Running out of dog food, or half and half will force me out of my house to go buy more, but even the half and half can be replaced with a mixture of milk and cream, which I usually have. If it wasn’t for the dogs, I’d rarely leave home.

The dogs add structure to my life, but that little Winnie girl, she keeps me in line. At some point each morning she’ll go into my bedroom and sit on the rug where I meditate, as if showing me it’s time. I enjoy lighting a stick of Palo Santo beforehand to cleanse the air, but as mentioned in my previous post, the lighter used for this ran out of fluid, so I wasn’t sure how to light the stick without it. You need a steady flame and it takes a while for it catch fire.

I kicked myself for seeing a lighter in the checkout line recently and not buying it, but that wasn’t helpful. I thought about using matches, but it would take a lot of matches and I buy pretty matches, so using them for Palo Santo would be wasteful, but my mind stayed fixed on matches and what they can do. Looking over at the rusted cart, revealed my answer. Matches will light a candle.

Holding the Palo Santo over the candles flame, it lit more quickly than using a lighter and the candle gave it a ceremonial feel. Twice in one week, matches have helped me accomplish what feeds my heart. What’s in our heart wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t achievable and we already have what’s needed to accomplish the first few steps. As the steps progress, more of the path will be revealed, but when looking for a place to start, think small.