10 DAYS OF GRATITUDE – Day 9

You may be wondering, how do you exactly define “mundane”?

The trusty internet told me that the word “mundane” means “lacking interest or excitement; dull“. I can think of plenty of things that cause a lack of interest: laundry, dishes, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning the bathroom, putting sheets on the beds, trying to come up with ideas of what to eat, and the list goes on.

But what I love about this question is that when you think of something mundane, this begs you to pair it with gratefulness. How can we look at the mundane things of life and be grateful for them? This is where true, intimate, and simple gratitude is found. In the things that we often don’t consider blessings or something to be grateful for.

If I’m truly honest with myself and look beyond my own selfish ways of living, I am grateful for vacuuming. Even though there are only 3 of us in our house, we have a 4th creature that creates a LOT of messes. Our 5 year-old, golden retriever, Maggie. The amount of FUR that comes off that dog! There are days I don’t understand how there is any left. Oh, but there is!

I did not grow up as an indoor dog person. There are days when the fur and her toys all over the place, drive me NUTS. But the mundane tasks of vacuuming and picking up her toys (she’s a shoe stealer, though doesn’t chew them), make it all worth it.

Our daughter needed a “sister” and this was the next best thing! Both Dan and Mazy often say, “Did you ever think you’d sweet talk and kiss a dog?” Well…

Maggie could kind of care less about Dan and I coming home, but the minute Mazy steps through the doorway, it’s like Maggie is 6 months old all over again. She grabs a ball for Mazy to throw, she begs for a hug, runs around everywhere, and can’t wait to snuggle with her and steal Mazy’s after-school snack. Every night, Mazy, Dan, and Maggie snuggle in the recliner together; then Dan says, “Bedtime!” And Maggie jumps down, runs to Mazy’s bed, and waits for her. Mazy gets tucked in and Maggie lays right next to her, with her head resting on Mazy. I mean, seriously folks.

So when it comes to vacuuming, I have learned to embrace all the dog hair that gets vacuumed up. I know that this dog has been such a gift to our daughter and really to our family. When I’ve been recovering from surgeries or chemo, Maggie will not leave my side, but sit right up against my legs or lay right by the couch I’m laying on. She knows. I suppose there is a reason they call dogs a man’s best friend!

How about you? What is the most mundane thing you can think of, that you are grateful for?

A little taste of life with Maggie…

Always gotta be ready for the next round of fetch…

A girl’s best friend…

Pretty certain Maggie thinks she is a human…

Oh Maggie…