By Dr. Victor Schueller | Relationships health family business friends community culture work school life blogs blogging
Once every couple of months, I have the opportunity to take my younger daughter, Ava, to an art class for preschoolers. She really enjoys going to the hour-long class, presumably because she gets to paint, shape and mold clay, make bracelets, and have at a variety of other art activities she normally doesn’t get to try out at home.
At the art museum where her class is held, there is also a small café, where people can grab a bite to eat for lunch. As is customary on a Friday, I dine with Ava for lunch, and whenever we are finishing up art class at the museum, we stop by the café and eat lunch together.
This past Friday, as I was driving into town where the class is held, I asked Ava what was her favorite thing to do at art class. Her response was, “Eating lunch with Daddy.” It warmed my heart to hear those words. I was thinking the same thing — that the highlight of the class was actually the “after” part of the session, and I was delighted to hear she felt the same way.
That feeling I got when Ava said the best part of class was eating together was just awesome, and it got me thinking about the things I enjoy most in my daily life. Sometimes I feel have to commit to what seems like a million other things, but the most meaningful things in my life are the simple things. I know that when my plate is full with commitments here and there, I find solace in knowing that the simple things that I really enjoy are waiting for me. Maybe it’s catching a favorite episode of “Phineas and Ferb” with Ava, or maybe it’s grabbing a quick but enormous hug from my older daughter, Brianna. Maybe it’s just playing a game with both of my girls. Even simply enjoying a conversation with my wife is a satisfying part of the day, because It’s a time for us to connect.
One of the best things about having these wonderful moments that are so meaningful is that I get to enjoy that pure bliss, and have it in my memory banks to remember. When I have moments that are full of stress or when it seems I don’t have enough time in the day to get everything done, all I have to do is virtually put myself back in the café with Ava for lunch after art class, or virtually take a seat across from Brianna as we play a game of checkers, or place myself virtually in my kitchen, standing by the counter, listening to Shelly talk about her day. When I put myself there, I am immediately at a better place mentally and physically. It’s the best part of my day that makes every other aspect of my day that much better.
It’s not enough just to “think” about those times, it’s really about “experiencing” those times, in the here and now. It’s about actually re-experiencing those same feelings of pleasure and enjoyment in the here and now. Those positive feelings will do wonders for the body. They will decrease the circulation of the stress hormones and de-activate the “fight or flight” response in your body, which is activated during tough times. They will promote growth and health, and promote a vibrant being, one that is ready to catch that second wind and keep pressing on.
What is the best part of your day? What feelings to you experience when you are enjoying the best part of your day? How can you use those feelings to re-experience them and help you get through the more difficult times? I’d like to hear what your thoughts are! 🙂 Let me know!
