A Life Lesson:  It’s the little things that count

How often do the things that went wrong plague your thoughts?  The harsh words spoken, an accident, a plan that went awry…. Our minds often tend to focus on things that were hurtful, a mistake or we delve into “what if” thinking.  What if we change that around and focus on the good and positive – the small everyday things that bring a smile to you face, and joy to your heart. The little things in life.

It can be anything.  

Richard Carlson wrote a book in 1998 called Don’t sweat the Small Stuff. An interesting read about why not to worry about the small things in life that you cannot change.  Those things that really bug you but, in the end, don’t really make any difference in your life.  It’s about not stressing out over that of which you have no control.

So my advice is to not sweat the small stuff – let it go – and focus on the daily life incidences that make you happy. Yes, just be thankful.  Mom always said just do the best I can.

Here’s a few of mine, in no particular order:

• A freshly made bed with smell of fresh sheets dried on the line
• My dogs, chasing each other around the yard
• One of the cats, curled up on a patch of sunshine by the back door
• A tray full of fresh vegetables from the garden
• The satisfaction of a job well done
• A dinner with friends, with laughter and comradery, followed by a fire in the fire pit under the stars
• Watching my backyard birds, seeing a new visitor never seen before
• Cooking a great meal
• Baking bread
• Spending my first hour of the day with my first cup of coffee on the deck
• A walk in the woods

Have you thought of a few things on your own? Good.  Let’s take it one step further.  I did this exercise with friends once.

What are you 5 favorite sounds in the world?  You cannot include loved ones saying “I love you”, because who doesn’t want that.

It didn’t take me long:

1. The sound of a cat purring
2. The sound of rain on a tin roof
3. Thunderstorms, and wind in the trees
4. The babbling of a creek
5. Birds singing, first thing on a spring morning (the noise that can wake you up)

So yes, I have a theme here – nature is very important to me.  Interesting, isn’t it, what you can learn about yourself with this simple exercise.  Want more? 

What are your 5 favorite sights or visions – the things you see when you close your eyes and take a deep breath to relax.

What are your 5 favorite things to touch and to feel?

The point of all these exercises is to find out what is important to you on a daily basis.  The things that bring you happiness, even though they are not life changing experiences.  When you have a bad day, glum mood, or real life difficulties, look back at your lists you just created – and go experience one of them.  It may not make a problem go away, and you will still have to deal with the issue, but your list is a stress relief package that can lift your spirits and make you feel better, even if only temporarily.

I hope you take up this practice.