I have this thing I keep on the shelf above my desk that I refer to as “the box.” You can see it in the picture above; it’s small and nothing fancy, just a flimsy little holder that’s filled with small black cards. Written on the front and back of each card are short motivational quotes. The idea is that there are enough cards for every day of the year, so you can switch it out daily for a new source of inspiration.
Sometimes I’m really good about remembering to change the quote, but it’s usually something that I’ll just do absentmindedly as I’m sitting at my desk. I’ll shuffle through the cards until I find one that I like, or my roommate and I will laugh about one that could be seen as comical (but usually isn’t actually that funny).
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But the other day, I went to switch the card and the quote was so convicting that it immediately resonated with me.
“Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.” -Guillaume Apollinaire
I’ve kept the same quote in the box all week. Every time I sit at my desk to drink my morning cup of coffee or dump my backpack in my chair to switch out my books between classes, I glance at the quote and feel a fresh wave of conviction.
“Just be happy.”
It’s ironic, but the two things I’m most guilty of are getting caught up in all the tiny details of each day and simultaneously fast-forwarding to “sometime in the future.” To me, these are conflicting, but also linked. I continually find myself going through all the expected motions and thinking wistfully about the future, but rarely taking the time to actually pause and look around and realize that my life is good.
I think the entire point is that while we’re busy running toward those long-term goals that we set for ourselves, if we would stop our pursuit for just a moment and look around to either side of us, we’d see potential for happiness staring us right back in the face.
Sure, there are things in my life I would change if I could, things that I desperately hope will be different in the future. It's a lot easier to spout something like this off than to actually put it into practice. I definitely don't have the key to eternal bliss. (In this life, at least.)
But I do know that in this moment, there is so much goodness. I've been struck that over and over again this week, by my daily glances at the quote, by my roommate's gentle reminders of all we have to be thankful for, by the person at church who emphasized that Jesus meets us right where we are.
I'm working every day to get to where I truly believe that life is about equally appreciating all of the beautiful and ugly small moments and the times of tranquility and difficulty between.
Sometimes it takes a quote box or a much-needed laugh with a friend to make you realize it, but there is potential for happiness in each imperfect moment. Don't be so caught up in your pursuit that you let it slip by.
