Everyday Excerpt

Each day I do the dirty work, the effort that attracts no notice but my own, and in this very place I find the ordinary ingredients for genuine fulfillment.

Rising with the sun to sort and stack the dishes, appreciating this simple task as the essential start to a healthy day. Chopping the blemished fruit into breakfast, savoring the taste of my own usefulness. Emptying full hampers without resentment or commentary. Making a marriage from sturdy pots and pans, an enduring masterpiece of mutual forgiveness. Cooking dinner while my daughter plunks the most lovely praise songs from the piano, knowing that my own mother, standing in her own kitchen, once received the same sweet cup of satisfaction from me. Watching my family circle each other in wary regard, wrestle and shout a messy wreck of feelings, seeing them suffer their deep adoration of each other, and leaving it be, well and good and theirs alone. Keeping silent about some things and laughing about most everything.

Loving all of this, and then forgetting to add even that, so full to the brim with this life already.

Excerpted from the book Hand Wash Cold: Care Instructions for an Ordinary Life ©2010 by Karen Maezen Miller. Printed with permission of New World Library, Novato, CA. www.newworldlibrary.com

For a dose of everyday inspiration, listen to Karen Maezen Miller read an extended excerpt from Hand Wash Cold on her blog today.

And please share an image of your own everyday beauty. For some perfect examples from our community visit the One Word Project flickr pool where the word this month is everyday.

Karen is graciously giving away a signed copy of her book for Giveaway May. Leave a comment here between now and Thursday midnight for a chance to win.

Congrats to Aia for winning the signed copy of Hand Wash Cold. Yay!

Comments

[Nancy]

Very well said, off to go check out more of your book, me want!!!!!!! ;)

[Bahiehk]

This is beautiful. The beauty of everyday life is mindblowing.
Thanks Karen. ;-)

[Marcie]

So beautifully said.
A part of my everyday includes time with the dog:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1168

[Vanessa]

i seem to be wearing my emotions on my sleeve today. this beautiful post... and karen's wise and gentle words... have made me so teary, in a quiet and lovely and intimate way. thank you for this gorgeous post.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4600407879/

[coasterkim]

Lovely post. I love marriage tips lately, guess it's cause I'm seriously considering it myself!

[marina]

Thank you for this post, Karen, it is very beautiful and helpful. And also for the chance to participate in the giveaway.
Here is a photo suggestive of the life that happens around a kitchen table
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36167691@N03/4595775193/

[Jill F]

Great post. A reminder to appreciate the everyday

[lucy]

lovely post. sometimes i look up from doing a daily chore and think "this is exactly where i want to be this very moment."

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucyloomis/4287209715/

[Jen L.]

Nicely stated =)

[Sarah W]

I love the ordinary everyday

[giftsofthejourney (Elizabeth Harper)]

Love the words ... " seeing them suffer their deep adoration of each other..."

[Missy K]

This is so lovely-- off to listen!

[ToniM]

Beautiful post.

[Clara]

I recently started following Karen's blog on my Reader, and enjoy her visits to my day. I'd love to read her book. Thanks to you and Karen for the opportunity to win it.

[red gray black white]

these words speak to me this morning .thank you for including them .

her shoes sitting there ... her..so far away:

http://redorgrayblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2010/05/c-o-m-f-o-r-t-b-l-e.html

[Diane]

Mmmm, knowing her mother received the same sweet cup... I love that.

[Robin]

needing to hear these reminders today, and everyday - thank you! Now off to her blog for more!!

[erika]

I loved the book! I used quotes for some Everyday pictures last week.
Our table is a good foundation for everyday moments.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/onemoreplease/4586370117/

Thanks for the words.

[melissa]

her book is a true treasure. about the beauty in everyday, ordinary, beautiful, sacred life moments. thank you for this offering.

