Making Life’s Little Moments Count
If you’re like me I’m sure you’ve had days where the size of the To-Do list looks insurmountable, the weather outside is dreary and uninviting and basically, you find yourself without any motivation to get your day going.
On some of these days, when we’re stuck trying to figure out how we’re going to get our momentum back, we receive this unexpected but welcome distraction – an email from a friend thanking us for what seemed to us to be a simple effort, a congratulatory note about some recent work we shared on Facebook or Twitter, or perhaps just one of our friends sharing some humourous anecdote that makes us laugh. On the surface, these gestures are simple and unassuming; however, on those days where we’re facing down a bad case of the blahs, they have the power to make us suddenly bound forth with renewed enthusiasm and verve.
Without question, on those days where we feel uninspired or weary, these simple efforts are a welcome arrival, the emotional equivalent of a caffeine jolt to stir ourselves out of the doldrums. Unfortunately, it seems that it’s only when we’re in the proverbial dump that we truly appreciate what these gestures bring to our lives. In some ways, I suppose that’s because we all tend to measure our lives with rather large yardsticks, holding out for those big events like getting a promotion or the birth of a new child as moments that will bring happiness to our lives. Certainly, those events do bring much joy and excitement, but they’re also an uncommon occurrence.
Maybe that’s why these little moments on days when we’re feeling flat resonate so much – we don’t go out of our way looking for them, we don’t work to attain them; they simply appear as a result of the relationships, the bonds we’ve fostered with others. But just like those big events that mark our lives, these little moments have an effect on us, of making us feel better and motivated to keep going. And naturally, if those we have some sort of connection with can have such an impact on us through such simple gestures, it’s not hard to imagine the same happening to those around us when we give small offerings of our own.
Perhaps it’s time we realize we shouldn’t be measuring our life with those large yardsticks, that instead the happiness that fills our lives can often be found in all those little moments that exist in between the big ones.
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So true.
I like everything about your blog, the way it looks, feels and what’s inside of it.
Happiness comes from within, but some people need the push from outside of themselves to appreciate it. That type of happiness does not last. And that is okay, because they can savor that piece of happiness until the next one… hopefully it won’t be long between the two periods of happiness…
Hi Angelina,
First of all, thank you for your compliments about my site. It’s very kind of you to say and I appreciate it.
I agree with you that true happiness originates from inside of us since that aspect of ourselves is what we take with us no matter where we go or who we are with. But that outlook, that manner in which we perceive our life and the world around us also impacts what we choose to take from these simple gestures that populate our lives.
When someone shares a compliment as you did above, we can choose to see it as simply a comment about the piece in question, or we can see it as someone taking the time to share with us some kind words of how they feel. The message in both cases is the same; however, it’s our own internal viewpoint that changes how we receive it and consequently, the impact it has on us.
From that vantage point, such gestures serve to bring forth the inner happiness we nurture internally, something we’re more likely to notice and appreciate on days when the world feels little less bright.
Thanks again, Angelina, for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
Thanks so much for this post Tanveer. I needed this today.
Sarah
My pleasure, Sarah. I’m glad I was able to populate your life with one of these little moments today.
Tanveer,
Thank you for sharing these thoughts. They do resonate. You are so right. It is in those "flat" moments that the simple things shine so brightly. Your post reminds me to be more intentional in recognizing and enjoying these gifts – to be present in the moment.
Your words also encourage me to write the note, reach out and deliver the encouragement another may need…just in time.
Beautiful site and wonderful blogs. A gift.
Warm Regards,
Dondi
Hi Dondi,
Thanks for your kind comment and the compliments about my site. You're absolutely right that we should take more time to tell those around us something we appreciate about them, or at least put a smile on their face.
I can't tell you how many times I received a short note from a friend or had someone stop by just to chat. To them it must have seemed to be an ordinary gesture, just something they felt like doing. But for me, it was something else – it gave me that feeling of encouragement and support I needed to press ahead.
I'd like to think that I've been able to do the same to those around me.
Thanks again for your comment, Dondi. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts.