Enjoy the little things in life for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.
It is easy to say enjoy the simple things in life. Things seem to be more complicated that ever before and we are all stressed. Trying to get through the month can be challenging at the best of times. Some may be jealous of others who seem to able to experience the giant milestones while they are struggling day to day.
Somehow this leads people to only focus on the big things and desperately trying to get there.
In all this panic to reach the goal we all need to live and the journey to get there can be long.
Maybe it is time to stop and smell the roses to be able to enjoy what is going on in your life right now. Otherwise time will pass and your goal may still be off in the distance and when you look back at things it was the small little and simple things that mattered most.
How does this impact us?
Have you ever asked children about some happy memories they have and been surprised to hear that it was something so simple that makes you stop and think.
The parents may have planned a huge and expensive trip to somewhere exciting. They thought the child would remember this as a huge moment in their childhood. Yet, a happy memory was something basic which could be they were allowed to sleep in their clothes as they had an early flight to catch. Something that was so different to them. That meant so much to them and even outshone the destination at times.
Now you are thinking about your own childhood and some of the very happy memories and moments you have. They usually are not the big moments. The small some may say insignificant events are the ones that make you stop and smile as you journey down memory lane. The family went on a day trip to the zoo and it rained so heavy that you all got soaked and had to take shelter until it passed. Those spontaneous moments enforce us to stop and live in the moment. The goal was to get out of the rain. Once in shelter one started to laugh and that set everyone off on a laughing fit. Relief spread and all could see the funny side.
Celebrate the big milestones
Yes of course we should all celebrate the milestones in our lives. They are important and provide a sense of achievement They are the dreams and goals we have that keep us going. It provides us with a sense of direction. Without these dreams or goals it is as if we are just drifting and letting the current take us.
Why do the "little things" matter?
The little things are so important. A huge benefit is that they happen more often. In doing so they provide regular boosts of happiness.
They are usually genuine and have a deep meaning. An unforced gesture such as a hug. A quiet walk in a forest that brings inner calm.
These simple moments allow us a chance to stop and savour the moment we are in. Not rushing to the next thing. We are just experiencing the here and now.
This in itself gives us an anchor in our hectic every day lives. When we begin to feel stressed or anxious it is these little things that spread the happiness in us again.
The "big things" will reveal themselves
The big things are important and they are the goals that we spend our time day dreaming about. The focus is to achieve them. Most of the big milestones are things that take time to achieve.
So many smaller steps may have to be completed beforehand. Over the passage of time so many moments in our lives occur and they should be celebrated.
Once the milestone is achieved it can be so easy to feel empowered by it and the emotions are high.
With time most will reflect on it as positive and then how many experiences happened in that journey. When we retell the story the little things are often mentioned.
How to put the idea into practice
The easiest way to look at it is the stop and smell the roses.
Someone can walk through a garden and not even notice the beautiful flowers or the bushes. They are in a rush to get to the other side. If they stopped beside the roses to enjoy the sweet smell of them it would spark a moment of happiness. Taking in the beauty of the flowers, the colour and the smell.
It doesn’t have to be an hour long moment, even a few minutes can be enough to bring a sense of calm .
Remembering to take a few breaks in your day to stop and notice what is happening around you. What are you seeing, smelling or hearing.
In the evening take the time to jot down 2 or 3 tiny things that you appreciated during the day. Things that made you calm. Over weeks you will notice the pattern of what truly lifts your spirits.
Slow down in your daily activities. Make the time to enjoy your first cup of tea or coffee in the morning. Savour your meal times. Focus on the person you are talking with. Give them a bit of attention just for the moment.
If you have noticed the things that uplift you then if you want to tell others about it. Include them in some of the activities such as going for a walk during your lunch time.
Over time you can look back at the things that really mattered and they may not be the big things.
Enjoy the little things in life
Life is made up of so many small parts. As children we long to grow up to be able to do all the fun things the adults seem to be able to do. We do not understand all the responsibilities that they have or the stress and worry they carry. As adults we are in a rush to get things done or move towards the next thing.
It is as if we are wishing our life away. We only have one of them so why not make it a priority to incorporate some stop moments. Time just for ourselves to savour the here and now. Sit there with a hot cup of tea and watch the world wake up. Go for the walk in the woods that calm your nerves. Catch up with family or friends.
Enjoy the people in your life.
Whatever it is that sparks that happiness and calm in you. Building up these memories helps you during the hard times in your life. Consciously building up the reservoir of happiness provides you with a reserve bank of happy times. As you begin to notice them, the amazing thing happens that you notice even more. These regular boosts of inner bliss gives us the motivation to keep going.
It is empowering to stop end enjoy the little things in life. One day you will look back and realise that the so called small things were actually the big things in your life.
