I recently shared a post on Facebook about the countless “unexpected happenings” from our first year in our new home. It was a cathartic summary, and a fun way to share many tidbits I hadn’t previously.
Honestly, it felt a little braggy to name all the goodness. Certainly we’ve had our share of challenges, rollercoaster emotions and intensity this past year.
Wooooo eeeeee! But we know we’re deeply blessed, and so very grateful.
A friend’s comment inspired me to share the entire post with you.
She said, “I appreciate how positive you are in finding the joys in your life. I was told by a friend that she writes in a gratitude journal daily and it helps her in her battle with depression and anxiety. I need to try that. Thank you so much for sharing.”
Daily gratitude IS a powerful practice. There is always so much to appreciate about life… big and little things. There is so much to be present to, as long as we’re receptive to life’s emerging wonders. After teaching such principles for years, it’s an almost effortless practice.
I realized the three things below are the keys to fostering the joyful and pervasive giddiness inside me. Maybe these will be helpful to you too.
1) Gratitude… all the frickin’ time. Pinching myself daily for “getting” to live this experience. It’s a habit I’ve carried through many homes. I’m always on the lookout for “What’s great?”, even if it’s the same things each day.
2) Being, oh, so present to every detail my senses can absorb. So much to see, hear, taste, touch and smell all around us, especially when everything feels new. I love that photography helps capture many of these priceless moments, punctuating the magic.
3) Receptivity and openness to each unfolding moment and experience. What may be considered mundane, simple or meh can become a delight when we consciously or unconsciously relax resistance to what is and enthusiastically welcome what is before us.
We all have the capacity to find the joy in our everyday experiences, and you don’t need a cross country move or a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains to ignite that. Here’s to more joyful giddiness in your life.
Reflections on My First Year in Waynesville
A year ago we moved from suburban life in Laguna Niguel, California to the rural mountains of Waynesville, North Carolina.
Didn’t realize just how many new things there would be to delight in! I also didn’t realize some of the snaffoos we’d face. But, today I wanted to acknowledge the array of “unexpected” in celebration of our ONE year anniversary in moving to good ‘ol Waynesville.
Didn’t realize…
* My Oboz hiking shoes would become a favorite, and used so regularly. Don’t know how I ever lived without a pair.
* How often I’d say, “Once again, this is California weather!” (Note: January is the one big exception)
* I’d fall in love with the fresh spice blends at the Olde Brick House in downtown Waynesville. An extra teaspoon of this or that uplevels every dish! Super yummo!
* That I’d turn into a bird geek, ooooooo’ing and awwwww’ing over every new visitor. And that I’d be filling the birdseed almost daily. Thank you to whoever referred me to the Audobon App. 17 birds and counting.
* I’d love and shop regularly at our Super Walmart. I know some may be rolling their eyes, but I can get almost all of my organics and more, just 10 minutes from home.
* How much I’d LOVE slowing down, and not rushing to get everywhere. Now John has to listen to me say, “Slow down” anytime we’re in the car.
* We’d go the entire month of August without running our A/C once. Screens make all the difference!
* It isn’t as cold, hot or humid as I expected. The mountains make all the difference. As Goldilocks says, “It’s just right!”
* That I’d LOVE country roads. Traffic… meh!
* Just how gratifying it is to spend time with family on a regular basis. I love being in the same town as my Dad and Elizabeth, though wish we got to see them even more.
* That we’d score so many wonderful neighbors!!! We literally hit the jackpot. Love stopping to chat every time I see one of them — and have enjoyed our many gatherings. And we LOVE dog sitting Brady!
* How gratifying it is to pull weeds and wrestle with landscaping ideas. Who knew I’d love getting dirty? Or that I’d be on my third pair of gardening gloves?
* I’d watch YouTube videos about pruning hydrangeas and growing basil. Still learning… slowly, but surely.
* The green onions, potatoes and tomatoes that magically sprouted up in our garden beds. Sweet!
* The many flowers that sprouted up… peonies, gladiolas, ice plants, black-eyed Susan’s and alstroemerias. The weeds, not so much a joy.
* That I’d ENJOY driving up and down our winding mountain road – 4 minutes each way. Often 3x’s a day. It changes through the seasons, but is always a visual delight and I find it soothing. It’s part of what has slowed me down. I like that.
* How much I’d enjoy seeing wild turkey, deer, horses, cows and ground hogs on the regular. Particularly love seeing CJ (the horse Shanti took lessons on) as we go up or down our hill. What is it about animals? Like extended family. I love them all.
* Just how stellar the sunsets would be… and that during the couple hottest months, the sun would set behind the trees shielding the extra heat. Bonus!
* Our view would be ever changing with the magnificent clouds and all that gives it that Smoky Mountain feel. Every time of the day is a different breathtaking scene. Didn’t realize I’d be ooooohing and awwwwwing so much! Hasn’t gotten old a single bit. Hope ya’ll don’t mind all the sunset pics.
* How magnificent the leaves changing color is in the Fall. Looking forward to another show of reds, oranges, and yellows emerging and changing into endless versions of beautiful. Eye candy!
* That completing house projects could be so fulfilling… furniture shopping, screens, blinds, paint, yard, and the gamut. Grateful the list is WAY shorter now, which only a few urgent items left.
* We’d plant 125+ plants and 25+ trees ourselves in the first year. I even dug a bunch of holes! More to come. I’ve got the landscaping bug.
