Every Day Offers A Fresh New Start

By: Heather Blanchard

Sometimes we can have the worst of days. We didn’t get enough rest, we lost our temper, spilled our coffee or heard unwelcomed news. Sometimes the day gets away from us and we don’t get to do the one thing we wanted to do – the one thing that could have made it all better – like taking a class or getting one on one time with that special someone. But…

“Every morning we are born again. What we do today matters most.” — Buddha

Buddhist monks meditate towards having a clear mind each day – like a clean slate, so they can begin again open to the new. They call it a beginner’s mind. Perhaps we can gauge something from that.

It’s so important to remember that every day is a new day and a chance to start fresh. You have an opportunity to learn, grow, heal from past hurts or regrets and journey forward each and every day. Each day gives us a chance to hone our skills, connect with others, and continue working towards goals. Every day we can choose to turn things around that aren’t working, to forgive and forget, and to live with zest. To be curious, adventurous, flexible and open-minded – just like our 5-year old selves.

Not long ago, I found myself asking after a few tough weeks how can I make the most of each day. I realized I began so many days feeling rushed and stressed trying to get everyone out of the house on time – even after taking time before sunrise to exercise, do yoga or meditate. So many of us go through the paces of our morning routine without even pausing to recognize the beauty of being able to wake up and hear birds sing, to feel good and healthy, or have a nice breakfast. So many of us begin the day dreading what’s ahead – dreading work or to-do lists. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

What if we started each day with intention? What would it be like to slow down our morning routine so we’re not automatically in flight or fight mode, take a few deep breaths and ask ourselves what we want to do, what we need or crave and how we want to be today? What if we committed to learning something new each day – something small like a new word or a new recipe to broaden our knowledge and keep things fresh?

Each day offers a new beginning and a blank canvas. Even though we have to work around our must-do’s, we can schedule time for little things to make the day special. And if we started each day with positive affirmations, a bit of gratitude and a positive intention, think about how different our days would be, or or even our lives. The smallest, little shifts can make life sweet.

“Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.” ~ Meister Eckhart

XOXO, Namaste, Heathe