There are big meaning issues in the world –What is the meaning of life? Is there a God? Why do we have wars? These are all important and more than worth considering. However, I’d like to suggest that there are tiny, almost incidental events that we can use to create meaning in our lives. I’d call them insignificant in the great scheme of things but highly personally relevant.

Our days are filled with opportunities to make meaning of the chopping wood and carrying water sort. Few of us will walk on the moon or write a great symphony. We may or may not achieve our dreams, but we can all make our days richer by performing our tasks with an open heart.

One of my favorite things is hearing Gary’s teasing voice calling out from the bedroom in the morning “Is my coffee ready?” This is not an order; my little feminist heart would rebel at that. It is the signal that our day together is about to begin. I delight in making him a cup of coffee and delivering it to his bedside.

I have usually been up for several hours and consumed two or three cups of coffee before Gary is ready to start his day. I like the solitude of my early morning studio time. Gary prefers a somewhat slower start to the day. We both appreciate spending some time together in the morning before we each head off to our separate activities.

I don’t enjoy sitting in bed to drink coffee (or read a book or watch TV). It hurts my back. I’d rather sit in my chair in the living room where I can read my novel and keep an eye on the goings-on in the neighborhood. But I love contributing to Gary’s preferred ritual of coffee in bed (sometimes with a cookie). I let our young dog out of her crate and she snuggles up on the bed for a few minutes as well.

None of this is really important on the Meaning of Life scale but it symbolizes important personal meaning. If I deconstruct our morning rituals I find a list of important values:

• Independence
• Connection
• Respect
• Tradition
• Ceremony
• Comfort
• Love
• Commitment
• Kindness

When mundane tasks are viewed as contributions to a meaningful life they take on a different sort of importance. Making dinner, doing the laundry, mowing the lawn and walking the dogs are all things that need to be done. When they are done without thought they are menial and sometimes demeaning. They certainly can engender resentments. However, if they are done consciously, they can become significant meaning makers and a way to build a meaningful life.

© C O P Y R I G H T   2 0 0 9.  Mary Sullivan Holdgrafer ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.