When the ordinary becomes extraordinary

I was driving home from visiting my Dad in the nursing home the other day. My Dad was doing ok. It was a grey Saturday afternoon in February. I had no plans for the rest of the weekend. All in all it was a very ordinary day.

As I was driving, a sudden wave of joy came over me. Like a flush of warm contentment. As I thought about my weekend ahead with nothing in it, I felt rather excited. It was gorgeous and I thought to myself…

‘Everything is just really ordinary right now’

‘and I’m ok with that. In fact it’s bloody wonderful. I love ordinary!’

The thing is, when we’ve had a lot of struggle in our lives, chaos, trauma, the ordinary stuff can feel boring or even uncomfortable. Our system gets wired to stress and intensity - it becomes our normal. So it can take some practice to get used to, and even enjoy life being ordinary.

But when we do - Wow!

There is nothing dull or boring about ordinary - it really does become extraordinary.

Having no plans.

Pottering around the house.

Walking the dog in your hairy ‘doggie’ clothes and realising you haven’t washed your face or brushed your teeth and it’s 1pm.

Getting excited about putting the coffee machine on.

Seeing a new episode of your favourite podcast drop.

Grey skies.

Putting washing on the line for the first time this year.

Setting your alarm to get up early to dip in the sea.

Seeing the first daffodil pop in the garden.

Standing in the queue at Lidl.

Sitting on the sofa with the dog on your lap.

Waking up - again and remembering it’s a miracle that I’m here. I get another shot at life today.

You may call this ageing, and I’m sure that this is definitely a part of it, but I know that this warm contentment is certainly no accident.

Over the years I have intentionally tended to this warm contentment. Practicing again and again coming back to myself, being with the struggle, offering myself compassion, teaching my nervous system how to feel safe in the ordinary, in the nothing, in day to day life. It isn’t always pretty, but it’s so worth it to know that I can just be.

Be with myself.

Be with the tough times.

Be with the great times.

Be with the ordinary.

Something a client said to me this week….

‘Before, I only had ‘events’ to look forward to and in between were just massive dips in my happiness. Since working with you, my base level has just raised up, so I start from a place of contentment even on the dull days when nothing is happening.’

If this is something you would like to feel more of, get in touch for a chat and maybe my coaching experiences could help you - find out more here.