creating your own sunshine.

 Not everyday the sun shines. Sometimes, we need to create our own sunshine.

However, this morning when I woke up, the sun was shining, and it made my morning a little easier. Feeling fully rested, I was able to get out of bed smoothly, and start my day. Sitting in my pajamas on my patio steps leading into my backyard, it was the middle of the day, and it was silent.

Wind chimes. Wind chimes remind me of summer. Whenever my family and I would travel during the summer, we would bring my grandparents back a wind chime for their front porch. My evenings with my grandparents were spent on their front porch, enjoying the summer, chatting, and watching the people go by. All the wind chimes would be hung and clamour a sweet song.

Today, I am reminded of that, because it is the first time this year I have sat on my patio, and listened to my grandparent’s wind chimes jingle in the wind.

Sometimes, life’s most simple sounds can put a smile on your face. Sitting outside for 30 minutes, not bothered or interrupted, reminded me that I do not practice silence enough. It was a feeling I had not experienced in awhile. Over time, I am learning that some of the best feelings in the world are simple to achieve. I want to practice more of these positive feelings, even when I feel an enormous weight is on my shoulders. Or, my mind is telling me to stay in bed for another hour when the sun is shining outside. Simple as taking a deep breath and closing your eyes. Or, simple as turning off your phone when you have had enough.

Last week, I misplaced my earphones. With a 30 minute commute, panic sets in when my hand is searching through my bag, only to feel the emptiness of not having my headphones. Instantly, my mind is racing; what will I do with all this time? Music is my greatest distraction, and it takes my mind off all my stresses.

Three days had passed, and I had finally found my headphones. For those three days, I learned how to appreciate the silence around me. Without any distractions commuting to school and work, I practiced silence, in a simple 30 minutes. I took back the time that I had been wasting on listening to the same playlist, and I obtained ownership of my day.

I took a different perspective to my commute last week. 30 minutes is a generous amount of time to create your own sunshine.

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