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Perfect Moment Monday: paper happy

I am paper happy. Like paper pregnant, but with emotions instead.

If you look at my life on paper, I should be happy. I won’t enumerate, but regular readers know I have plenty of reasons for contentment and even joy.

Yet I’m not feeling it. Today is the day of the week I make a point of noting a Perfect Moment. And this week I have not been receptive to having one.

I had a paper Perfect Moment yesterday morning that involved sleeping in, french-pressed coffee and newspaper delivered to my bedside, four-in-a-bed with tickles and giggles, and then a yoga class. Sounds perfect, no?

Still, I was not receptive to it. I was not happy. I feel propped up. If I really felt my feelings, I am afraid I would not get out of bed. And I don’t have that luxury.

I last felt this way about 10 months ago. Just awash in unexplained, non-localized melancholy.

This too shall pass, right?

I am just starting the Perfect Moment Monday movement, so I can’t quite take a break now. I truly hope that some of you can report your own Perfect Moment to buoy those of us who momentarily can’t.

Leave a comment this week with a link to your Perfect Moment, or the Moment itself. I’ll move up to the body of this post as the week goes by.

Once you make a Perfect Moment post, you are qualified to place this button on your blog.

Click here for previous collections of Perfect Moments, and consider adding this uplifting site to your Google Reader.

Now. Tell about a time this week when you were aware of the perfection of your life, warts and all.

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1. Wordgirl: This week after W’s hockey game — and strangely, after a lot of X drama — her husband out of town, juggling the baby and W — a meltdown over ill-fitting hockey gear — after it had all settled down and we were helping her load her car, her gorgeous baby — I was holding the fleece blanket with little hockey pucks and sticks all over it — and W leaned against me and hugged me, and my arm reached to pull him close. I was talking to X and she was talking to me and G was putting his two cents in — and W did it again, leaned against me and hugged me. Just knowing I was there.

That was a perfect moment — lots of warts I suppose with our blended family and all — but it was perfect.

2. Antigone: driving into D.C. yesterday and seeing the Capital building as I topped a hill.

3. Beth turns 30 and finds perfection in a cheesy gesture by her husband.

4. Lollipop Goldstein and her children revisit an emotional time and cap the day with ice cream treats.

5. Martha‘s transcendent moment occurred when one of her patients was encouraged to Make a Wish and is now getting full tuition to a university with access to snowboarding.

6. JMD: My Little Man, who’s 2, fell down the stairs on Thursday. He broke his left collar bone. My perfect moment (after the tears) was on Saturday. Little Man and I were sitting on my and daddy’s bed watching movies with him cuddled up against me.

That was my moment. Knowing it was all going to be OK and even though he hurts I can still make him feel better.

7. Karen, with motherhood just days away, notices a kind gesture from her husband.

8. Kami: Camping with friends. Sitting around the campfire Sunday morning, listening to the crackle of the fire and watching the coals. A friend took LB so I could go pack up my tent. After sitting in the shade the sun hit my face. I was momentarily baby-free and could feel the lightness of not carrying around an extra 13 pounds, but knowing she was just a few yards away kept my heart light and happy.

More than a moment, I suppose, or just several stacked on top of each other.

9. Susan‘s journalism students launch a website that details refugee stories in South Africa. She is proud of the project that captures the faces and voices of people struggling against all odds.

10. Marge in Real Life (whom I got to meet last Friday) has an unexpected “free” weekend to include new friends, a free new book (courtesy of Mile High Mamas), and incredible breakfast in bed.

11. Ms Planner got to go to yoga after a very loooooong (and productive) hiatus. Down Dog!

12. Live music, just enough beer for a buzz, and not having to get a babysitter? See Luna’s high note.

13. Millie can say on her birthday, “Life is good. Really good. I’m really really happy.” Not because her life is perfect, but because it’s HERS. How great is that?

14. Shelby has a Perfect Moment at school, just by listening wisely and unconditionally.

15. MB‘s Perfect Moment is captured in an image. Click over, because words can’t do it justice.

16. Little Angel Kisses gets thanked by a birthday boy.

17. Melissa combines her Kiwi and an un-Colorado-like landscape to make her version of a Win.dows Desk.top background.

18. Yours?

40 Responses

  1. This week after W’s hockey game — and strangely, after a lot of X drama — her husband out of town, juggling the baby and W — a meltdown over ill-fitting hockey gear — after it had all settled down and we were helping her load her car, her gorgeous baby — I was holding the fleece blanket with little hockey pucks and sticks all over it — and W leaned against me and hugged me, and my arm reached to pull him close. I was talking to X and she was talking to me and G was putting his two cents in — and W did it again, leaned against me and hugged me. Just knowing I was there.That was a perfect moment — lots of warts I suppose with our blended family and all — but it was perfect.

  2. This week after W’s hockey game — and strangely, after a lot of X drama — her husband out of town, juggling the baby and W — a meltdown over ill-fitting hockey gear — after it had all settled down and we were helping her load her car, her gorgeous baby — I was holding the fleece blanket with little hockey pucks and sticks all over it — and W leaned against me and hugged me, and my arm reached to pull him close. I was talking to X and she was talking to me and G was putting his two cents in — and W did it again, leaned against me and hugged me. Just knowing I was there.That was a perfect moment — lots of warts I suppose with our blended family and all — but it was perfect.