[Aia]

beautiful! part of my everyday is spending time with my daughter. she has such a vibrant spirit & a love for life i've never known.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aclamp/4544998286/sizes/m/

[rachael s]

the dirty work...such an integral part of life, filled with more beauty than i could have imagined.

[AnnGeeDee]

A nice reminder to find the joy in our everyday.

[jv]

I love this image! Simply beautiful.

[Teresa]

Very inspiring!

[Meg - Tea & Brie]

Needed this today :) and another great giveaway!

[Shana]

I am currently reading Miller's "Momma Zen" and I'm transfixed. I can't believe how dead on she is about the expectations and disappointments of motherhood. I would love to win a copy of her new book.

[yvonne]

i will be graciously grateful if you would enter me in this drawing ~ thank you.

[Leana]

I love this! I can't wait to read the book.

[tracy]

what beautiful words, what a beautiful image... what a beautiful way to start my day, filling me up with such beauty, the "ordinary" is the beauty, what a fabulous reminder!

[Jeanne]

I myself find the most joy in a wabisabi life, the joy of loving the imperfection in life! Wonderful!

[Sara]

I love Karen's work, and I'm so glad you posted this excerpt today -- it is EXACTLY what I needed. Thank you for continuing to share inspiring and thought-provoking work here.

[~ kristina ~]

Quite lovely!

[Katie]

Loved Momma Zen - can only imagine this one is wonderful too!

[JoLyn]

This is the view I see every morning when I take my son to school. Sometimes I get so used to it, I don't really see it. But when I look through the lens, I find it breathtaking!

http://www.ayearofhappyphotos.com/2010/04/43-breakfast-with-a-view.html

[Sarah beth]

Trying to improve my daily outlook ...... Any inspiration appreciated.

[isaida]

The magic of everyday....

[Susan C. Brown]

This excerpt is beautiful, and inspiring in the fullest sense of the word. It "breathes into" ordinary moments the fullness of meaning that life holds. Why am I convinced that I need to just get through the everyday stuff so I can get on with what's important/interesting/creative? I know better, but I do it anyway. I'm really, really ready to read Karen's book.

[cigi]

Thanks for the lovely post and the food for thought (and of course the giveaway opportunity :-) ).

Finding beauty in everyday life:

http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/04/10/89365/

[Breanne]

Oh how I love the daily inspiration Shutter Sisters brings... :)

[Andrea KP]

Beautiful. The book sounds amazing and I will definitely be checking it out.

The beauty of a fresh harvest:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4536574817_77f0f84565.jpg

[Kacky]

Always trying to be more positive and appreciative - thanks for the beautiful thoughts.

[Katy]

It's a good idea to slow down and appreciate the everyday...it makes me wonder why I don't do it more often.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/katyharmer/4602479164/

[Kylie]

Beautiful and a wonderful (and timely for me) reminder to appreciate the everyday.

[Jen]

sadly, I'm not living in the everyday, I'm trying to escape it, and I don't know why.

I think I've bought into the idea that it's not enough...

thank you for sharing this gentle reminder that it is a mighty thing.

[kyla]

Such a lovely reminder...I'm off to apprectiate my day, whatever it may bring

[Vanessa]

I am so excited, I get to meet and visit with Karen tomorrow evening at a dear friend's home. I think I will hop over and listen to that exerpt in preperation!

a little bit of everyday:
breakfast- http://www.flickr.com/photos/glitch_nitch/4582120239/
usually to the tune of the song, "Chitty-chitty-bang-bang" per the request of my little guy.
I love mornings and although they used to be quite me time just 20months ago, I welcome my son and the sun while I wake and ready for the day.

[Jade Sheldon]

Our love is what keeps me going everyday :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmsheldon/4599278683/

[Julia]

My own ordinary is so ordinary/extrordinary to no-one else but me.

[liz]

what beautifully written words -- and so true!
i'd love to read more :)

[Jessica]

That excerpt! I could read the whole book in one sitting. Yes, please!