The last two days the mundane seemed quite illusive. I didn’t go for my morning run, didn’t drive my daughter to school, and did very little writing. The routine was completely interrupted by colds. My daughter laid on the couch, with a high fever, headache, and sniffles. The usual conversation, running around, were brought to a abrupt stop. While she laid down, I did too. I was overcome by congestion, cough and a fever too. We both slept most of the day Monday, only taking breaks to eat some soup, go to the restroom, and take some medicine. There was an exhaustion that I couldn’t seem to shake and it made me sad that my daughter felt the same way.
Just twelve hours ago, we were both engaged in our normal day to day activties. Activities that, at least, I take for granted. Without thinking about it, I brushed my teeth, went on my morning run and chaperoned my daughter to a community Easter Egg hunt. Everything was so easy. I also recall vacuuming our living room, making my daughter’s lunch for school the next day, and writing out my to-do list for the week. It was all done without effort, and without much thinking. I remember my daughter asking me a million questions, humming around the room. The idea of sitting down and being quiet is something that is too troubling for her. She always moves, with an energy and a sense of vibrancy. I don’t always understand it, but admire this part of her personality because it is so raw and genuine.
I looked over at her on Monday afternoon. We were both running fevers and she whispered to me, “I feel sick Momma.” The only thing I could repeat back was, “I know. I feel the same way.” I wasn’t in any capacity to try and comfort her, except for patting her on her legs and making certain she drank fluids every few hours. I wished that she wasn’t laying on the couch, spiritless, without any color to her face. I wished we were both engaging in our normal activities, eating breakfast, driving to school, just walking around immersing ourselves in and around the mundane.
As a society, we place to much emphasis on escpaping the boredom of everyday life. After these last few days, the boredom seems so attractive to me. Waiting in the car pool lane at my daughter’s school, going grocery shopping, and washing dishes interests me in a way I can’t explain. It’s here, I believe, that beauty lives, the ability to participate in life, despite how pedantic the task may appear. Because cherishing the mundane is certainly a privilege. But we miss the beauty of the everyday, unless involuntarily, we are reminded again.
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Do you cherish the mundane? How so? Is there extra emphasis on the word excitement in your household? Do you take the mundane for granted?
Image by |Chris|
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too.
I hope you both feel better! It’s amazing what we accomplish almost on autopilot, isn’t it?
Thanks Kitch. I hope we feel better soon. Optimal word – soon.
Rudri, I cherish your writing, especially when you use it to record your appreciation of the mundane after being given a contrast to it through the unfortunate invasion of a minute organism that required medicine and Kleenex.
Thanks Mary. I appreciate hearing your voice. xoxo
I hope that you both feel better soon. It seems that everything seems more special when it is taken away from us, even temporarily. Enjoying the mundane can be hard when we spend time “waiting,”…..maybe this was a nice reminder to just be in the moment?
It does seem more special. I think we forget to relish in ordinary goodness when things are going well. When it is taken away, though, the ease of routine seems so attactive.
Yes. Yes. Yes. The quick snap-shot of my life, altered, unable to do my usual stuff, is so enlightening. Beauty lies in the mundane. Yes. Lovely post.
Thanks Denise. Sometimes I wonder why it takes such events to propel us to appreciate the beauty. Why doesn’t the pause come more naturally?
Get well soon both of you quick. Remember feed a fever starve a cold. But you got both so there, it isn’t that mundane. Its quite a Catch 22 you are facing. You wouldn’t know whether to Stuff your face or Starve. Take care sis n get well soon
Thanks Sandeep for the well wishes. Hope all is sparkling on your end.
I hope you’re both feeling better! I know what you mean by appreciating the mundane. We’re still recovering from the move and have many things in limbo around the house – unpacked boxes, things with no place to go, etc. We also had to change our routine because of the new place. I don’t feel quite grounded yet and it affects my psyche that I think your post captures quite well. It’s rather unsettling.
Good luck on the move Justine. I know you are also struggling with the overcast weather. Hope we both get our feet back on the ground soon.
I don’t see it as mundane so much as I see it as routine. And I love routine – it adds order and control into my life that is often hectic and random. I’m sorry you are not feeling well – get better soon!
Thanks Cathy. Important point – I believe it is the routine of things that gives me true solace. If that is interrupted, I am knocked into an oblivion I don’t recognize.
Feel better soon!!! Hugs!!!
Thanks Tiffany.
Wise words, Rudri. As someone guilty of packing as much as I can in a day, I do often fail to embrace the mundane.
It’s hard to overlook the mundane. But when you are sick, that’s all you crave. You want normalcy.
My entire blog is a study in the mundane. And I’m only kind of joking. You are right, though, we do take the little things for granted.
Hope you feel better soon!
Thanks C. I am feeling better, but working back into the routine is slow.
I couldn’t agree more with what you say here. So many take what is “ordinary” for granted. And we live privileged lives in so many ways, without realizing. When we’re knocked off our feet – even by a cold or flu – that’s when we realize our good fortune in the mundane.
Hope you are both on the mend!
That’s a wise line BLW that “we live privileged lives in so many ways, without realizing.” There’s so much in that statement.
Thanks for the well wishes.