"​When the tangle of the daily has us forget how precious life is, we tend to keep what matters from what needs to be done.  Somewhere in the press of our day, in the press of a conflict that we won't let go of, in the press of a fear that makes us forget the deeper order of things - suddenly there's this shift and we make what matters a reward for getting to the end of trouble.  But trouble never ends.  It comes and goes like clouds.  That is why what matters needs to come first." (Nepo)

I wonder if Mark Nepo knows how often he slaps me in the head with his words.

Recently, I've begun to reverse the priority of things.  What matters comes first.  The "tangle of the daily" comes after.  You might be wondering what this looks like....an often empty refrigerator, a pile of ironing waiting for attention, a hike before working, a snuggle before errands, chowder with my sister before art deadlines, a long phone call with a dear one instead of sleep, painting past meal times, porch sitting in the sun.  You get the idea.   The resulting mind shift is flabbergasting.  True, I don't get as much stuff done.  The old stuff, that is.  Instead, I get this other stuff, the stuff that matters, fully completed and stuffed in my joy pockets until the task list isn't even on my mind.  

For you, dear reader, this might be easy and done every day.  For me, the one who always focused on "getting to the end of trouble" before sitting in the preciousness of life, this is monumental.   I'll stay here awhile.  You know where to find me. :)
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