  3. I <>love<> your phrase, “paper happy”. I’d never heard of “paper pregnant”, but I have “paper rich”.That articulates so well the sometimes discrepancy between what we <>ought<> to feel based on what our lives look like, and what we actually feel.I’m so sorry you’re feeling melancholy. May I say that it seems reasonable that you’re still feeling the reverberations from the last few weeks’ events?love

  4. Camping with friends. Sitting around the campfire Sunday morning, listening to the crackle of the fire and watching the coals. A friend took LB so I could go pack up my tent. After sitting in the shade the sun hit my face. I was momentarily baby-free and could feel the lightness of not carrying around an extra 13 pounds, but knowing she was just a few yards away kept my heart light and happy.More than a moment, I suppose, or just several stacked on top of each other.And, yes, this too shall pass.

  5. I’m melancholy too. It sucks. On paper, if you move past the biological kid thing, I should be happy, cuz it’s not like we dont’ have our health or each other or all sorts of good things. Just nothing seems to satisfy us lately. The only thing that shook me of it was the trip. I may need another one, soon. Maybe you should take one too. Trips are good for shaking it up.

  6. I <>love<> your phrase, “paper happy”. I’d never heard of “paper pregnant”, but I have “paper rich”.That articulates so well the sometimes discrepancy between what we <>ought<> to feel based on what our lives look like, and what we actually feel.I’m so sorry you’re feeling melancholy. May I say that it seems reasonable that you’re still feeling the reverberations from the last few weeks’ events?love

  7. Camping with friends. Sitting around the campfire Sunday morning, listening to the crackle of the fire and watching the coals. A friend took LB so I could go pack up my tent. After sitting in the shade the sun hit my face. I was momentarily baby-free and could feel the lightness of not carrying around an extra 13 pounds, but knowing she was just a few yards away kept my heart light and happy.More than a moment, I suppose, or just several stacked on top of each other.And, yes, this too shall pass.

  8. I’m melancholy too. It sucks. On paper, if you move past the biological kid thing, I should be happy, cuz it’s not like we dont’ have our health or each other or all sorts of good things. Just nothing seems to satisfy us lately. The only thing that shook me of it was the trip. I may need another one, soon. Maybe you should take one too. Trips are good for shaking it up.

  9. Thanks for inviting me to play. And I already have another one for next Monday:The bright morning sun bounced off the statue of Buddha.The baby was at home, fed, diapered and asleep. Her daddy watching over her.My guruji enveloped me a warm hug as I stepped in the door.The yoga mat practically sighed as it unfurled against the hardwood floor.“Ahh. So there you are.” # # #This too shall past. I love that phrase. I believe that sometimes we just have to sit with our uneasiness. Of course, this is neither easy nor pleasant. Namaste my friend.

  10. Awww Lori. Sorry that you’ve got the blues. It happens to all of us sooner or later. Thinking of you and hoping that all is well in your world. Sooner, rather than later.

  11. Thanks for inviting me to play. And I already have another one for next Monday:The bright morning sun bounced off the statue of Buddha.The baby was at home, fed, diapered and asleep. Her daddy watching over her.My guruji enveloped me a warm hug as I stepped in the door.The yoga mat practically sighed as it unfurled against the hardwood floor.“Ahh. So there you are.” # # #This too shall past. I love that phrase. I believe that sometimes we just have to sit with our uneasiness. Of course, this is neither easy nor pleasant. Namaste my friend.

  12. Awww Lori. Sorry that you’ve got the blues. It happens to all of us sooner or later. Thinking of you and hoping that all is well in your world. Sooner, rather than later.

  13. I’m totally with ya, girl. My moment I’ve posted on the blog.. How can a perfectly beautiful Colorado day NOT lift spirits? :o)

  14. I hate the low-grade melancholy. It just permeates everything. I hope things look up for you soon. 🙂My perfect moment became today’s blog post. I helped a kid (as is my job) and it was a feel good moment. Thanks for this opportunity, otherwise I’d be a Negative Nelly all the time!

  15. I’m totally with ya, girl. My moment I’ve posted on the blog.. How can a perfectly beautiful Colorado day NOT lift spirits? :o)

  16. I hate the low-grade melancholy. It just permeates everything. I hope things look up for you soon. 🙂My perfect moment became today’s blog post. I helped a kid (as is my job) and it was a feel good moment. Thanks for this opportunity, otherwise I’d be a Negative Nelly all the time!

  17. It’s not that long ago that the person you knew died.It’s OK not to be totally in touch with what is good because their is a lot of sadness in this world too. Have faith, the perfect moment will suprise you when you are not looking for it. It probably has already.

  18. It’s not that long ago that the person you knew died.It’s OK not to be totally in touch with what is good because their is a lot of sadness in this world too. Have faith, the perfect moment will suprise you when you are not looking for it. It probably has already.

  19. Lori,I have been in that place all too often. The place where you can’t actually feel the joy that you can see around you. It is a very uncomfortable place to be in (speaking for myself, at least). I hope it passes soon.

  20. Lori,I have been in that place all too often. The place where you can’t actually feel the joy that you can see around you. It is a very uncomfortable place to be in (speaking for myself, at least). I hope it passes soon.

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