The Little Things in Life

I’m going to give you some very simple instructions in this next paragraph as part of an exercise, and I’d like you to follow them before you keep reading.  But then don’t forget about coming back to read the rest of the post. 

Ready?  Take a really deep breath and let it out.  I want you to take a look around you and take in your environment.  Look at the colors around you and truly notice their hues and shades, look at the objects around you.  Maybe some of them bring back a certain memory.  If they do, let that memory enter your mind, but don’t let it consume you, then let it out and keep scanning the room.  Even if you’re very familiar with your surroundings, try to find something you might not have noticed before, the way the light hits something, or maybe something is out of place.  Is there anyone else around you?  What are they doing, what are they wearing? Are you with someone familiar?  If so, look at them and appreciate their presence with you.  Maybe even briefly interact with them, but come back to finish reading.  What about the sounds you hear?  Take those in as well, maybe it’s a car driving by, or a television in the background, or the whir of a fan or air conditioner, but listen carefully.

Congrats! You made it.  I just asked you to participate in an act of being more mindful of your surroundings.  See each and every day we are caught up in following our routines, and not taking the time to appreciate the little things in life, and the little moments that make life so special.  Simple human interactions such as eye contact, touch, or looking at someone smile at you are being lost because we are caught up in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives.  These small things are enriching to our life experience, and can lead to more happiness, but we are overlooking them.  With that exercise above, I asked you to fully engage your senses for just a moment in a way that many of us, myself included, regularly don’t.  With busy schedules and a fast paced life, we are blowing by moments that we could appreciate more if we just took the time to take in our environment.

Take for example the last time you went to a concert.  There were so many people with their phones in the air either recording a video of the performance, or taking multiple pictures.  Then for the rest of the song (which many of them will tell you is their favorite), it’s off to send it in a text, Tweet about it, post it to Facebook, send a Snapchat, post to Instagram and any other social media platform.  When the song is over they would be happy to tell you “That was awesome!”  The question is, did they really get to enjoy it as much as they could have?  I’ve been just as guilty of this many times, but I’m learning more and more to be more mindful by being more present and I’d invite you to join me in doing so.

I still love my social media, and electronic devices, don’t get me wrong, but as I make more of an effort to be more present in each situation and balance my usage, I’m learning to appreciate the little things in life more and more.  These moments are becoming more of a holistic and fulfilling experience as I increase my mindfulness and presence in each situation.

Our lives are so fast paced with the electronic devises we surround ourselves with that we are losing a vital part of relationships which is the human element of interaction.  While many of these modes of communication can enhance interactions with a wider audience, all too often we are losing sight of the actual experience, and the interactions of the people we are with.  Instead we are substituting that moment with being a bystander reporting those experiences instead of enjoying them for ourselves. 

As I leave you this week, let us all take a reminder from the note in the picture below and see how it changes our lives.