JOMO and the Sweet Spot of Contentment

 

With all that has transpired these past 16 months, finding that sweet spot of contentment with a feeling of inner peace has been a gift; the total grace. We basked in the glow of the setting sun while dining al fresco in our yard. We took walks and discovered new running routes in our neighborhood. We had many moments of contentment being at home, playing board games and brain games, and doing jigsaw puzzles. We delighted in finding new recipes and had many hearty laughs when a recipe did not quite turn out as we had anticipated. We felt blessed and grateful that Tom was able to work from home and Ruth Anne's classes were on line to keep us safe in our bubble. 

We had to adapt to wearing masks, doing only take out, not being able to swim, travel or hang out at the beaches last summer. We tested our mettle running outdoors as long as it was safe and learned how to challenge ourselves despite not having any races. A regular meditation practice focused on peace, ease, acceptance and experiencing comfort within the discomfort. As runners and runners who have run the Boston Marathon, we were able to get through those tough miles.

Emerging from the pandemic, we are faced with making choices about what events to attend. Events that ordinarily we would not give a second thought to now give us pause, especially with an uptick in cases among the unvaccinated due to the Delta variant. Going to my husband's family house for a pool party to celebrate the graduation of the cousin who my twins grew up with would have been a pre-covid no brainer. As I saw the invitation on my refrigerator, I began experiencing a sense of unease about attending the party. Tom, Ruth Anne and I sat down to talk about it.

We received an invitation from one of Ruth Anne's friends for a "See and Sip" to celebrate the birth of her friend's son. They live in California but are returning to her friend's house so that the friends she grew up with can celebrate the baby's birth. On the invitation it states, "Kindly be fully vaccinated if you plan to attend."

My husband's cousin's family has children who are not yet of age to receive the vaccination. We have no way of knowing the vaccination status of the graduate's friends. When the pandemic first hit, my husband's cousin who is the grandmother of the graduate, had posts on her wall about conflicts over masks in her apartment building. We have incredible memories of many holidays spent with my husband's family and during the pandemic reached out to reconnect with them. It's great to share in each other's lives on Facebook but as we talked, we realize a big party is not going to serve us well right now even though we are fully vaccinated. I contracted polio in one of the last polio epidemics at the age of 5. I was fully vaccinated but after playing with my friend, whose mother was not vaccinated, I contracted paralytic polio. In today's lingo, they call it a rare break through case. I believe in living in love and light and not living in fear but I do respect this virus and its variants and want to put myself in situations that will promote health and well-being.

It's easy to have FOMO - a fear of missing out on an afternoon of swimming, eating and reminiscing but recently I saw this:

We could have made up a reason as to why we were not going to attend like Tom had to be on call or his back was bothering him and we couldn't make the trip but we all felt it was important to be truth tellers. We put a graduation card and check in the mail and sent our warmest regards and best wishes.

We will go to the "See and Sip" and also to the 11th Annual Barbara Byrd Memorial Golf Classic to support Voices of Hope Boston that donates all of the funds they raise for cancer research at Mass. General Hospital. It will be a mostly outdoor event where everyone will be fully vaccinated and protocols will be strictly followed to ensure a safe, joyful and successful event. 

We experienced a lot of angst earlier this week. We realized it was the combination of Tom's return to the office one day a week beginning NOW and the conflict we experienced around Saturday's family event. I'm sure the seemingly never ending days of rain did not help.

After a lot of meditation and discussion, we were able to settle down and once again find that sweet spot of contentment which is perfect as we get ready to head into the weekend with the summer's early dismissal on Fridays at 3pm.

Whenever we find ourselves veering off course, we know we can take a breath and trust that we will always return to that sweet spot of contentment and gratitude.

Contentment

When turmoil of world roils
thoughts boiling over
confinement
why
whining
wishing
wanting

STOP

gratitude unlocks door
opens heart
deep breath
transforms complaining

Look around
notes to self
simple pleasures
quiet evening at home
sumptuous summer fruit
sweet fragrance after the rain
reunion hugs
taste of first snowflakes
icicles like diamonds on trees
splendor of autumn leaves.

Piece by piece
weaving together
tapestry of peace and contentment.

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

Visit my website to learn more about my journey of transformation in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond.

Be sure to listen to my recent conversation with Liz Brunner, award winning journalist, now CEO of Brunner Communications on her podcast Live Your Best Life. I share how I live my best life despite the challenges that I faced at an early age.

For all of my recent appearances, be sure to visit my News and Events tab on my website.

My books to inspire and uplift you are available on Amazon.