Good lovely morning

A poet friend wrote this salutation, "Good lovely morning," and it made me pause. Life, with its nested doll of woes, has pushed down any thought of lovely. Nonetheless, it was so good to hear. Could the day possibly be lovely? Can I borrow some of that optimism and let it allow in a modicum of spring joy? Hearing the word lovely was enough, but it reminded me that I need to go outside, step away from the desk and let nature provide that lovely wedge it does between the rug-ratted ordinariness of life and a place of calm and beauty.  I have relied upon a morning routine of reading poetry (The Slowdown, Poem A Day, Rattle, etc.) to push me in that direction. I guess I felt this one habit could keep me buoyed up and able to sustain a modicum of, if not joy then perhaps equilibrium. It hasn't done that entirely. Perhaps the poems themselves, arriving as they do in my email every day, do not themselves stray into optimism. It's true. I looked back, and it is safe to say they are mostly poignant if not wrenching. And yet, even a sad little poem can be lovely. Can it not? And besides that, I have two companions. I have a combination hot water-bottle and therapy cat, Mr. Rogers. He and his sister, Little Princess, provide more calm in their lap residencies than a person could ever need, sometimes cramming both of themselves into a single lap occupation.

Today, thanks to such a sweet salutation, I will go out into the world, travel the ten miles necessary to procure a latte, and then I'll walk by the potholes and let the rushing water hypnotize me into a neutral state. I will rely upon my legs to take me somewhere, reminding me I am more than a mind. I am body.  I must take that body out into the day and shake off whatever tries to carry itself into the next day. Not to mention the fact that if you do not keep moving, you tend to become the tin man (or woman). Yes, movement, nature!
Let it provide the calm that is often lost in everyday chaos.

​Tell yourself this too and have a good lovely day.

---