To Be Able

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry

The ability
to get out of bed.

To wash the dishes
do the laundry
grocery shop
sweep the floors –
ordinary tasks
we so often
groan about.

To take a step
around the house
to the mailbox
down the block
through a store.

To work at a job
that pays the bills
or feeds the soul…

to simply pay the bills.

The ability
to eat and drink
to nourish our bodies.

Think about diseases
that steal our abilities –

life-altering
life-threatening…

I don’t know about you,
but I welcome the mundane
with wide open arms
because I am grateful
to be able.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I wish you a wonderful weekend
of both the mundane and extraordinary! ❤️

© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com
Photo by iOnix08 on Pexels.com

Lauren Scott is a Pushcart Prize nominee who enjoys small-town living in California’s Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Although their daughter and son live out of state, frequent visits and modern technology keep their family of four close. Lauren is the author of four poetry collections, a memoir, and a children’s picture book. She has been a guest on several podcasts and her work has appeared in eight anthologies. Her poetry and prose has also been featured by Spillwords Press and Literary Revelations where she has received several honors. Lauren is a member of the Redwood Writers chapter and Marin chapter of the California Writers Club, and she is currently working on a new poetry collection, a short story collection, and an early chapter book for children.

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95 thoughts on “To Be Able”

  18. Lauren, you put it so deftly — that ability to find meaning is the most vital part of daily life. And to wax poetic about what most see as prosaic is its crowning achievement. Best wishes!

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Raja, for reading and for your wonderful comment. I’ve dealt with pain before that kept me from wanting to walk, so now that I’m doing better (not cured, but managing), this poem came to mind. I think a gentle reminder is always good. Wishing you a great weekend!

      Reply

  20. Reframing everyday tasks from ‘things we have to do’ into blessings that we are ‘able to do’ is such a grounded, beautiful perspective, Lauren! It’s so easy to take mobility and daily routine for granted until it’s challenged. Thank you for this gentle reminder! 😊

    Reply

    1. Hi Prateek, thanks so much for your kind words! I’ve dealt with pain in the past that kept me from doing these mundane tasks. So, though there is no cure, now that I’m managing better, I was inspired to remind everyone to not take these ordinary tasks for granted. Once a health issue prevents you from doing these, you wish you could. Thanks again, and have a great weekend!

      Reply

      1. Thank you so much for sharing that personal context, Lauren. 🤍 Having been through times where health limits what we can do, your perspective carries so much true weight. It’s such a powerful reminder to cherish the ability to do the daily, mundane things while we can. So glad you’re managing better now—wishing you a restful and wonderful weekend ahead!

  23. This is so true, Lauren. I feel we take way too much for granted. I welcome mundane chores, because not only can I accomplish them, but they provide a sense of usefulness and peace of mind. Beautiful piece, my friend. 💕🫠

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Eugi. I love “A sense of usefulness and peace of mind” which is true also. The fact that I’m feeling less pain these days, that caused me to pause from doing these mundane tasks, inspired me to write a gentle reminder. Thanks again! 🥰

      Reply

  30. Preach it, Lauren! Such wise words. As we begin to have random aches and pains and things become harder to do, it’s so good to think of our abilities as gifts – and things we must cherish and maintain! Have a lovely Sunday. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Haha, thanks, Steve! I love “it’s so good to think of our abilities as gifts…” exactly! When I was dealing with everyday pain a few years ago, I didn’t even want to walk, which is why I wanted to show in the poem all the normal places we walk to, let alone, walking for exercise. If these tasks are taken away, our purpose would be blurred. Anyway, thanks again, and wishing you the same! 🤗

      Reply

    1. The little things are really the big things. We found out that our neighbor who was in his late fifties passed two weeks ago from brain cancer. So, I welcome the mundane. This poem was inspired from pain that I have every so often. It’s a diagnosis that isn’t curable, only treatable. So I feel grateful when I’m feeling no pain. Thanks for reading, Debby. 🩷🌸

      Reply

  36. Beautiful and deeply meaningful, Lauren. We so often complain about ordinary tasks without realizing that simply being able to do them is a blessing. Your poem is a powerful reminder to appreciate the everyday moments and abilities we too easily take for granted. ❤️🙏

    Reply

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