“Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good action; try to use ordinary situations.” ~ Jean Paul Richter
On Sunday morning, Phin and I were taking a walk in Central Park. It was so beautiful outside, one of those picture-perfect New York Fall mornings that confirm my belief that New York is my home. We wondered for several hours enjoying the foliage, the soft wind, and the sunshine. A little girl who is ordinarily afraid of dogs thought Phin was so cute that she put aside her fear and gave him a pat on the head. “This is huge for her. Thank you so much,” her mom said to me. I was glad we could help. We then walked under the footbridge that leads to the Met, and as we emerged on the other side I was unexpectedly overwhelmed by a sense of happiness and peace. Everything in that one moment was just perfect.
I’m nearly finished with writing a post a day that focuses on extraordinary living. I have seen, experienced, and learned so much on this journey. It has been a year filled with surprises, some happy, some sad, and all worthwhile. The most surprising discovery has just recently started to make itself known to me – that extraordinary living doesn’t really have anything to do with exotic vacations, a fancy job, the amount of money or prestige we have, or how well-received our ideas are by others. It has much more to do with finding extraordinary joy in very ordinary moments – taking a walk with my dog, cooking a meal, commuting to work, and having coffee with a friend. If we can find happiness in those everyday moments, then there’s nothing that can impede an extraordinary, well-lived life.
The photo above depicts Central Park during the height of Fall. It was taken by BrownRice.
Christa Avampato 