This morning I wended my way through pedestrian traffic as I made my way to the train for the airport. At 7:45 am, most commuters were travelling in the opposite direction, flowing into Toronto’s downtown core. It reminded me of one of the early scenes in the 1980s movie, Night Shift when Henry Winkler, a morgue attendant working the night shift, fights his way home on the subway against the flow of the morning commuters.

Many of us rush through our days, our weeks and our months. Rushing to keep up with the demands at the office and then dashing home in time to attend one of our children’s sporting events or an evening business commitment.  We keep pushing through our weeks, looking forward to some downtime or pursuing a favourite hobby on the weekend. Or we are rushing through our months anticipating a holiday break, reconnecting with family or experiencing interesting travel.

As I walked to the train this morning, I observed others. Most had serious countenances and were moving at a rapid pace. Those with headphones looked a little calmer; perhaps the audio-book or playlist offered a pleasant distraction.

I am so grateful to be at a stage of life in which I have considerable freedom.

I am no longer putting children on a school bus or driving them to high school, although I loved those days and the time with the kids. I no longer make a daily commute. And while presently I am on planes twice each week for seven consecutive weeks, it is a conscious choice to conduct interesting business with fascinating people in many locations.

Even when our days and weeks are filled with routine action and multiple activities, there are moments of awe. Sometimes, however, (as I have observed) people miss those moments because they are preoccupied with their rushing mind and are not creating space in their lives for those people or activities that bring them awe.

Recently a former client and I attended Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal in Leonard Cohen’s Dance Me. Time stopped. The haunting lyrics of Leonard Cohen and the talented dancers’ exquisite movements were breathtaking and awe-inspiring. If you are a fan of dance or Leonard Cohen, it is a must see.

As the dancers moved together, they flowed like water. It was sensual, beautiful and compelling. The audience was silent. No candy wrappers scrunched, no cell phones shone, no one adjusted the position in their seats. I was not the only one who was completely enthralled.

For you, a moment of joy and awe may strike while standing at the top of a ski hill as the fresh powder reflects the blue bowl above you. Or you may experience joy wandering an old growth forest or soaking in the sun’s rays while waves pound the shoreline.  Or you may pause to experience joy while dancing with a child, working in your garden, visiting with family and friends, or even laughing with a friend until your stomach hurts. All these experiences can bring an overwhelming feeling of reverence – awe.

When you feel that bubble of light, that heart-filling joy, pause and recognize the beauty of the moment. Realize that these moments are fleeting. They are wonderful. This is what we are meant to experience in our time here.

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” ―  John Keats,  Endymion: A Poetic Romance

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© 2018 Lorraine A. Moore. All rights reserved. Permission granted to excerpt or reprint with attribution.