A group of tourists hunched over, taking pictures of a bird they've never seen before, each one of them displaying smiles linked to pure innocent happiness. A couple asleep on a bench next to the waterfront, safe in each others company. The look of pure excitement when someone finally masters a skill or sets a new personal record, a group of friends playing pool. Each of these examples are simple, overlooked most of the time, unimportant to many people, unimportant to me, or at least these types of things used to be unimportant to me. Why should I care about the small insignificant things going on with others or things around me? They have nothing to do with me, at least I thought they didn't. It turns out those little tiny bits and pieces, the simple things, a subtle smile from a stranger or noticing someone else's joy, add up at the end of the day. If you can master the art of slowing down every now and then throughout the day and notice, really notice, the things going on around you, the things going on with other people, finding beauty and joy in life, in turn, becomes easier. Things like beauty and joy can be found in almost every aspect of life if you can stop and look for it, notice it, and then maybe then, falling back in love with your life or life in general, wouldn't seem as difficult.
Today was the first time in a very long time that I could feel myself, honestly, and whole heartedly falling back in love with my life. The first time in a really long time where I felt genuinely happy, and it all started while I was out on a walk. For the first time in what felt like forever I was able to look around and not have a feeling of stress or dread. No feelings of sadness, depression, hatred, insecurities. I felt like me. It was the small things that I noticed during my morning walk that brought me to that feeling. For once I felt entirely grateful for where i'm at in life.
I think it's so easy to get wrapped up in the feeling of misery that noticing all the bad things in life just becomes easier, it makes you bitter, the sound of laughter becomes annoying, you decide people are always going to be malicious, little things people do become irritating, and then after a while you begin to hate your life, you loose sight of all the small things that make life great. So how do you reverse it?
Just stop.
Literally, just stop. look around, and find something that is interesting to you. something that brings a smile to your face or makes you feel just a tiny bit lighter. Notice the smaller things, like people other than yourself, people that are enjoying themselves in whatever they are doing. Notice people being kind or caring for one another, showing compassion or love. Notice the small things.
-Dive. Lift. Jiujitsu. Repeat.
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