Sometimes you have to do the “doldrums of life bit” in order to find the magic. Drinking coffee, washing dishes, setting the table. That’s just part of the equation. The other part is what happens before, during, or after.
You just have to sit back and notice.
And many people forget that part. Like the time Jon had his head down as he took those sips of CUPPA JOE. He didn’t notice that in front of him was someone who had moved from across the coast and was wanting to engage in conversation, to the point of maybe wanting a new friend. His hair was covering his eyes where he could have gazed back with a twinkle or two: that he did not. He ended up “choosing”, yes it is a choice, the doldrums factor.
When you go for counseling, many therapists ask you to complete a standardized questionnaire to assess for this doldrums factor. It’s called the PHQ-9 and it’s looking for depressive symptoms. The first question asks if in the last 2 weeks have you been bothered by having little interest or pleasure in doing things. Guess what Jon answered? More than half the days. This meant that he couldn’t see the magic or the forest through the trees. He wanted help. And help he was going to get.
The beauty of life often hides in plain sight, nestled within these mundane tasks. It’s easy to miss the moments of magic when our heads are down, focused solely on the routine. That person sitting across from Jon? They represented a new beginning, a fresh connection. If only Jon had looked up. If only he had seen beyond his own preoccupations. The doldrums can be overwhelming, but recognizing them is the first step towards change. Jon's journey through counseling would teach him to lift his gaze, to seek out and embrace the magic woven into everyday life. The act of noticing, of being present, transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.
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