Daily Meditation-June 2-2010

taken from Don't Sweat the Small Stuff  

Look for the extraordinary in the ordinary  

I heard a story about two workers who were approached by a reporter. The reporter asked the first worker, “What are you doing?” His response was to complain that he was virtually a slave, an underpaid bricklayer who spent his days wasting his time, placing bricks on top of one another.

The reporter asked the second worker the same question. His response, however, was quite different. “I am the luckiest person in the world,” he said. “I get to be a part of important and beautiful pieces of architecture. I help turn simples pieces of brick into masterpieces.”

The were both right.

The truth is, we see in life what we want to see. If you search for ugliness you’ll find plenty of it. If yo want to find fault with other people, your career, or the world in general, you’ll certainly be able to do so. But the opposite is also true. If you look for the extraordinary in the ordinary, you can train yourself to see it. This bricklayer sees cathedrals within pieces of brick. The question is can you? Can you see the extraordinary synchronicity that exists in our world; the perfection of the universe in action; the extraordinary beauty of nature; the incredible miracle of human life? To me, it’s all  a matter of intention. There is so much to be grateful for, so much to be in awe about. Life is precious and extraordinary. Put your attention on this fact and little, ordinary things will take on a whole new meaning.