded of a book
published in 1994 by Jon Kabat-Zinn titled, Wherever You Go, There You Are.
A mindfulness meditation book, it made the point that practicing peace within
is essential to experiencing peace without. When you cultivate peace within, nothing
external can shake you. Your soul becomes as calm as this fall morning, and you carry that calmness into the world with you.
Louisa
May Alcott gave this advice: “Keep good company, read good books, love good
things, and cultivate soul and body as faithfully as you can.” That sounds
like a recipe for autumn happiness to me. Have a beautiful weekend.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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