The poet Mary Oliver once outlined Instructions For Living A Life. The instructions were simple, few in number and profound. Here they are. Are you sitting down?
- Pay Attention
- Be Astonished
- Tell About it
These basic life guidelines are exactly the ones Jesus talked about long ago. Live in this moment, not the past or the future. Be aware of what and who are around you and be attentive to what’s happening. Pay attention, particularly to the needs of others. Then, with wide-eyed wonder, be astonished. Head over heels! Look at the color of that leaf! Astonishing! The skill of that craftsman…astonishing! The sound of that music…astonishing! Be astonished because everything around you, when examined closely and gratefully, is amazing. Then, tell somebody about your observation or your experience. Share your astonishment; tell good news; broadcast your joy. Joy shared is joy doubled.
Today is a very good day to test Mary Oliver’s three life guidelines. If you try this today, it’s very likely that you will do it again day after tomorrow. Who knows? This might become a habit!
Let’s hope so. You are blessed in order to be a blessing.
Shining Spirit 
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