I’m told that each day is a gift. That what I do with that gift is up to me.
Do I tear into the wrapping, not caring how carefully it’s presented, just to get to what’s inside?
Is there shaking, weighing it in my hands, trying to decipher the contents before opening, deciding if I really want this gift, whether to open it or set it aside for later?
Or, do I gently peel back the paper to take a peek inside, eager with anticipation, but wanting to savor the moment?
Like the cotton socks my grandmother gives me each Christmas, is my new day practical, but boring?
Do I get a new puzzle or game so that I can share the fun with friends and family, or is it a special gift meant only for my eyes?
There is no receipt. If it’s the wrong color or size, I can’t return it. Am I still happy, still appreciative for the thought of the day?
I’m told I should be grateful for each new day. Grateful for the uninspired as well as the extravagant. I can’t always have diamonds and gold. Some days will be dish towels and magazine subscriptions.
I hope I can be content with what I am given, despite the surprises or disappointments. That I can accept these gifts with a glad heart and make the most of them, whether they were good or bad.
At the end of all my days, hopefully there are more gifts in my ‘keep’ pile than in my ‘give away’ pile.
Trifecta, a weekly one-word prompt, challenges writers to use that word in its third definition form, using no less than 33 words or no more than 333. The week’s prompt is: Heart [noun \hahrt\] 3: personality, disposition
*From the Vault of If Mom Says OK. Originally published Aug. 2010; reworked and edited for Trifecta. A special ‘Thank you’ to Kim@Amommaly for her Disclaimer suggestion.
Thin spiral notebook 
They told me that once my kids went off to school, I’d scramble trying to get those baby days back. So far, it’s not happening, but what is happening is that I’m more grateful and appreciative and slowed-down with the moments we do have. This is timely for me. I, too, enjoyed your parallels. I really respect a writer who can give us a message without shoving it down our throats. It helps when the author seems to be genuinely contemplating the question at hand, as you seem to be doing here. Great job with the prompt. Thanks for linking up.
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Of course, I’ve heard that each day is a gift but I love the way you took that thought and looked at all the gifts from socks to diamonds. I think we focus too much on the gold and forget to appreciate the magazines and dish towels. I love the everyday items you used for this. Thanks for a thought provoking, but not preachy, write.
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Amazingly done. I’m in awe.
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This made me cry, big salty tears. I try to live my life with such gratitude for the little things, for the passing moments that will take my take my breath away and warm my soul when the world is cold. This is a beautiful way to approach the day…thank you for sharing it with us.
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I like the idea of looking at days like gifts. I’m imagining my pile of Goodwill donations right now…I also hope I have more days in the keep pile than the giveaway one 🙂
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Great writing
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I love your attitude. I have trouble viewing each day as a gift purely on its own merits sometimes 🙂
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Great way of looking at life. Some superb parallels.
?should it be “…savour the moment.”
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Yes, it should be. I can’t believe I missed that. Though, I’ll use the American version of the word. HA! Thanks so much for stopping by.
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I was just rushing by on my way elsewhere, just peeking to see what trifecta was like, but your words caught me, particularly the idea of thinking about how I handle actual gifts. I do rip into them! I will consider this applied to the gift of days, with grateful thanks!
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I’m glad you peeked in. I hope you’ll try out the Trifecta Challenge too, it’s a great community and very welcoming.
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this was really awesome Tara. What a fabulous way of looking at life.
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