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"I do believe in an everyday sort of magic...the inexplicable connectedness we sometimes experience with places, people, works of art and the like; the eerie appropriateness of moments of synchronicity; the whispered voice, the hidden presence, when we think we're alone." Charles de Lint

Sunday, July 13, 2025

Just As They Are

I checked on Bessie today...the beloved hackmatack tree I visit on a regular basis...and she seems happy and healthy. 

She's a quirky little tree...with lots of character. 

And I do adore her tiny pinecones.


 I get a weekly substack post from Claudia Cummings. Today's post was called Happy Right Now, Contentment Amid the Chaos and can be found here. 

Claudia pointed out how much time we spend searching for comfort and trying to "get things just so we can relax and be happy." She advocates for having "a deep and abiding love for our lives just as they are. A love of rain as well as sun, a thankfulness for mistakes that teach us how to live, an appreciation for bumps and bruises, and smiles and friendships, all rolled up together in this messy play of life." 

I have places and spaces in my life that are always a bit chaotic and messy....and sometimes I get a little frustrated that I can't quite get things under control. But mostly I have come to understand it's just how I roll. Claudia advocates "cultivating contentment amid the chaos, not in spite of it. It offers us so much hope. It's messier, but more beautiful too. And it feels honest, and quite possibly even doable. And so very filled with love." 

I do believe that my messy places are filled with love....just as they are. And I'm working on being happy and content amid my chaos.

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4 comments:

  1. dotty seiter: now playingJuly 13, 2025 at 8:00 PM

    Your Happy-Right-Now message struck a chord with me, both because it was a welcome message after a day of various minor frustrations and roadblocks that had me pausing more than once to remember to love my situations just as they were, and because I have an assignment due for a course I'm taking and seeing the cheery perky pinecones lined up on a branch of Bessie sparked an idea that got me past a very stuck place in my assignment. Altogether, I am happy right now!

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    1. MaryAnn ShupeJuly 14, 2025 at 8:14 AM

      I'm so glad you related to this Dotty. Our lives can get messy and frustrating sometimes....and the country is in an even bigger mess and even more frustrating. But choosing joy even while in the midst of chaos seems like the way to go.

      And I love that Bessie's branch sparked an idea. How fun is that!

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  2. AnonymousJuly 13, 2025 at 8:26 PM

    I love this perspective. I certainly have many messy spaces myself, but how true that we can still find joy and contentment while going through them. There are so many chances to find hope amid the chaos of the world right now. Thank for sharing this, MaryAnn. Judy

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    1. MaryAnn ShupeJuly 14, 2025 at 8:15 AM

      Thanks Judy! It's a good perspective...especially given the state of things in our country right now. It also doesn't mean I shouldn't try and create some order in my messy places....but I won't let it consume me. There is joy to be found in the chaos.

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