The Little Things

In the hustle and bustle of life, quiet moments of solitude are rare. I often find myself toeing the line of a daily marathon race that starts well before the sun greets the morning. This race continues at a sweltering pace until well after the sun has set. It’s a balance of family, work, and household responsibilities that so infrequently allow me to stop and smell the roses.

As a counselor, I talk to my students about the importance of mindfulness quite often. Allowing ourself to be present and aware in a given moment as we open ourselves up to our thoughts and feelings. In theory, it is a beautiful way to recenter and find a sense of peace in our day. However I would be lying if I said this is something I pay attention to every day for my own well-being. My Apple watch reminds me to breathe throughout the day, and I consider it a small victory if I can pause at least twice a day to close my eyes, breathe deeply, and wait for the cue that my minute has lapsed.

We’re all in this boat, treading water to stay afloat. So the intention of today’s post is to remind us of the importance of finding the beauty in the everyday things around us. This beauty truly is in the little things if we stop ourselves long enough to give pause and savor the moment.

The beauty of everyday things is:

a breathtaking sunrise over the ocean,

cousins walking hand in hand together,

never taking yourself too seriously,

sipping hand-crafted coffee with your favorite person,

finding natural treasures like this white feather that reminds you of someone special you’ve lost,

stopping to smell the roses,

seeing the world through the eyes of a child,

and being awestruck by something truly beautiful.

I hope this post inspires you to find the beauty in the little things. We are abundantly blessed but sometimes we need a little reminder. “It’s up to you to see the beauty in everyday things!” What will you see when you give yourself permission to slow down?