The ever wise Toni Morrison (RIP) passed this week.

Of all the many wise insights she shared, this is my favorite.

“I didn’t fall in love, I rose in it.”

What would it look like to be in love with your life?

Well, as Laura Parrott Perry says:

“Sometimes the practice of gratitude is just noticing your life.

Sometimes it’s just taking in wonder and sharing it with someone.

Sometimes the practice of gratitude is just showing up for your life wholeheartedly, being present and delighting in it.

Noticing. It’s really just noticing, in the end.”

I 100% agree.

One of the reasons I wrote Got Your Attention? is because I believe the connection and contentment we seek is available anytime we want … for a moment’s notice.

Some of our greatest philosophers and “noticers” have come to the same conclusion.

In the “Now and Zen” section of my ConZENtrate book, I quote Henry Miller who said, “The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably world in itself.”

Yes.

In fact, Teilhard de Chardin said, “The whole of life lies in the verb seeing.”

And Mary Oliver sugggested in her poem, Instructions for Living a Life:

“Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.”

Once again, yes.

Today, in Toni’s honor, may you rise in love with the opportunities that every day brings.

May you rise in love with your health, with yourself, with your friends and family.

May you rise in love with newfound gratitude for the privilege of being able to do meaningful work that makes a positive difference and that gives you an opportunity to earn a good living.

And may you notice – and truly see – the wonders and blessings that surround you and are awaiting your appreciative attention.

That’s really all it takes to be in love with your beloved life.

– – –

Sam Horn, Intrigue Expert and 3-time TEDx speaker, is on a mission to help people create a meaningful life-work that adds value for all involved. Her books have been featured in New York Times, on NPR, and presented to NASA, Capital One, Intel, Cisco, EO, YPO, Nationwide, ASAE.