“Do not ask your children
to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable,
but it is the way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.”
― William Martin
I think one of my favorite things about being a mom is the second chance it gives me to see the world through the eyes of a child. If you let them, children will teach you to go slow, and find much excitement in ladybugs, wading in puddles, and burying your feet in the sand.
I love the idea of teaching children to strive for an ordinary life, but I don’t think they really need to be taught to find joy in the little things – they seem to know how to do that already, quite naturally. Maybe it’s our job to teach them not to forget it….
I wish you a day filled with the wonders of an ordinary life!
Tell me – what’s one beautiful, wonderful, ordinary thing you’re enjoying right now?
Ordinary Days 