As we grow older the world around us starts to consume our thoughts as well as our actions onto an even deeper level. The things that we once did are not what they used to be and I have come to realize that the reason why we are not impressed anymore is because we want something better. When we want something that is more appealing that it propels us to live in the mindset of “think big." Although this statement is refreshing as well as motivating it begins to make you only want something if it is big. We become so consumed by all of the million things going on in our lives in order to reach our big goal that we sometimes neglect to focus on the little things in life that led us there. It is time to ask yourself this question, “how often do you focus on the simpler things in life?”
I think one of the biggest struggles for any human being is to worry about the past and the future. I let thoughts of the past swallow me up and I am anxious about a time that has not even arrived yet. I get so caught up on what already happened and what hasn’t come yet that I have forgotten to enjoy the simpler things in life. We focus so much on getting more, doing more, and being more that we believe that those instances are what makes us who we are. We forget the small moments in between that led us there. I won’t lie and say it isn’t a struggle with the society and the day in age that we live in today, but when you look back what moments do you remember? Do you only focus on the big picture or do you reflect on the steps that it took to get there? Think of it this way. When I am having a bad day I tend to remember a simple moment that made me happy like someone just opening a door for me or saying thank you after I picked up something that they had dropped. All of those little things in one day add up and I know I have forgotten that something as simple as that had an impact on me.
Our lives are made up of a clock and within that clock there are seconds, minutes, hours, but most importantly, moments. We think of life as a journey of days, weeks, and years that pass by and we forget that one day that clock will stop ticking. We let ourselves believe that we have all the time in the world that causes us to fail to remember and just embrace the simpler things that life has to offer. Life is like a ladder. All we want to do is reach the top and to be frank I don’t really think people care how they get there as long as they do. Sadly, people abandon those steps on the ladder that took them to where they are today. Each one of those steps represents something. Whether it is a stranger who gave them an idea, a book you read, or even a moment where you struggled had some impact on you. Yes, good things in your life are great to remember, but so are the bad days. Usually, the days that went wrong hold more meaning and are more valuable than the good moments that you have experienced within your life. Any moment in life is special and I think that we let a “crappy day” turn into what it truly means instead of something that could hold a significant moment in our lives.
Each day it is time to enjoy those small steps, reflect on a simple moment that you appreciated that made you smile, and most of all to remember that those “little things” are truly the “big things” that life has to offer.