Day 1592

My list was long and sometimes complicated on this day. However, it never works to do two or three things on “the list” simultaneously. It doesn’t take much to interrupt the flow and bring me to a sudden halt. At that point, losing track of the next conglomeration of tasks stops my momentum and I have to regroup.

There are times when those little interruptions, that hinder my fast-paced progress, are a gift. While hurtling headlong into the next thing to check off my list, it allows me to take stock of what is more important than adhering to a “Do or Die” kind of frantic direction forward. Taking a sidestep, or even a step backwards. can be illuminating and heart-warming.

Gus and I were at one of our senior venues this morning where he put on the “Gus-Gus Charm” while people stood in line to love him. Smiling and nodding appropriately, my brain had already moved to the list waiting for me at home. Still creating the best path to successfully checking every last one of those items off the list, I knocked on a door and there was no answer. My heart skipped a little beat, but I gently opened the door and called out the name of our elderly friend.

To my relief, she was sitting in a chair, sound asleep. I briefly thought I might just slip away unseen, going out the door and let her continue dreaming, when I noticed what she had wrapped around her shoulders. She had not been feeling well, so I had crocheted a prayer shawl for her in her favorite colors. She was snuggled in its folds and her beautiful, 94-year-old hands were laced in the yarn.

Gus and I stood for a moment and watched her as she peacefully slept on. Tears filled my eyes when I realized how important these visits are to some of our friends. She had fallen asleep while waiting for us to arrive.

After a moment, I gently called her name and let Gus put his head in her lap. Waking, she told us she knew we would be there soon and had dozed off. Her smile lit up my world. Sweet lady.

My lesson today…

Even though things need to be accomplished to keep life running smoothly, the most important things can never really be checked off a list.

Without any plan or expectation, we had just experienced the most fulfilling part of our day. So grateful for these little nudges to slow down and smell the roses.