An Invitation to Attend Your Life

This morning, I awoke with a realization: each new day is an invitation to be fully present, to actively engage with my life.

I recall the thrill of receiving a birthday party invitation as a child. We’d prominently display it on the refrigerator door with a magnet, and as the party date approached, my excitement would grow. This makes me wonder: why don’t I greet each morning with the same eagerness? Have I resigned myself to viewing each day as “just another day”? What if I saw each morning’s awakening as an invitation to embrace life?

It’s easy to fall into the belief that life is a series of major events – birthday parties in childhood were extraordinary, bringing a sense of magic with cakes, streamers, and games. As adults, we might see life as a progression from one holiday or vacation to the next, with mundane moments filling the gaps. But I believe life is more than that.

You are invited to attend your life and you are the gift!

Admittedly, I’ve often let my life become a series of mundane moments punctuated by occasional highs. And in doing so, I’ve missed out. Each breath is a precious gift. Each heartbeat is a miracle. I’m not responsible for making them happen, yet here I am, alive and present. This moment of realization is a gift, one that I share with you, the reader, through this blog post. It’s an invitation to view your life as the precious gift it is, and to greet each new day with the joy and anticipation of a child.

As we step into 2024, my guiding principle is ATTENTION. I’m consciously feeling my fingers dance across the keyboard, sensing the pillow supporting my back, and breathing slowly, fully immersing myself in the present. I offer these suggestions to myself, and you’re welcome to adopt them too:

• Let the act of opening your eyes each day be a reminder to embrace your life.
• Welcome each day as a fresh opportunity to find wonder in the little things: the melody of birds, the smoothness of a countertop, the feeling of warmth or coolness.
• Set a daily alarm as a prompt to check in with yourself, to see how you’re engaging with the day, or to reignite your sense of wonder.
• Remember, this practice is not about measuring your life’s worth; it’s about being present. Be kind to yourself if you forget, and simply try again without self-judgment.

I hope you find as much joy in attending to the details of your life as I am finding in mine!