bougainvillea, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

Learning to live in the present moment is part of the path of joy.
~Sarah Ban Breathnach

Undoubtedly, I will not live up to every expectation that I’ve set up for myself for this holiday season. Some gifts may be late, some may not please the recipient as much as I’d hoped, some important details might be neglected.

As we settle into the last hours before we leave on our trip and I realize all of the items on the ‘to-do’ list will not be checked off, I am panicking a bit. How to prioritize? What must be done now and what can wait? Have I prepared well? Will we at least be safe and ready for any contingencies that might arise?

And most importantly, can I relax and enjoy myself, without concerns about what might be left undone?

reflection, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach – waiting for a gift from the sea.
~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Pic above is from our family jaunt out to the beach last weekend at sunset as a storm was rolling in on the far horizon. Yesterday I also enjoyed a ‘gift from the sea’ as I went outrigger canoeing on the Back Bay with a friend. Though my paddling style may have been lacking a bit (it was my first time trying to paddle in that particular manner and I ended up inadvertently dousing my friend more than once when my paddle hit the water at the wrong angle), I loved how smooth and easy it felt to be on the water. A gift, indeed.