One Day at a Time and Look Up

Growing up my mother used to put inspirational sayings on post-it notes on the walls around our kitchen table. She was quoting Thich Nhat Hahn and His Holiness the Dalai Lama long before Instagram. I admit, I didn’t take it very seriously at the time, but she created a space in me to receive wisdom.  

Interestingly the only quote I remember from the kitchen was the one posted at the head of the table in front of the window. It was not from a famous person. It was from Miss Innis - and older woman (85 at the time) who lived on the street and was a good friend to my mother and many others in the neighbourhood.  A former nurse, the wisdom she shared with my mother was this “One day at a time and look up”.

I have since heard people say "take one day at a time” but the magic in the phrase seems to be “and look up”.  I notice when I take a moment to look up, especially at the sky, even for a second, my outlook changes.  For a moment, there is hope and a sense of being connected to a larger world.  A feeling that has no words because it is felt in silence.  

 by Julie Jarvis

Founder & Creator at REALthings