* That I’d be so impressed with North Carolina schools. Love the teachers and academics. And the kids LOVE the food! Sorry… better than California.
* How lucky we’d get in having football coaches and tumbling mentors so committed to excellence. I love the passion here for sports. Riser and Shanti have both come SO far, from quarterbacking and touchdowns to back handsprings and 30+ cheers! Progress is a beautiful thing.
* That I’d get a cool new vanity plate in NC – “PE@CE4U.” It only took 7 months and lots and lots of calls to California DMV to finally release my title. (Note: I still have my CA plates on the front XTRMJOY. Pretty sure someone in Asheville snagged it as we waited.)
* How much fun it still is to jump on a trampoline. It only happens when my kiddos drag me onto it, but it always turns into a joy. (Yep, that’s Shanti doing a back-handspring).
* How useful a dehumidifier would be in the summer months to keep moisture down in the basement.
* That John would delight in having a chainsaw and slicing up fallen trees. Men get this. Women do not. (Although I’ve since been corrected by a girlfriend who loves her chainsaw.)
* That John would spend so much time at Lowe’s. As my Dad often says, “It’s his home away from home.” Now, it’s John’s too.
* What a joy it is to watch my kiddos practice football or cheer in that, “Yes, very California-like weather.” It’s a great “forced break.” And I’ve so enjoyed getting to know the other Mom’s and Dad’s at the field.
* We’d end up having 8 areas in our house painted. He’s from Ireland.
* Poison Ivy is a real thing to be avoided. I was committed to digging it up off the rock wall, was so careful… but alas, had capri yoga pants on and those darn roots got me. Fortunately, John had medicine from his bout, so I nipped it right away and it wasn’t a big deal.
* Our city lights view is very similar to the house I grew up in in Salt Lake City, Utah, especially in the winter when the leaves are gone. Takes me back to Aloha Road… some of you know what I’m talking about.
* The joys in owning a Subaru Outback, especially in the winter. Getting up our mountain… no problem. Ever.
* The movers would do nothing about destroying our pool table, damaging our exercise bike, and losing a big box full of valued clothing and items. Fortunately our insurance company helped out.
* Taking the trash to the dump isn’t that big of a deal. We’re outside city limits, so don’t have curbside service. But just as well since it would attract bears.
* How much fun it is to have SNOW again in January (and some in February). Just enough winter for me to check the box, with a sprinkling of other nice days. Though right now, I’m happy, happy with the weather as it is. Not quite ready for it to change again.
* That I’d LOVE rain as much as I do. Great for our plants. And good for building my kids’ characters by practicing, playing games or cheerleading in the rain. Thank goodness for trusty umbrellas.
* Appreciation for having a generator.
* We’d accidentally have an up close encounter with wild elk. And Shanti would get her wish of being licked by one! Pretty special.
* How deeply I’d appreciate visits from friends and family, (and how much THEY’D love visiting here!) Looking forward to more visits in the months and years ahead.
* How much I’d relish having our wind chimes! Peaceful. Soothing. A must have.
* We’d end up with passes to Dollywood & Splash Country and enjoy the Pigeon Forge/Sevierville area so much.
* How much I’d LOVE our well water to drink! It’s saving me a bundle on delivered water, but the best part is the taste.
* That I could maintain 4 1/2 bathrooms and keep the house pretty clean for a year without a housecleaner. No small feat. John and the kids have definitely done their part.
* I’d fall in LOVE with Amish furniture. Bedroom furniture finally came this week! Glory be! The smell of fresh wood is delightful!
* We’d be living out of our master closet for a year while waiting for dressers. One of the tolerations of the past year, which is about to be relieved.
* What a joy it would be to have dear friend & colleague Elizabeth Barbour and her daughter living just 40 minutes away. Also, LOVE having Annemarie & Marvin nearby too!
* That I wouldn’t need to venture to Asheville nearly as much as I anticipated. Almost everything we need is right here in Waynesville. Love how close it is… and all the extras it has… especially Trader Joe’s & Sam’s Club, and love when I get back to my country roads again.
* How much our family would embrace plaid. LOL!
* How many people I would connect with over the course of a year. At the football games last weekend, I realized I know way more people than I thought and I adore them. Every interaction creates a positive ripple affect in some way, doesn’t it?
* How much I’d lean on my virtual community for support, ideas, extra tips, friendship, inspiration and continuing to share our lives together — whether we’ve met in person or not.
* How much I’d delight in the cool breezes into our family room in the evenings. Mountain air is the best!
* I’d fall in LOVE with walking in the woods, especially with my trusty Oboz hiking shoes.
That’s a LONG list… so if you read them all, thank you for sharing in our first year’s “unexpected” list.
Special thank you’s to those I’ve met locally, those who’ve visited, called or emailed to stay connected. Looking forward to more delights in the year ahead.
My heart is full.
I hope you too are delighting in all the changes, beauty, surprises and connections that makes your heart sing.
Here’s to living in gratitude, being oh, so present and being receptive and open to life’s onslaught of delightful gifts at every turn.
Speaking of gifts, if you’re an entrepreneur or “one in the making,” be sure to check out the FREE Masterclass before. It’s happening today.
That’s it for today.
Until the next time…
Here’s to your success and inner peace,
PS: If you want daily inspiration and inquiries to help you find, keep and deepen inner peace, please join me in the Inner Peace on Purpose Facebook Group. It’s free! You’ll find a supportive community almost 900 members strong. I’d love to connect with you there. See you there!
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