“Do not ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives. Such striving may seem admirable, but it is a way of foolishness. Help them instead to find wonder and the marvel of an ordinary life… And make the ordinary come alive for them. The extraordinary will take care of itself.”
~William Martin, The Parent’s Tao Te Ching
I remember nights at my grandparents house, eyes glared over from staring far too long, head swaying back and forth to the smooth dance of the pendulum in that large wooden grandfather clock. It always left me mesmerized. And I can still feel it, though that steady sway comes from a different place. The dance of balance does it’s little swagger dipping to the excitement of finding joy in the most mundane, like making a game out of piles of laundry, and yet twirling around the more extraordinary, like watching fish fly overhead at Pike Place Market.
Balance, it’s my pendulum. As extraordinary as some moments might be, the ordinary ones are always waiting in the wings. But that’s exactly why life is so exciting for me, because no matter which side of the pendulum I might be found, I’m always mesmerized by life. Catching my breath at the top of the Space Needle brings just as much excitement as playing peek-a-boo with my littlest little between the crisp white of our hotel sheets. The monotony of hushing a babe back to sleep for the umpteenth time after his frantic waves and coos send me into fits of laughter, bring just as much joy as giggles that echo through the steep city streets as we trip our way down towards the bay.
Whether our days are lined with the extraordinary or off the charts in ordinary, they are always alive.
•´.¸¸.•¨¯`♥.Trish.♥´¯¨•.¸¸.´• says
A beautiful quote today and important for our childrens’ esteem.
Love your photos !
Alysha (Supermom) says
Beautiful Tabitha! Alive is the way live our lives. I cant tell you enough how much I love your blog hop! Visiting each week is something I MUST to in my ordinary life 🙂
xo, Alysha
p.s. Hope you and the family are having a wonderful weekend! xoxo
Shannon says
Did you know we quoted the same thing today!? Looks like we are in alignment! Love feeling alive in these simple moments! Enjoy the ordinary today…xo
Barbara says
Yes, it’s the unexpected along with the mundane that makes up the fabric of our lives. We can find joy in either.
Elizabeth says
Oh, I love this! My days are usually indeed, “off the charts ordinary” and I love them that way.
Muthering Heights says
BEAUTIFUL quote…it’s something we need to be mindful to model for our kids!
Charlotte | Life's a Charm! says
Such a very wise quote and so true!
I love my life’s ordinaryness because I see the extraordinary parts in my life.
Grace says
So true and I have found that the most common occurrences are often the most important.
septembermom says
A great quote for all of us to remember. Have a wonderful Sunday!
Hannah says
Beautiful quote, It really is so true, and so well said! I will have to remember this one! Hope you and the family are having a wonderful Sunday!
lizcooper says
I have missed reading your blog lately! Life has been so busy I have not had time to catch up! My girls bring so much more life to my life through their love of the ordinary and extraordinary. I hope that we can foster that love so that when they grow up they will continue to have that zest for all different kinds of moments in life!
Veronica Lee says
Beautiful, Tabitha! So true too.
Happy Sunday Citar!
Life with Kaishon says
I am glad you had a fun time on your trip : )
Jerrie says
Great quote and wonderful message in your post. Your babies are very lucky to have such a present momma.
Miss Angie says
Great comment, and beautiful photo! You are SO pretty, and that baby is still the cutest ever.
Erin says
So precious!
Serendipity is Sweet says
LOVE that quote. And your thoughts are so warm and uplifting.
Thank you for sharing.
jayayceeblog says
Great photo and that quote … wish I had read that when my kids were still little. Sometimes we push a little too hard for greatness when they’re growing and learning.