Sometimes
we forget that life is rich and full of blessings. We forget to pay attention
to the little things. And we do not always feel the abundance that surrounds
us.
Yesterday
it rained hard all day. It was a dark grey day and I had jobs to do in town.
One of my jobs involved cycling 25 minutes in the downpour to get to a class on
the other side of town. It was okay – having lived 6 years in Northern Spain
I´ve learned to be prepared for any weather conditions and was sporting my best
waterproofs and the shiniest positive attitude I could muster. But it still
sucked. Until I saw a rainbow. Actually it was two rainbows. Giant arcs of
colour framing the misty mountains in the distance. I´m sure there are a
hundred and one quotes about rainbows and seeing the good, and it was a classic
moment of just that. The sight of those rainbows caused a great goofy smile to
form on my face. And for a moment I forgot the rain and my being wet and
uncomfortable. I carried on through the rain feeling like I´d been given a gift
to uplift me and see me through the day.
I have
learned that life is not perfect, nor will it ever be, and neither is it
necessary for us to strive for it to be. I have also learned that it is very
possible to be happy without seeking that perfection. It is about counting our
blessings, making it a daily practice to engage in the art of delight. This
simple practice asks of us to pause, to notice, to pay attention, and reflect
on the simple things in our life that give us pleasure. A bird of prey swooping
overhead, the smell of roasting chestnuts on the street, a cheery hello from an
ageing neighbor, or an arc of light creating a rainbow in the sky. All of these
I recognise as blessings, as gifts, and looking out for them and acknowledging
them as such can fill each day with an abundance that is much sweeter than any
perfection I could imagine.
Millie Brereton is a certified yoga teacher, nutrition coach and general lover of life. She's currently living and working in Navarra, Northern Spain. She is the director of The Kula Centre of Learning and Personal Development and delights in Tantric philosophy and seeing the best in everyone who crosses her path. She can often be found in her kitchen blending juices and cooking up tasty treats from her organic farm, or bounding ecstatically through the mountains with her two dogs, Bonnie and Kin. For more information on any of the above, or to simply connect, contact her at thekulacentre@live.com or visit her webpage, www.thekulacentre.com
