A Perfect Life

On my walk this morning I was happy I was not limping; some days I do. An old bicycle accident and subsequent years of creeping osteoarthritis, especially in my left hip and knee, has me visiting my physical therapist twice weekly. It’s a fix, not a cure. Nevertheless, as I took in the fresh air and bluest of skies I thought, what a perfect day!

If only life was perfect –but it’s not, never has been, and never will be. Even my so-called perfect day technically fails the Cambridge Dictionary’s definition of “complete and correct in every way, of the best possible type or without fault.” Uneven sidewalks, dead or dying lawns and shrubbery due to water restrictions in an ongoing drought, and the Russian River shrunk to disturbing proportions, argue with my casually joyous, inner pronouncement.

However, I stand by my momentary encounter with exuberance as I walked along. For me, joy often arrives spontaneously, sparked by the simplest of things. And in those moments, life is perfect, a split second of untouched bliss to my inner child innocence. It’s how I imagine heaven is stitched together, our eyes cleared of the tumult and despair of life’s imperfections and danger. Maybe I’m practicing for such a happy possibility. Or maybe I’m just being deliberate in choosing to focus on the beauty in life rather than its deficiencies, if only for a moment.

I don’t want to just survive my retirement years. I choose to live enthusiastically, embracing every miniscule element of gladness available to me. Savoring flavors, colors, aromas borne on whiffs of air, elusive windchime melodies commingled with hushed, evening birdcalls. Poetry is magical to one listener while another hears only the cadence of metrical writing.

Maya Angelou was one of America’s most beloved and celebrated poets and authors, with dozens of awards and over 50 honorary degrees. In 2010 President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the country’s highest honors. She passed away at the age of 86, leaving a legacy that will surely be cherished for many decades to come. Her take on living echoes in my heart.

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. ~Maya Angelou

And here's one of my all-time favorite quotes:

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. ~Maya Angelou