This is a reminder that we get to choose where we put our focus and attention. It’s not what I was planning to write about today, but then I went swimming and remembered.
You see, I swim in a tiny pool in my apartment building. It’s 50 feet long, and if you’re a swimmer you can imagine that I have to turn about a million times (and not push off from the wall), but I love it because it’s right here in the building. And not only that, it’s empty most of the time when I go to swim laps, which is lovely.
Today, though, there was a man getting into the pool when I arrived.
Did I mention that there’s only one “lane” in the pool? There’s plenty of space for more than one swimmer, but there’s only one lane line to follow. And let me tell you, the line really helps a swimmer stick to a straight path.
Anyway, the man starts swimming in the lane, and I start swimming on the other side of the pool without a lane marker. Which is fine. Fine fine fine. Was I having a hard time keeping to a straight path? Yes I was. Was it a tiny bit annoying? Yes. But really, it was fine.
Truth be told, I could suddenly see how easy it would have been to have grumbled my way through a half-mile in the water, swimming crooked, constantly course correcting, annoyed about the other person, annoyed about having to swim on the other side of the pool, just annoyed. It would have been so easy.
But that’s when I remembered.
I get to choose.
There is a pool in my apartment building. What a gift. 97% of the time when I go to swim laps, I have the whole pool to myself. What a luxury. My body parts work and carry me through the water. Miracles. There were leftovers for dinner so instead of cooking, I had time to swim. Hallelujah.
Today there were annoyances. Ok.
All of these things are true - the annoyance and the appreciation - and when stacked up next to each other, I choose to focus on the appreciation. It’s a choice.
And this practice? It helps me to remember that choice every single day. Because when I take the time and make the effort to Notice, Name + Share good things, I’m teaching my brain where I want to place my focus. Which means that when I’m faced with a minor annoyance (or a major challenge), I have the muscle memory to lean into appreciation.
We get to choose where we put our focus and attention all day everyday.
This is why we practice.
Thursday:
I cleared out my email inbox today and what a relief.
Lucy makes the most delicious green beans. I don’t even like green beans and I can’t stop eating them.
I made the dough for tomorrow’s challah tonight, a gift to my future self.
Now you? Tell me 3 good things?
Xo.
