Finding the Wondrous ING’s in the Little Things by S.S. Romano

Words are luminous, aren’t they? When we think about the majesty of living words, I imagine they take flight upon the air like fireflies, sometimes touching skins left by forgotten trees. These are words that I like to call the “wondrous ING’s”. They are words that move like a feather grazing our cheeks. Encountered and understood even for just a moment. They are words that breathe memories as we feel the awakened pulse of moments past. They are words that interact with our internal world just as much as with one another. Every ING holds a memory, and every memory can be unearthed reminding us of the sweetness in the little things like:

DANCING my hand out of the car window feeling free as a bird upon the wind

GAZING at my child as she sleeps and still seeing her baby features

WITNESSING cotton candy sunrises and sunsets

EMBRACING the rush as I slide into an aromatherapy bath after a long week

BEHOLDING the mist as it swirls above my morning cup of coffee

AWAKENING to birdsong as a sliver of sunshine peers through the curtains

BEGINNING a brand new puzzle that I will help become a masterpiece

TRUSTING that things meant for me will never pass me

BREATHING in fresh air praising God that I have lungs that work with ease that day

RESTING into freshly dried sheets scented with lavender and bergamot

NOURISHING myself and my family with Whole Foods

BECOMING grayer every year and being thankful for my earned silver strands of wisdom

CONNECTING with my husband before the end of the day as we recap our wins and insights learned

REMEMBERING the smell of my mother’s perfume and why every woman should have a signature scent

RECEIVING a handwritten note from a friend in the mail

ALLOWING myself to feel scared as I still overcome doing something new

SAVORING the last bite of apple pie as its warmth and spiced presence envelops my taste buds once more

LAUGHING at our husky getting her “ya ya’s” out at the dog park

THANKING the grocery clerk by name and asking something new about them so they know I care

FORGIVING fair-weather friends who didn’t have the capacity for deeper friendship

OPENING a new bag of coffee as the aroma permeates the kitchen

DREAMING of always being apart of something purposeful and real in everyday life.

ENVISIONING my garden at summertime and how luscious and fragrant it will be

RELEASING all my inhibitions as I sing my favorite song in my car knowing the windows aren’t tinted

HONORING the times when I made mistakes and let them build me into a more empathetic person

LOVING my body in all of its changing seasons and transformations

BEING content in this world filled with magical ING’s in the little things, knowing that there is so much more to come.

May we keep NOTICING each of the magical ING’s.

May we keep WEAVING our own into the little moments and stories that we share with others.

May we continue UNFOLDING into the majesty of creation and all we have each been blessed with.