Have you ever noticed how excited children get over the smallest things? Everything is a wonder through the eyes of a child. As we grow older, though, sometimes we forget to marvel at the small stuff.
Appreciate is one of those common words where we all have an assumed understanding of the meaning. If you look up 'appreciate' in the dictionary, though, it means two seemingly different things. First, it means "to recognize the full worth of." It also means, "To understand a situation fully; to recognize the full implications of." This leads me to wonder, can you actually know the full implications of a scenario without recognizing worth? Probably not. One thing's for sure -- the small things in life add up. Appreciating the small things is what allows you to maneuver the bigger things in life.
So, in the hustle and bustle adult world we all live in, how do we live in a way that focuses on appreciating the little things in life? To me, there are four things that immediately come to mind when I think about appreciating life's smaller gifts: slow down; meditate; recognize your personal values; adjust.
I work two jobs plus run my own business, plus run a household, plus have family and extended family in my immediate vicinity, plus have friendships to maintain, plus have ageing pets to care for, plus... there is an unending list. Most of us are in similar situations. Life in the 21st Century seems to be almost universally busy and hectic. Slow down? That's a laugh!
Only, slowing down is essential not only for us to get the full value out of life, it is important for relational, spiritual, and physical health. The good news is slowing down doesn't have to be as difficult as it sounds. It means finding those little micro breaks in the day. Savoring a morning coffee without multi-tasking and before starting work. Just... sit there and sip.
While you are sipping, try to consciously notice how amazing coffee tastes. Savour the heat, the smell, the taste, the way your brain begins to tick that little bit faster. Meditating can be something you do with eyes closed and legs folded and hands lifted in a receiving pose, but it can also be as simple as noticing a thing or concept, then focusing and thinking about it for a moment. That really is the simplest form of meditation -- thinking about one thing at a time and not letting yourself be distracted. This teaches your mind to notice the world around you in a conscious rather than subconscious manner. Appreciation builds from there.
To really appreciate the small things in life, it's important to reflect on your own self and have a conscious understanding of your values. This January, I had a whole bunch of targets I had set for myself. They mattered to me. Then, I got sick with a nasty flu. I didn't even take my Christmas tree down until January 12th, let alone accomplish any of my plans. I could have been frustrated and discouraged about this, but something happened New Year's Eve that put all of that into perspective -- my mother fell down some stairs.
She was taking her dog for a walk, and her foot caught on the carpet runner on the stairs and she fell head first and banged her head into the wall. She was alone, had dropped her phone so couldn't phone for assistance, and no one heard her calls for help. Eventually, my dad found her, and they spent the evening in emergency. After all that, all she did was break a small bone in her arm.
Mom's fall put every other thing into perspective. Yes, I was sick and miserable, but hey, mom was alive. She turned eighty on Christmas Eve. The outcome could have been so different. Yes, I didn't get my business goals off to the start I intended, but hey, I could have started 2024 with my mom's funeral. Nothing mattered except that she is okay.
My values are family above all else. Definitely above work. Knowing that about myself made me nothing but thankful for the way this imperfect January began.
Knowing your values also allows you to recognize when things in your life are keeping you from living according to those values. Once you know there are things out of sync in your life, you can begin doing the work to adjust and reorder your priorities. Today, my sister complimented me by saying I was inspiring. I like to take trips, and I prioritize them, and she has decided she wants to implement that in her own life.
On the phone, I thanked her, but minimized her observation. To me, my taking trips is nothing exceptional because it is fun. It makes me happy. Once I thought about it a bit more, though, I realized that there is more to it than that. Travel is a value of mine, and I make it happen. That desire is one I prioritize with money, with working at the type of job that makes taking time off a possibility instead of one of the high powered university positions that my degree actually qualifies me for. So, I do make decisions that allow me to accommodate travelling. I just never thought through the fact that I have set my life up in a way that makes that possible.
Ultimately, appreciating the small things in life is about emotions. We like and admire things and we make choices based off how different experiences make us feel. How do you feel when the wind is blowing in your face? How do you feel when you are eating at a fancy restaurant? How about when you climb into a bed made with freshly washed sheets? How does a relaxed moment with a hot cup of coffee make you feel? Notice the emotions you attach to the encounters of life -- big and small -- and you will have learned to appreciate the little things in life. And that puts you one step closer to incorporating those moments of pleasure into your life.
コメント