An Ordinary Day

I'm not usually one for bumper-sticker philosophies or motivational clichés, but every now and then, we all need a little pick-me-up: a kind word, a shared story, a warm hug ... something, anything that leaves behind even the smallest spark of hope.

Lately, though, I've found myself lacking inspiration before the day has even begun.

Especially after a stretch of trying days: a burst geyser leaving us without hot water for three freezing winter days, dwindling prospects as we get older, and scraping the family car because apparently, my head is in the wrong place! Add a few recent losses, some through death, others through drama, and suddenly one begins to wonder whether to take the matter up with Karma, who has obviously confused me with someone else.

And let's be honest, the past few years haven't been gentle with any of us.

So when I stumbled across an inspirational quote claiming that I have the power to influence the course of my day, I actually stopped spiralling for a moment, not because I fully believed it, but because some tired, unmotivated part of me desperately wanted to.

There was a time when the drama queen in me thrived on excitement and chaos. I romanticised the highs and lows of our beautifully messy lives, where overcoming turmoil felt like a victory somehow. And now? Sixty-year-old grumpy-me wants something else entirely. Consistency. Connection. Peace. And definitely a working geyser, good health and healthy finances!

The older I get, the more luxurious an ordinary day feels.

I knew I needed to become more strategic about where I place my energy... fewer emotionally charged situations, better choices, and many afternoon naps! I'm stepping off the emotional roller coasters and onto the comfy couch for a siesta and a snack. Simple in theory. But now for the plan.

I started by asking myself: Who/What needs my attention? What is the universe trying to tell me?

For the life of me, I couldn't land on anything.

My thoughts bounced wildly... from my son, to my husband, back to my son again... then spiralled outward: Am I grateful enough? Do I pray sincerely? What about money, uncertainty, grief, my purpose? And then, just as quickly, to the mundane: the never-ending grocery list, the piles of laundry, the dirty dishes ...

My brain hurt and my heart raced.

Nothing stuck. Everything spun.

I called a time out.

Instead of trying to fix everything at once, I decided to stop. I made myself a cuppa, drank it while it was still hot, and put on my yoga clothes. And somewhere in the middle of those painfully ordinary acts, the day softened slightly around the edges, my frayed nerves settled, and gratitude quietly showed up.

Maybe that's the real wisdom no inspirational quote ever fully captures: some days, it's enough to just stop and recentre. It's only human to be thrown by adversity, but overcoming it can be as simple as refusing to let one bad week colour your whole outlook on life.

And honestly? It's the friends who show up despite their own busy lives, the family who stays despite your grumpiness, the people who choose to remain instead of walking away... that's the balm and the beauty.

It's okay to feel down sometimes, to despair at loss. But how extraordinary is it to have people in your corner who love you through it all?