We always remember and cherish the significant events in our lives. Be it a wedding, a birthday, a promotion, or the first house we bought, these major life events usually become the turning points in our lives. Their importance as well as their impact on our lives is so much, that they become a deciding factor for all other emotions that we may experience.
We become happy when all our major wishes are fulfilled, but a slight deviation from the plan and the majority of the time our world turns upside down. So are we saying that our happiness is basically determined by all these events? And when things do not go as planned, then what happens? The dejection and the sorrow become hard to handle and we succumb. Let us take a moment to think and analyze this situation.
When we work towards achieving a goal, we may do many other smaller things along the way that help us become who we are. But we are so focused on our destination, that for us, the journey hardly matters.
We do not pay attention to the small things that we keep on doing on the way. For example, when we enroll in a college, the degree we get is not the only thing that matters, usually what sticks by us is the time we spend in college with our friends and colleagues.
The classes we sit through, the challenges we face, the trips we go on with them, etc. These are the smaller things in life that do matter, and we realize their importance after years as time passes by. Likewise, there are many other small day-to-day activities that we do not pay attention to.
What are these small things and why are they so important? Today, let us give it a thought.
What Are The Little Things In Life?
The small things in life are not the ones that can be measured in quantity but in quality. Imagine coming home after a long and tiring day at work and then sitting with your spouse just talking about the day or playing with your child the game they love the most.
On a Sunday, catch up with your friends over a video call or just meet them at a coffee shop, play with your pet who was eagerly waiting for you, or just lie back with your eyes closed listening to some soothing music. Thinking of these things will definitely bring a smile to your face. In our busy lives, we forget this small smile that these little things bring to us.
We forget what it is to laugh out loud when we read or watch something funny, the thrill we feel when we watch a mystery series on Netflix, or the satisfaction we get when someone likes the food we cook. Walking on the grass barefoot, washing your face with cold water, going for a ride on your bike, sitting at the dinner table with your family, eating icecreams in the summer, or hot tea and pakodas in the rainy season.
We may do these things on a daily basis but we take them so much for granted that the positive feeling we get when we do them skips our minds completely.
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Why Do We Need To Appreciate The Little Things?
When an artist paints a picture it is never the picture that is perfect but what makes it perfect are the smaller strokes that build up the picture. Each and every stroke is crafted to perfection and only then do we get a masterpiece. In the same way to make a masterpiece of life we need those smaller strokes, those smaller things that make up life.
These small things make life complete. It is often said that when we are doing our daily activities is when life is happening. Time is passing and one day all of a sudden we may realize that we missed out on so many things while chasing one goal, or one dream. It is important to appreciate the smaller things in life so that we do not regret them later.
No one has a perfect life, everyone has their ups and downs, life throws challenges, and everyone struggles in their own way, fighting their own battles. It is these small things in life that will help us through the difficulties and so it is important that we recognize them and give them their due credit. Because if we do not do it, no one else will do it for us!
How Can We Appreciate The Little Things?
Here are some tips you can follow so that you do not miss out on the small things and life as a whole.
Comprehending the Little Things
The first and foremost thing is to notice these small things in life. You need to make a conscious effect to understand when these little things are happening. Not knowing when they happen will not help you appreciate them.
Sense of Gratitude
Once you realize that you are having a small moment of joy, you can register it in your mind and just be grateful for it. Maybe you can say a small prayer and thank the almighty for the same. You can even practice gratitude journaling and write down these moments at the end of the day.
Complimenting those involved at the Moment
Telling people how much you appreciate them being in your life will not only bring you joy but also make them feel good. It will strengthen your bond with them and also help you build your relationships. If you are bad with words you can just send them a text message or an emoji. The important thing is to express your feelings in ways that the other person understands them.
Living in the Present
Life is a gift and hence it is called the present. The past is gone and the future is unknown. What you have is now and so you should cherish every moment of it. Do not think about what may happen or what has happened. Sometimes our own thoughts can be toxic and the human brain is such that we incessantly think of the worst-case scenario. Give these thoughts a break.
You only have one life. Slow down, breathe, and get a little easy on yourself. Stand in front of the mirror and appreciate the reflection, the flaws in it, and everything. This is you, think about it, and then think about the simple pleasures in life. This is all that you need, the little things!
Hope this article will help you appreciate the smaller aspects of your life. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Author: Dr Pooja Nilgar (Content writer and editor)
