Do you get confused between chores you have to do and chores you get to do? I do.
An example: I’ve been charged with watering our 16 flower pots, which hang from trees and balconies around our house. During the heat of summer, it’s almost a daily job and takes nearly an hour.
I love the beauty of the flowers, even though I don’t know the names of most of them – and those I do, I can’t pronounce. I’ve chosen to call them all petunias.
On days I’m in a funky mood, watering feels like a chore I need to do. I figure I could be reading a book or watching the news or chatting with a friend, rather than dragging this green hose from one side of the house to the other.
When I’m in a happy mood, I talk to all my petunias. I watch my dogs sit under the pots to receive cool drips of water from above. I see dozens of butterflies flutter about and watch six hawks float effortlessly in the sky.
As I age, it’s wise for me to recognize I’m in control of my state of mind.
It’s a real treat, watering all these petunias.