“With an open heart, we pour love into the world.” ― Donna Maltz, Conscious Cures: Soulutions to 21st Century Pandemics

My goal is to wake each day with an open heart, open arms, an open mind, filled with loving-kindness to share.

But sometimes I forget. I become distracted. I wake up tired. I stub my toe. 

On those days, I remember my mom. I think about how she spent summer days peeling peaches and pears, boiling jars, and putting up preserves so that we could taste summer sweetness during cold, dark January mornings. 

I’m trying to make it my goal to be aware and mindful of my every day. So, when I’m having one of those good days, those abundant days, when I’m filled with loving-kindness, perhaps I can preserve some of these feelings and intentions. Then, when I stub my toe, when I’m tired, or when I forget, I can reach into that pantry in my heart and open a jar of kindness I’ve preserved for just such a day. 

I’ve learned that when I’m able to find those stores of kindness on my most challenging days, it’s delightful and nourishing, just like a jar of Mom’s pear honey opened on a cold, dark winter morning. 

A version of this post appeared in the Mind Tools forum as the Thought of the Day.