Hi again! It’s me…Sandra. Appreciation for the little things that happen in life is a topic I wanted to discuss closer to summer. This is because I tend to enjoy things more in summer. (LOL). That being said, I think it’s most important to think about these things when life is harder. Especially, during these difficult times with a Pandemic looming over our heads, and the Winter Blues chilling our spines.

Personally, before I started making a habit out of appreciation and gratitude, I found it really hard to find things to be positive about. It’s easy to dwell on the negative because there always seems to be so much of it in the world. It’s interesting to note that some people are affected most by the personal things that happen to them (i.e. losing your job, not having enough money, losing loves ones), and others mostly by what’s happening in the world around them. (The “Me Too” Movement, the “Black Lives Matter” Movement, the Pandemic and political changes). Personally, there was a time that I was only looking inward at my personal troubles. I never watched the news, didn’t pay attention to social media or anything political.

My point here is this: Whatever happens, whether it’s in our personal lives or the world around us, we need to find small things to make us happy. We are here on this Earth, but none of us know when our time will expire. So instead of always dwelling on the bad things, we need to appreciate the good. Are you healthy? Celebrate it. Even if all you do is throw your hands up in the air and dance in the sunshine.

One of my favourite things to do that makes me happy is drinking my morning coffee and sitting on my porch steps, listening to the sounds of birds and feeling the breeze on my face. Something else is when someone in a drive through line buys my coffee for me when I’m least expecting it. It’s the smallest thing, and yet that one small thing can make someones day. I always try to pay it forward. Imagine if we had more of that in the world. Kindness goes a long way.

Appreciation for the small things in our lives is what gets us through those difficult times. It’s in the day-to-day living that we do, in the things we don’t give much thought to on a daily basis. The process of reflection really helps develop your sensitivity to appreciation. There are many guided journals on the market if you are unsure where to start. The easiest way is to write down three things that happened in your day. (Good or bad) Then express how they made you feel, how you reacted, and the ultimate result. This process helps you to become more aware of your intent and reaction toward things that happen to you every day. It’s easy enough to just think about it, but sometimes that isn’t enough. The act of writing in itself is a solitary, calming process. Once written, you have a reminder for yourself every time you choose to look at it.

Personally, I love life. I am so glad that I was born. Personally, I am a very empathetic person. (I will also have a topic on Empathy coming this spring) Sometimes, when I see a beautiful sunset or sunrise, like in the picture above, my emotions get so intense that I cry from the beauty of it. And I embrace that emotion. I don’t care if people laugh at me, think I’m ridiculous or even too sensitive. (Reminds me of that movie Bedazzled when Brendan Fraser plays a really sensitive character. He loses the girl of his dreams because he can’t quit crying at the sunset). All jokes aside, I am so glad that I’m able to witness the beauty in nature, and little things like my son’s comedic personality and my daughter’s beautiful Cheshire grin.

It may sound unbelievable when you’re feeling down, but embracing the small moments that make you happy will eventually help you feel better. It takes time, energy, inertia and it can be very challenging. We should never take living for granted. Cherish every moment that you have on this Earth and leave it a better place. 🥰

💜 SAN

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