It's The Little Things - Diane Marie Ford

It’s the little things in life that make the biggest impacts and often go unnoticed; it’s the little things in life that bring the greatest amount of joy.

Have you been missing out on the little things in life, on the receiving and giving of the little things?

It’s no surprise, if after pausing to think about that question, you find yourself replying “well yes, I do believe I am.”

So much is happening all at once. We’ve got so much to do, so many places to go, people who depend upon us, oodles of responsibilities requiring our attention, and to top it off we are constantly inundated with “instant everything”.

Main stream media, social media, media, media, media coming at us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We are spending less time with our families and more time and money on fast food takeout. As a country we spend 10% of our annual income ($110 billion dollars a year collectively) on fast food. Operative word fast.

It feels like there is no respite. Who has the time to notice the little things in life?

As for how the Tasmanian devil, whirling dervish energy takes a toll on us, consider this: Last year the American Psychological Association reported that “The stress in America concerned for the future, beset by inflation, shows a battered American psyche, facing a barrage of external stressors that are mostly out of personal control.” More than a quarter of US adults say they are so stressed that they cannot function. If you are one of those adults, this blog post is for you! If you are still functioning in spite of the stress, this blog post is for you as well!

We all know how stress impacts not only our emotional well-being, but our physical well-being. You may feel as if you have little to no control over what’s going on ‘out there’ but the good news is you are 100% in control of what goes on ‘in here’. ‘In here’ being your own beautiful internal, external corner of the world. And there is no better place to appreciate the little things in life than within that space. Your space.

In order to appreciate them, you have to see them. To see them, you must be present and in the moment. You can do it and here are some suggestions:

Spend time outdoors. Whether it’s in a park, a forest, the oceanside or your own backyard. Get outside and into it. Pull up a chair and simply breathe. Inhale…exhale. Feel your breath and take a look around. Notice what is taking place around you.

I find insects, birds, wildlife fascinating and are among some of my greatest teachers. There is much to behold, take in, and learn from.

Once you begin to let go of the thoughts or ‘to do lists’ spinning around in your mind you can be lifted to a clearer, calmer place. Your mind begins its natural process of emptying itself.

You may take joy in the tiny ant scurrying about, moving a piece of food three times the size of its body. Meditate on the mystery and miracle of that. (If you are anything like me you may hear the song “Just what makes that little old ant, think he can move a rubber tree plant” in your mind, which, by the way, is all about having high hopes!)

Listen to the sounds of birds flying about communicating with one another with their melodious, winsome banter as they share meals and music. It is impossible to not feel the lightness and whimsy in the moment.

Witness the allure of a butterfly as it flits about, softly landing on a milkweed or bee balm plant to perhaps lay her eggs or take nourishment. It is a feast for your eyes and a gift for all senses.

These are a few of my favorite things. Think of them as gifts you can bestow upon yourself. By taking one step at a time, you, too, will see the mystery and beauty in the little things of life. They are designed to be received and given.