In Praise of Little Things

We’re told to keep gratitude journals, and I am certain some better human beings (better than me, at least) actually do that. Because I lean into multi-tasking, I have managed to be grateful and slothful simultaneously. Still, there is merit in counting our blessings. Yes, let there be praise and thanks for the little things in life. In this cray-cray world, we need attainable morsels of joy. 

Really, there are so many things that make me happy in the moment—when the coffee is excellent and the sun warm on our faces. The play of music and silence, the scent of autumn woods, or the softness of a freshly laundered blanket. These are plentiful gifts—all we need to do is slow down and notice them. Today I am thankful for the cat sleeping on my feet.

We can create our own bits of contentment, sometimes from very basic places. A ten second pause to clean one’s glasses. Organizing a drawer. Getting the seatbelt adaptor out of the package and installed so buckling up isn’t synonymous with strangulation. Minor irritants get overlooked because a bigger fire is more urgent. And yet, life is so much better the instant we give ourselves permission to deal with it. Today I am thankful for finally fixing the hallway door so that the knob no longer comes apart in my hand.

There are plenty of other joys, such as chatting with friends and family, remembering or being remembered on a birthday or holiday, or simply doing someone a kindness. Giving the wave when another car lets you past. Smiling at the neighbor. Filling up the bird feeder. It feels good to be part of the positive energy exchange that makes up life. Today I am grateful that I phoned my aunt to wish her a Happy Thanksgiving, and unexpectedly connected with my cousin, too.

There is one common thread here—paying attention to the world around us, to our wants and needs, or to the other beings sharing our space. Gratitude requires perception and intention; we must notice and respond to things before we’re thankful for them. This is especially important when our attention has become a commodity every advertiser and media platform demands. Their job is not to generate a sense of peace and contentment, but to make us want what they’re selling. Kind of the opposite of thankfulness, and I don’t need that energy.

Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not talking about swearing off screen time, although I take what I see there with a grain of salt. I enjoy my smart phone, but I try to budget my time, slow down and enjoy the real world, too.

And when that office mate pops by mid-afternoon with a box of cookies? Truly, it’s a gift from the cosmos to help me past the afternoon slump. Of course I give the event a precious piece of my attention, and a great many thanks.