Afterwards, he considered it a blessing that the barking dogs woke him up, although it was well before dawn. If it hadn’t happened, he wouldn’t have experienced the bliss that now filled him. A dream had taken him back to early childhood, where feelings of joy, trust and total oneness had been hiding. His normal morning anxiety was magically gone.

He got up and went to the terrace. Filled with peace he sat there, watching how the first rays of sunshine slowly transformed the anonymous grayness into a colorful, beautiful garden.

A piece of music, Grieg’s Morning Mood, started playing in his head, and he remembered an early, quiet summer morning when he was still a teenager. He was walking home from a late party with a rising sun playing hide and seek with him at the horizon. Everything seemed different, innocent and fresh; as if without a past. He felt happier than ever.

This morning, more than 30 years later, the same connection was there. Feelings of joy and gratitude overwhelmed him, and he thought, “There is no outer reason for this sensation. It should be possible to return to it at any time, even in company. I only have to resist the temptation to enter into annoyance, anger, frustration.”

The door suddenly opened and his wife appeared. Without greeting him, she mumbled, “Those damned dogs woke me up again. I hate it!” Then, louder, “You should throw those pajamas away. They’re ugly!” And, with a groan, “My back is killing me. I think it’s the pillow.”

He looked quietly at her. Any other day, he would have joined her, complaining, arguing, finding reasons for irritation. But today, he simply looked at her with a warm, loving smile.

“Have you noticed the stillness?” he asked softly. “Have you smelled the fragrance of the roses? Listen to the birds!”

She made a grimace, turned around and headed to the kitchen to start breakfast.

“Patience,” he told himself. “She needs patience. And love. We all do.”

He got up from his chair to join her. She would need a helping hand.

    5 1 vote
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    Carrie OLeary
    Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
    2 years ago

    There is nothing like a bit of nature for a balm to the soul. It’s something we could all take a lesson from. Nice story

    Eric Radcliffe
    Eric Radcliffe(@eric-radcliffe)
    2 years ago

    Hiya Christer, I’ve just made a coffee and I am looking forward to reading your story along with as many as I can manage. I really enjoy commenting on the stories, as I know that, I feel the same when someone takes their time to read and pass comments on to me. The first thought I have is that this is a situation that most will have encountered at some time or… Read more »

    Last edited 2 years ago by Eric Radcliffe
    Sandra James
    Sandra James(@sandra-james)
    2 years ago

    Your story really resonated with me, Christer. I’m sitting here in Australia sipping my coffee, minutes after sunrise. I, too, was woken by a dog… mine! Before dawn we went for a long walk and with each lap of our small acreage the darkness got a little lighter, the frogs croaked on the dam and kookaburras laughed at us from the trees. Pure magic! I adopted Lily, a deaf Mini-Dachshund, seven months… Read more »

    Linda Rock
    Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
    2 years ago

    I loved how he rose above his wife’s complaints and didn’t lose that inner peace and happiness he’d found Christer. Nature can be so beautiful and music can instantly take us back to times gone by. I dream every night, sometimes more than once! I could totally relate to how he felt waking from such a happy one. A really positive story, well written.

    Alan Kemister
    Alan Kemister(@alan-kemister)
    2 years ago

    Hello Christer, I just read your comments about my story, so I came over here to read yours. Strong parallels with two characters, one seeing the good side and the other only the bad, from the same situation. Good story with interesting visual images.

    Andrew Carter
    Andrew Carter(@andrew-carter)
    2 years ago

    Hi Christer, I’ve enjoyed reading a few of your stories now, and your comments are insightful. As soon as I read Grieg’s Morning Mood I switched it on, on YouTube. It’s an uplifting piece of music. It’s just after midnight here and I have just learned that ‘pyjama’s’ can also be spelled/spelt, ‘pajamas’. Also, I like how your story had a transformative effect commencing with the dream that took him back to… Read more »

    Last edited 2 years ago by Andrew Carter
    musing mind
    musing mind(@musing-mind)
    2 years ago

    Thanks for sharing this wonderful story. The first sentence itself is so profound that I couldn’t stop reading till the end.And then this line, “Everything seemed different, innocent and fresh; as if without a past. ” where you have expressed an emotion hard for me to even express. In just a few words you have revealed a sea of emotions. I have learnt so much just by reading your story. Please keep… Read more »

    Juma
    Juma(@juma)
    2 years ago

    Hello Christer! When I first read your title, I heard Grieg in my head, little realizing that you would talk about that very music! How amazing that you heard “Morning Mood” for the first time in Norway, where it was conceived. Norway is a far cry from Colombia – but the music easily crosses all borders. Your story is lovely, as is your life’s view. I always look forward to your stories,… Read more »

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