3 John 1:2 – Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

Gratitude Day 897

I have a good life. A really good life. And I know it.

Every day is different. I get to participate in a variety of different things. I can go from being with little people to experienced people all in the same day.

I have a spouse that loves me. Friends that I totally enjoy, even if we don’t see each other very often. It is so wonderful when we can pick up right where we left off, whether it was a month ago, six months ago or more than a year since we last saw each other.

When I think of all the people who are struggling with real issues, I know that I am very, very blessed.

All of this is very true. I challenge myself to remember that I know most of my problems are first world challenges. When I look around and see what other people are dealing with, I count every single one of my blessings.

But … there is always a “but.” Even with all the goodness in my life, there are days when I feel a bit overwhelmed. When I’m not sure what to tackle first. When everything feels just a bit much. Even on our best of days, we can find ourselves wondering which way is up.

This is why having a few things that can help you “save your day” are so important. What do I mean by “save your day?” Something that brings you back to a place where you can take a deep breath, acknowledge all of the things in your day (good and bad) and come back to a place where the world spins a little slower.

“Save the day” things are the simplest moments in your life that allow you to catch your breath. Remind you that there IS something bigger than you. Little reminders that bring a sense of peace and calmness into your life. They help you find your right in a world that too often focuses on the wrong. These little moments allow us to find spots of respite, if even for just a few moments.

Here are a few things that are saving my days right now. As you look over them, think of the little things that are helping you save your days right now.

Fresh flowers. When I walk into our kitchen, my heart smiles when I see a vase of fresh flowers on the countertop. They aren’t fancy or professionally arranged. They are flowers that I picked up, threw in a vase and inhaled their fresh scent. They don’t have to be a big and expensive bouquet. In fact, lately, I have picked some stems from the pots around the yard. And I absolutely adore them!

The smell of freshly brewed tea in the morning. I have been a staunch coffee person for years. Decades. Well over half of my life. For years, my days begun with me walking to the coffee maker and brewing coffee. Recently, I decided to see if not drinking coffee would benefit my health. And so I quit coffee. Cold-turkey.

I love something hot in the morning as I sit down to spend some time with God. Write some words in a journal. Express gratitude for some great things that happened in the last 24 hours. So, I have switched to my favorite peach tea. No, it’s not coffee. I would love to wrap my hands around a warm mug of  steaming coffee. For now, hot peach tea is doing the trick.

Giving myself permission. This is a huge shift for me. Sometimes, I don’t have to do it all. And so, I give myself permission not to.

I know. Huge shift.

Why does this save my day? Because maybe the baseball game is more important. Or going to the park with a little person. Enjoying moments with Hubby Rick or a girlfriend.

Are there things that are important to do? Absolutely. But sometimes, it’s OK to say something else is equally important. Don’t let those moments slip through your fingers. They may only come your way once.

Eating ice cream. In my opinion, ice cream should be it’s own food group. Seriously. And while I love a good salad, sometimes, a little ice cream sounds far more interesting.

It’s not ice cream every day, all day. But after a run? Maybe. The challenge is not to let ice cream become an emotional way to soothe an over-tired, over-extended soul all the time. But once in a while? Hmm, you have my permission.

Why are these “saving the day” aspects so important? Because sometimes, we just need a break. We need a moment of healthy distraction. We need to smile and find joy and declare, “Today was a really good day.”

What’s saving your days right now? What allows you to say to your soul, “I just need a minute to breathe and enjoy something.” 

For the moments when I can pause and breathe, I am very grateful.

Blessings –

Dianne

Holy God – How I appreciate Jesus’ example of finding things that were deeply meaning in his life. Things that helped him save the day. May I follow his example and embrace opportunities to celebrate these things in my life. Amen.

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