What a difference a day makes



Noon approaches at Sotterley Plantation





A day can make a world of difference.

Case in point, I arrived at 11:30 a.m. to the wine fest at Historic Sotterley on a rather breezy Saturday. I had left the house some 20 miles up the road amid rain, but arrived in Hollywood to find clearing skies and dry roads. My perspective quickly shifted within a half hour of leaving home from dreary to promising.

The afternoon alternated between clouds and cold winds into brighter skies and warm sun drenching us. My husband had recommended me slipping gloves into my pocket, and I found an extra coat in the trunk and a hand-knit shawl among the local vendors. Success: I was layered for the cooler breezes off the river, and good to go for the remainder of the day. No longer focused on shivering, I could concentrate on the task at-hand to extend a warm welcome to the afternoon's guests. I could text friends to bundle in layers and come to enjoy the event as well. I could snag photos of favorite tastes enjoyed by guests in the VIP tent and of children rolling down the picturesque grassy knoll at this historic landmark to then upload to Facebook. I could fully enjoy the event and meet the needs of the organizers.

By day's end, the sun had won out, and a spectacular sunset awaited all of us as we headed back to the parking lots, the colors vivid and warming to the soul. What a difference a few hours in the day had made.

The garden aglow as sun sets on Sotterley

It's similar when it comes to our daily challenges, and how our perspective can emerge positively by day's end when we remember a few simple principles. As with my afternoon at Sotterley:

• Be prepared for the unexpected.
• Use the resources you already have on-hand but perhaps have been tucked away.
• Seek new resources that may be close by.
• Lastly, breathe and remember to smile.

You will emerge at the end of the day with a fresh perspective and able to enjoy the richness of the moment.