Hey there , you know it's funny . I've been thinking a lot about intentions and gratitude . Obviously they come up a lot in the work that I do . And something occurred to me this morning as I kind of went through my morning ritual ,
and I'm just going to share it with you and see if it generates any insights for you . I'm still verbal processing here with you , which is kind of how I roll , but I guess I'm modeling , trusting the process . Ultimately , obviously , I have the control of whether or not I share this , but I'm going to set the intention to just go with it as a kind of free flow , if you are willing . So , as I said , every morning I go out with my coffee and walk around my garden with the intention of really taking it in and living in gratitude , which is not difficult to do at all here where I am , and I truly am appreciative . I can honor that ,
that I truly am appreciative every day . But here's the thing you know I make my coffee mindfully and I , you know , I foam the milk and I heat it up in the microwave and add my coffee , make my little latte , um , and you know , I get my basket , which has a book in it , and my glasses , so if I decide to stay and read on the dock . So it's all this little ritual , right ? The cats have been fed . I haven't had breakfast yet .
Speaker 1Anyways , this is kind remembered back to the idea that , you know , I get all prepared and then I'd I'd step out of my door and I'd have to walk through a spiderweb , and I remember it used to well , it used to frustrate me , you know , it used to harshen my mellow . You know you set the intention in the kitchen and get all set up and step out into this glorious , you know beautiful world outside in nature and all ready to take it in . You know , all self-actualized , a spider web
that gets caught on my face and maybe in my coffee , and I have to put my book down and peel my way out of it , and so on and so forth . And it's so funny because I feel differently about it today than I did before . And today , as I was clearing the cobweb , which is now part of my ritual , right , which is something that I like to do that I like to clear the space before I walk through it , as opposed to something that I had to do because it was annoying me and that was threatening to harsh on my mellow . You know , today I was doing it as part of my routine . I added it to what I do and I quite enjoy doing it .
Speaker 1Today I found myself getting fascinated by it . You know , I stepped outside my door and there's this cobweb . That's always there , and today I noticed how it was glistening in the sun
and how intricate and beautifully symmetrical , geometrical , almost perfect in its execution . This spider had just created it seemingly from nowhere , simply from hard work , no artist in sight , and yet every morning I brush it away and it's a masterpiece . It's a masterpiece from my point of view , which , to the spider , is not a masterpiece at all , but rather a tool , something for survival , something to catch its prey .
Speaker 1When I started to do this in the first place , as I told you earlier , I did it out of fear , fear of seeing that artist spider , fear that it might hurt me . I mean , it's funny . It's funny our inherent fear of spiders , isn't it ? Well , today I thought maybe the worry can be transformed into a kind of awe and that we can learn something from these incredible creatures that never give up , no matter how many times I wipe down their beautiful webs . It reminded me this morning of Charlotte's Web and I looked it up and smiled as I thought about that beautiful children's story by EB White that personified the spider , so that it was someone that we could relate to , something with feelings and worries .
Speaker 1But you know , nature doesn't have feelings like we do , and when we personify nature or project upon them , really we're doing it for our own comfort , aren't we ? The spider just does what it does because , well , that's what it does . It's me that interprets its beauty and , in a way , that's the gift that it leaves unknowingly , and so I choose not to be afraid anymore . I can acknowledge my fear and I will still brush away its beautiful web because I want to keep my doorway clear , but not before I pause every morning and honor the awe and the gift that is nature . That's really all I've got for you today . You guys .
I'm Lisa Hopkins . Thanks so much for listening . Stay safe and healthy , everyone , and remember to live in the moment .