CHASING DOWN THE MUSE: Enjoy hustle and bustle with a little help

The day dawns to the soft sounds of chirruping finches and wrens. An occasional mockingbird sings out as punctuation. As the coastal gray morning sky brightens the noisy crows arrive. It is like a signal: Time for the day to begin.

The loudest voice. The squeakiest wheel. Crows and trash trucks. Disappointments and deaths. Some things just seem to get all the attention, be it negative or not. To most of us, there are times when this hardly seems fair.

From the middle of June through the Fourth of July is like one long holiday month in Laguna. The bustle and hustle of getting ready for festivals congests streets and shortens tempers. Loud voices wail and bemoan. There is a flurry to finish Heisler Park renovations, to fix infrastructure, to get festivals up and running smoothly.

Just as all this takes place, we also have end of school activities that add enjoyment and stress to lives. End-of-year performances, Father’s Day and graduations bring visiting families to our June-muddled streets.

How do we deal with the stress of it all? Well, of course, there are always those flaring tempers, I suppose. And, rather than get anxious, many of choose to escape, whether through getting out of town or just simply depressing a bit. I like to choose gratitude, though of course I do not always do so. I’m human too.

The poet Mary Oliver in “What Do We Know?” writes of gratitude in a way I’ve always found helpful to follow whenever I struggle with the normal stresses of life and its fears. She asks first, what did you notice? Often this question itself is enough, as I begin to move from myself to observe. It may be a bird on the wing or the graceful droop of a flower on a green branch. It may be the smile on a face passing by. It may be an observed touch of love or consolation.

Oliver next asks, what did you hear? Ah. The wind through the trees. Chimes pushed by that same wind to lilting music. Laughter. Kind words of condolence or praise. Children’s voices. Even the depth of sweet silence.

What did you admire? And if this one doesn’t push us outside of our own petty grievances, nothing will. When looking around, I admire strength, grace, beauty, honor, tenacity and courage of so many friends, family members and mere acquaintances. This esteem invariably shifts my perspective and brings things into balance.

What astonished you? I personally love this one. It allows me to stop with the realization that I am often surprised, even flabbergasted by what transpires around me. There are so many more levels of people and events than what first is seen or heard. The mysteriousness of this creates pure delight and wonder and a different appreciation.

What would you like to see again? This question, for me, allows opportunity to ponder what really matters, what priorities I place on the people, places and happenings of my life. It’s kind of difficult to stay focused too long on petty grievances or stresses when lingering over this particular question.

What was most tender? What was most wonderful? These two questions may have answers ranging from the tender shoots of fresh green grass and the opening fronds of a fern to the tender touch of the young man helping an elderly stranger crossing the street and beyond. These questions fill the heart and the spirit and provide a gentle and kind perspective on life.

What did you think was happening? Oh, my! How often I find myself surprised by this one.

Examination and questioning open new vistas. And, as Oliver says, so the gods shake us from our sleep.

So, as the festival and beach season are fully upon us now, there will be many opportunities for stress and strain and short tempers.

I, for one, will try to be reminded by Oliver’s questions and shaken from somnolence into surprise and delight … and, yes, gratitude.

Cherril Doty is an artist, writer, and creative coach exploring and enjoying the many mysteries of life in the moment. She can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (949) 251-3883.