ordinary momentum
I was walking my pup through the woods this morning. The sun was rising through the thicket – a breathtaking fiery pumpkin etched with spidery tributaries. I might not have noticed it if I hadn’t looked up and stepped outside my doggie-mama self at that moment.
I was so taken aback that I called out to another pre-dawn zombie walking her pup, “Isn’t it beautiful?” Her head darted to and fro. “What?” she asked. “The sun,” I replied. She shrugged and pressed on, likely focused more on getting her dog to poop so she could head home and deal with raking the garden, doing the laundry, taking the kid to hockey or myriad other tasks bouncing about in front of her eyeballs.
There have been many mornings just like this one when a grocery list would have floated into my brain and obscured my view – lemons, toilet paper, garbage bags, bananas, almond milk. Are we out of peanut butter? I’m already in the store clutching my bananas. I’m one hundred and one steps ahead of that mossy trail. I’ve leaped through time and space to accomplish all my chores and tasks of the day. I don’t see the luminous rising sun and most mornings my mind doesn’t wander beyond my mundane to-do lists. I am embalmed in the ordinary most days. But that’s okay.
It’s inside the ordinary that the extraordinary lives.
We can’t all quit our jobs, stop buying groceries and simply spend our days watching the sun rise. But we can cultivate ordinary momentum in our daily life. How?
Do one, simple thing every day that heads you in the direction of your biggest dream — and do it first.
Doing it first ensures it gets done. Do it first, then do the groceries. Do it daily, then get on with the laundry. Get up earlier if you don’t have time in your life and do it then. Do it no matter what — even if you don’t feel like it or you are out of town. Eventually, you won’t be able to stop. Do it even if you only do it for five minutes.
Something will start to happen. You’ll get stronger, more inspired, more joyful and your days will feel more purposeful. You don’t have to do it perfectly, but doing it means you’ve committed to yourself, your future, and your dreams. You will be on the rise. You will be luminous and you’ll begin to gather ordinary momentum that will slowly, powerfully and irreversible change your direction.
First thing in the morning, the sun knows where it’s headed. Do you?
24 Responses to “ordinary momentum”
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Love this, Katie! Just what I needed to hear this afternoon.
So glad you found it worthwhile, Jules. Thanks for saying so.
Read you but haven’t commented–cannot resist today. My Biggest Thing. Noticing. You nailed it. As you always do. Thanks!
Thanks so much, Kay.
How lovely. You have a gift with words. Thanks for the beautiful reminder.
Sweet comment, Jeanette. Thanks for being here.
Soon our ordinary paths will cross. Days to hold close.
Yes, Diana. And how extraordinary that will be. Here I come Italy.
Nice one, Katy. Stopping to not just smell the roses, but to stay on course as one’s own advocate is excellent advice. Have a great day.
Tracey, I think the two are connected. Both noticing and stepping into our path with equal resolve. Both take practice.
Katie, that’s one of mine and Henry’s (my pup) daily stops, the sunrise. And yes I agree with you adding that one thing every day makes a hugh difference. Thanks for always reminding me.
Hope your pup is doing well!
Gay, I think we likely walk similar paths with our pups. Mine’s a little off today – a rough night being ill so we missed the sunrise. He’s sleeping it off, poor thing. Likely ate something that didn’t agree with him in the park. He eats everything, the more disgusting the better. Although, sticks are his favourite. Thanks for sharing your puppy life.
All I want to say is…
Thank you.
I have taken the Habits Course with me and practiced it ever since I took it. The idea rides the same rail as this post. It builds momentum.
My blog my not have as many posts as it used to currently… BUT the momentum for getting “the work” done that counts for me is huge.
Jt, I know what you mean about momentum – I’m struggling with my own of late, but am just trying to focus on “the work”, as you say, and seeing if that leads me to a place of peace. Perfection be damned. Glad to hear you are similarly easy on yourself when momentum slows.
ah yes – the sun’s rays. i appreciate that when walking my doggie
Noch Noch
Noch Noch, happy sunny doggie days.
I’ve shared those seemingly insignificant moments with others too, they just don’t realize how significant these moments really are. Ordinary momentum, like that very much. Thanks again Katie.
Michelle, I’m glad you liked the post. Funny how we feel compelled to share in those moments, expecting a stranger to be where we are – in our head space. I felt for that woman, dazed by sleep and wondering who this crazy sun worshiping morning person was calling out to her. Oh well, keep sharing Michelle. One day you and that stranger will be in exactly the same head space and you’ll have a moment together. When that happens it’s magic.
Thanks to all for the comments I really enjoy while reading it.I learned many things.
John, it’s great to hear you got both joy and knowledge from reading the comments.
Great, thanks for your share!
Thanks Katie for a great reminder to take time in our everyday lives and take one small step towards our dreams. I’ll send this to our Sunrise Yoga Boot Camp members!