If you want a new perspective, choose a different view.

It’s Sunday morning. Today I’ve chosen to sit on our front porch to sip my coffee and peruse the news. It’s a different view from here. Instead of the quiet, cloistered comfort of my back deck, there is a vibrant atmosphere as people stroll back and forth with dogs and baby strollers.

I think back to Sunday mornings past. Blurry-eyed hangovers in my twenties. Sleepless nights and mornings spent snuggling with babies in my thirties. Frantic dashes to church well into my forties. Sunday morning yoga. Walks to Starbucks. Farmers’ market outings and bike rides with my husband.

Today feels different. The seasons are changing. The back deck is shrouded in shade. It’s sunnier on the south side of the house. My husband is traveling, my daughter spent the night with a friend, and I have no idea where my son is. A hint of loneliness and sadness creep up on me.

A neighbor walks by and waves. A black and white cat tiptoes up the steps then darts into the shrubbery. An apple falls from the tree and clunks onto the car next door. I realize I am not alone. And like my view, I change my attitude.

I find gratitude for this new spot to sip coffee. I’m happy my husband has the opportunity to see a new part of the world… and, yes, the sojourner in me is a tiny bit jealous. My daughter is thriving and making her own way in the world. And my son? He, too, is making his own way, hard as it may be.

I ponder for a moment these people and images. I stir this mixture of blurry eyes, tiny babies, frantic sermons, grown children, calming yoga, and more… loneliness, gratitude, silence, laughter, joy, sorrow, quiet times, and wild adventures… They each have brought me to this moment – to this place in time.

It’s Sunday morning. A new day beginning. A new week. A new life. How will I choose to live it? How will you? 

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If you're curious about the idea of intentional travel, consider joining Sharon Richards and me for our next Urban Pilgrimage: Where Soul Greets Soul in Paris, France.

We just opened a brand new set of dates, May 9 - 16, 2015. Experience the joy of being present to yourself in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We promise, you've never seen Paris (or yourself) like this!!! 

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My signature self-care and soul nourishment class, Live it to Give it, is available online. Start the new season with intention!! Details here.  Self-study only $95. Kickstart your life today! 

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