Recognising What’s In Front of You

One of my biggest problems has always been an inability to be satisfied with days that other people might consider ideal. I can see things that could have been even better and I have tended to focus on little irritations or problems that have robbed me of the feeling of an ideal day. A transport issue, a small disagreement or a perception of things being too expensive have always derailed me.

However, in the past year or so I have been making a real effort to appreciate what is happening in the moment. Two days recently come to mind as being close to ideal.

First there was the trip to Stonehenge to walk inside the Stone Circle. It was a morning of magic, peace and happiness, a feeling of coming face to face with an incredible construction whose magic reaches across the millenia. Having the opportunity to explore this incredible monument was an absolute privilege.

Second was our trip to the Salzburg Christmas Market which took place on a day which started with some flakes of snow to add a little touch of festive magic in November. The market was another piece of magic with an atmosphere of friendliness and happiness from everyone around. It was the most relaxed crowd I have ever been in and I loved every minute of it.

Perfect is the enemy of good and I was guilty of expecting perfection for so long. That’s not to say that I never enjoyed days for what they gave me, but I had that tendency to find fault where very little existed. My attitude has changed now and I am finding I am taking far more enjoyment from my experiences. Perhaps the most interesting element of this change is that I am looking back and realising, at last, that I did have more than my share of ideal days which I loved at the time but had recast in my mind as less enjoyable than they actually were. I am happier and now much more likely to have ideal days in many different forms.