Putting Pause into Practice

Janice sent me a link to a Substack column called The Wonder Habit by D. Michele Perry. I was quite taken with today's post and have signed up for the free version and will be looking back at free articles as I have time.

Her most recent post was titled A Million Seeds of Joy, 01 AWE, There's AWE in the pause....even on a day like this. It was written yesterday after the two horrific shootings in our country. 

During these difficult and dark days....Michele chooses to be part of the conversation that helps plant seeds of wholeness....that will contribute to building an ecosystem of joy in our lives.  

And ecosystem of joy! Yes! 

During September she will share 10 practices that help sow these seeds...and today she began with AWE. Awe lives in intentional microscopic moments we find in our everyday world. It can be found when we pause long enough to let a small detail change our perspective.

The post can be found here: https://wonder.dmicheleperry.com/p/a-million-seeds-of-joy-01-awe

Putting pause into practice:

Our seven son flower tree right next to the patio is starting to bloom....and I am in awe of these sweet almost spring-like blossoms that present themselves in September when most things are winding down.

And I'm always in awe when bright pink turtlehead blooms that also emerge during these late summer days. 

And I paused long enough....to get a little gift land on another bloom.

There's AWE in the pause, Michele reminds us. 

I have talked about awe...and taking time to pause over and over on this blog...but I can get revved up when I read about it from someone else's perspective. They always frame it up just a little differently.

I'm looking forward to reading her next 9 seeds of Joy. Maybe you will too.  

Thanks for planting the seed Janice! 

One more putting pause into practice: As I was walking down Old Birch yesterday....I was so taken with this row of pines. 

I've seen them dozens and dozens of times...but there was something about the morning light and the long shadows that made me pause and really look.

Then I couldn't help myself look again on the way back. My photos help me revisit moments of awe and joy in my day....and sometimes I see something new. There's awe in the pause!