A Sunday Morning
June 23, 2010
Way back in the dark ages—my dark ages—the days dictated by “should,” the pastor’s wife said: “I used to love Sunday mornings when I was living at home. My dad would buy bagels and the New York Times, and we’d spend the morning reading the whole thing, drinking coffee, and eating New York bagels. I miss that, but, of course, I can’t do that anymore.”
All I could think was, “WHY NOT?” Her description sounded like heaven to me.
I don’t remember what I mumbled in response, but the internal “WHY NOT?” wouldn’t leave me. It took up residence in my subconscious and began opening possibility-crammed closets. It started posing questions to all my “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts,” challenging them to try on different consonant hats. How about a “w” or a “c”? Would I? Could I? WHY NOT?
Little did that pastor’s wife know, in painting the picture of those heavenly Sunday mornings, that she helped me leave the life of guilt and the days of “should.”
What would I like to do? What could I change to live a life that fit me?
A nice thing… living a life that isn’t ruled by guilt and fear, but by “Yes! Why not?” I’m working on it.
A nice thing... 
Sarah — I just love you! (…thanks for this…)
oh yes – the guilt must go! life is too short to live it constantly appealing to the needs of others. sometimes, you gotta do what makes you happy! that is a very, very nice thing. 🙂 xo
Definitely a good remembrance that when the negative things are getting us down, we may not be able to change all of them, but certainly a “why not” thrown in the mix couldn’t hurt. Damn, now my head hurts.
This reminds me of a time when you wrote about the Yes rule of improv. Similar principles. Similar openings into warm and risky possibility.
That’s a great place to be. Enjoy it!