"i thank You God for most this amazing day."

Today, I found myself genuinely happy for no apparent reason. Maybe it was the fact that at last I'm feeling almost normal health-wise... maybe it was the absolutely beautiful weather (I know that had something to do with it).... I don't know really. I just felt happy.

How often do days like this come around? Not enough. It was wonderful - and I'm grateful for it.

I spent a good chunk of the afternoon simply staring out the window. Did anyone else notice how clear the sky was today, or how intensely green the leaves on the trees look when the sun hits them? Did anyone else soak up the sunlight or breathe some fresh air and feel better for it? Today reawakened me to these things that I so often take for granted and fail to notice. I know we're all busy, but if you haven't stopped to appreciate the beauty of the earth and everything it gives you lately, I highly recommend it. It's amazing how even five minutes of appreciation can change your entire outlook on the day.

As I sat in my big leather chair this afternoon, I kept thinking of the e. e. cummings poem "i thank You God for most this amazing day" (which is also one of my favorite Eric Whitacre choral arrangements.)

i thank You God for most this amazing day:

for the leaping greenly spirits of trees

and a blue true dream of sky;

and for everything

which is natural which is infinite which is yes.

(i who have died am alive again today,

and this is the sun's birthday;

this is the birth day of life and love and wings:

and of the gay great happening illimitably earth.)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing

breathing any - lifted from the no of all nothing -

human merely being

doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and

now the eyes of my eyes are opened.)

[Complete Poems, 1904 - 1962]

Hm. I also just remembered that today was International Day of Peace.

In that spirit, PEACE to you and the ones you love.