Dear Normal Day: Savoring the Life We Rush Past

On my nightstand sits a small ceramic dish which holds my rings, reading glasses— and this gentle reminder, inscribed on its surface:

“Dear Normal Day,

Let me be aware of the treasure you are.

Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart.

Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.

Let me hold you while I may.”

– Faithfully yours

The name on the back simply reads, “Mary Jean’s Poem.”

It’s lovely, isn’t it?

And whenever I read it, it makes me pause and appreciate the gift of a new day that I’ve had the privilege to wake up to.

I bumped into a neighbor recently who asked, “How are you?”

My mind did a quick scan. “Hmm… how am I?

“Well, I’m super-excited about Real-Life Extraordinary and my Decide Happy cause. I’m worried about Tim’s hand surgery and a loved one recovering from a serious medical procedure. I just got back from a great getaway with my girlfriends in NYC. I’m extremely concerned about the growing divisiveness in our world. And loving this time dog-sitting two beautiful greyhounds while friends are traveling. I’m a little too busy and breathless right now. But I’m creating, contributing, and working on things I care deeply about…”

After that quick little inventory, I took a breath, smiled at my neighbor and just answered, “Great!”

And, you know, I meant it.

Because life is always a mix, isn’t it?

The good, the hard, the uncertain—all happening all at once.

The more people we love, the more engaged we are in our lives,

the wilder the ride.

It’s rarely perfect, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t wonderful.

The other day, I finally pried myself away from my computer and ever-growing to-do list to take the dogs for a walk. Even then, I couldn’t quite let go. I popped in my earbuds and returned a phone call as we circled the block. When I got home, my husband Tim asked, “Hey, did you see the sky to the east while you were out walking? I’ve never seen anything like it—the clouds and the light…it looked like it was straight out of a movie.”

I felt a small pang of regret. Not only had a not seen it, apparently I’d walked right under a masterpiece unfolding all around me and had never even looked up.

Do you ever tell yourself, “Once things calm down, then I’ll finally enjoy life—I’ll take longer walks, cook real dinners, linger over coffee with a friend,

read a good book instead of scrolling before bed.”

But things never really calm down, do they?

There’s always another project, another email, another Next Thing to focus on. We keep waiting for a better tomorrow while today slips through our fingers.

In our frenetic world that celebrates hustle, rewards speed, and often confuses productivity with progress, we’re constantly doing, doing, doing when what we crave is be-ing.

Having survived a life-threatening illness, I try not to take the “normal” days for granted anymore. The days when nothing dramatic happens—the ones that used to feel routine— I hold these close now.

Gratitude helps me slow down.

Noticing and appreciating the small moments of grace all around me — the play of light on the water as I drive over a bridge, a sparrow singing from its branch, a smile from the neighbor passing me on the street. These moments help me see how truly extraordinary it is just to be here on this Earth, living another beautiful, normal day.

That’s what this little dish on my nightstand reminds me to do—to pause long enough to appreciate today. Not just the milestone days, but all the in-between ones. The ones that make up most of our lives. The normal days.

Because one day we’ll look back and realize these normal days were the real treasures all along.

So today, I’m taking a breath.

I’m savoring the taste of my morning coffee. I’m taking the dogs for longer walks and stopping frequently to look into their soulful eyes and scratch their silky ears. I’m noticing the treetops above my neighbor’s home—painted vibrant crimson and gold with the coming autumn. I’m mussing up Tim’s hair as he sits at the kitchen table in front of his computer and telling him I love him.

I’m holding this normal day while I may.

Stay Strong. Stay Kind.

With so much love,

Susan

Happiness Practice

Just for today (maybe longer) decide to notice the small, beautiful things about your “normal day.”

1. What are the daily things that bring you joy?  Can you pause a few beats and truly savor them?

2. What are the daily rituals you savor? Or could savor, if you paused a moment or two longer?

Could you:

• Lift your face to the sky to notice the blue, or the shape of the clouds, or feel the sun on your face?

• Savor that first coffee or tea of the day

• Listen to the rain pattering against your window. Or the birds singing in the treetops

• Smile at the person working at the coffee shop, or dry-cleaners

• Give a loved one a real, hug-like-you-mean-it hug

• Stroke your dog’s or cat’s fur a little longer

• Hold your child or grandchild a little closer

• Reach out to a friend to let them know you’re thinking of them

So, this is cool!

Little Bit of Happy In Your Inbox monthly tips are now organized by topic. Hover over “Happy Tips,” so you can go to the topic that’s most helpful to you whenever you need a boost!

If today’s post reminded you to appreciate life’s moments of extraordinary in even the most normal days, you’ll enjoy Real-Life Extraordinary, my second Decide Happy book (woohoo!) and a practical guide to letting go of what weighs you down and creating a life that light you up.