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Appreciate the Little Things

How often do we hurry past the beautiful, artistic, and fascinating things in life without pausing to appreciate them? Perhaps we should draw inspiration from the humble snail and move more slowly through our lives, taking the time to pause, observe, and reflect.

Pause & Reflect

Light, like water and sound, flows in waves. Light waves penetrate our eyes and communicate vibrant colors and images to our brains; sound waves pass through our ears, vibrating with music and laughter; waves of water lap over our toes on a sunny beach and carry our imaginations out to sea. Our senses are a gift. Open your eyes and observe. Lean in and listen closely. Don’t simply breathe–inhale; distinguish and appreciate various scents in the air. Touch sticky things and rough, run your fingers over soft and smooth. Don’t simply exist–experience life to the fullest.

Look for Layers

Our present reality is but a shadow of things to come. We often make the mistake of believing that what we can see and touch is all that there is, that the world stops beneath our feet, that the walls that enclose us are solid and definitive. But there are so many layers that lie beyond our comprehension. Shadows remind me that the objects that cast them that I think of as so substantial, are themselves mere shadows, hints, placeholders.

Change Your Perspective

Sometimes we overlook the beauty that’s right in front of us because we are focused on something else, be it something larger or uglier or seemingly more important. Look beyond what’s obvious. Squint your eyes, move in closer, or take a step back. What can you notice that you didn’t see before?

Be Curious

Okay, yes, squashed things are gross. And I apologize in advance for the pictures below. But have you ever looked at a slug and wondered what was on the inside of it? Quite honestly, I never had, until I stopped one day to wonder what on earth kind of organ had been violently separated from its sluggish body. Was it a brain? Turns out it was a lung–apparently the largest organ in a slug. (Pretty sure the brain is the smallest.) Huh.

Curiosity is a boon to education. Be curious. Explore every inch of your world. Take advantage of the internet in a positive way, and learn new and fascinating things.

Take Time to Play

We are only removed from our childhood by years. Yes, there is the weight of responsibility, the heaviness of loss, and the increasing pains in our bodies that drive the playfulness out of us. But, often, we come to see the old joys of skipping, climbing, jumping, and otherwise letting loose as beneath our acquired maturity. “You are acting like a child” as an insult, however, should be relegated to a criticism of temper tantrums. By all means, play like a child! Defy gravity. Rediscover the simple joys of your youth. You will be happier (and less prone to temper tantrums) because of it.

Eat Your Ice Cream

Sometimes I think I would have liked to have been born in a simpler time — but not in a time before ice cream was invented and perfected. Yes, health wise, it’s probably one of the worst things you can eat, but it is DELICIOUS! I’ve met a few people throughout the years who’ve said they didn’t like ice cream. I am instantly suspicious of such people. When I was little, I used to pout when we would drive past the neighborhood Dairy Queen without stopping. In college, my sister and I would skip lunch and meet up at the local mall for a DQ Blizzard. And, today, I’ll still consume the cold and creamy confection whenever I can get my hands on it.

Favorite form: Soft serve in a waffle cone | Favorite flavor: Superman (although, my tastes have matured, and pistachio is now a neck-and-neck competitor) | Favorite topping: Rainbow sprinkles | Loveliest combination: Lilac soft serve in a green tea waffle cone (picture below)

Don’t Be Afraid To Improvise

In this modern world, it seems we have everything at our fingertips. Earth is overflowing with technologies, gadgets, tools, contraptions. You think you need it, it’s probably out there for the buying. We tend to forget that we have our own built-in sense of ingenuity and creativity, that would blossom if we were to only use it. Maybe you can arrange your own flowers with a found object thrown in. Perhaps you don’t need a $50 water bottle holder for your bicycle–a bungee cord will do just fine. And, when things go wrong, as surely they will, don’t throw your hands in the air and order takeout, try to work through a problem or using only the products you have on hand.

Get Your Hands Dirty

I don’t know about you, but I like having clean hands. Whenever my hands get dirty or sticky, I immediately want to wash them. Still, there is something so fulfilling about wholeheartedly digging into a task without worrying about appearances. Whether cooking, gardening, building, or exploring, doing things yourself and “getting your hands dirty” can give you a surprising sense of accomplishment and value.

Spend Time With Friends

Some people are extroverts and crave interaction with others. Some of us are more introverted and love a quiet afternoon by ourselves. But no one can live in a vacuum. We all need friends to balance us, direct us, encourage us, and help us build lasting memories. Spending quality time with others helps us build our social skills and our values. Choose great friends, spend time with them as much as possible, and look back fondly on the beautiful memories you’ll create. Remember, everyone needs a friend, so if you’re lamenting the fact that you don’t have any, reach out to someone else who’s lonely. Don’t always expect friends to come to you. You have to be a good friend to attract great friends.

Embrace Cheesy

Granted, this is just my opinion, but cheese makes everything better. (And don’t give me that vegan stuff. Nothing can hold a candle to the luscious, gooey, crumbly, and creamy products that come straight from the cow’s [or sheep’s or goat’s] udder, especially when you dress them up with berries or spices. Ah, the delicious versatility of dairy.)

All of that being said, I suppose I’m referring to a non-animal by-product here after all. You see, some of us have the knack to “read the room” a little too well. We repress the cheesier parts of our personalities because we don’t want to be perceived as silly. Isn’t life already full of enough rules and expectations, though, without the extra ones we impose upon ourselves in an attempt to please others? It’s okay to let loose once in a while: wear those pizza socks that you secretly love; laugh out loud (guffaw, snort, titter) when you think something is funny; messy cry sometimes, even when you are not cutting onions; release from constant captivity all of those parts of yourself that make you unique. Be your own flavor and texture of cheesy.

Accept Change

Seasons change. Time changes. People change. Change is an integral part of life. Not even rocks say the same. So why are we so resistant to changes? There is something in us that craves constancy, that wants predictable,

Be Brave

The first time I ever got on a roller coaster, I cried throughout the entire ride. When the coaster car came to a stop and I realized I had survived, I looked at my sister, smiled through my still-wet tears, and said, “That was fun!”

The first (and probably last) time I ever attempted a 14er, the way up was certainly strenuous, but it was still an enjoyable climb. However, it started snowing heavily right before my brother and I reached the tip of Gray’s Peak. The way back down the mountain was not at all enjoyable. The snow had covered most of the trail.

Diving

Ziplining

Traveling

Take Things One Step at a Time

How often do we hurry past the beautiful, artistic, and fascinating things in life without pausing to appreciate them? Perhaps we need to draw inspiration from the humble snail and move more slowly through our lives, taking the time to pause, observe, and reflect on what we see and what we cannot see.

Create