Size does matter
Or does it?
So what?
Once you start accepting little things in life, you will:
- Find yourself smiling at yourself and around others;
- Get more from your relationships;
- Give and get help when you or they need it; and
- Find an escape from the dredge of your daily grind.
What little things?
There are little things everywhere. They are small gestures of tenderness, love and care and features and benefits embedded in your life. Gestures are from your social interactions (i.e. a lick on your face from your pup) whereas features and benefits are from objects around you or as a result of the small gestures (i.e. smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning).
Why is it hard to accept little things?
There are two parts to why it’s hard to accept little things. It’s difficult to see little things and we innately perceive bigger things as better.
You notice the grandiose and loud objects first when you walk into any room. You won’t notice the fluff on the floor. That is, if you don’t have purpose or intention of looking for the fluff when you walk into the room. It’s easy to notice the fluff if you consciously look for it. Don’t worry about the big object. You will naturally take note of it once you’ve processed the little thing.
You are told “bigger is better” since the day you’re born. We are constantly bombarded with marketing messages that bigger and more things are what we should strive for and deserve. Even if bigger is better, little things matter. I can’t argue every point but a mathematical reason might convince you. 11 of 10% (little things) > 1 big thing.
How do you accept them?
First step to accepting little things is recognising it. Make it a habit to look for little things in your daily interactions.
Accept it by remembering that little things matter once you’ve recognised it.
My experience
The one moment in the last seven years as a parent that is the most memorable for me is when our first born, Annabelle, was born. Her birth itself is memorable but it’s the incredibly little fraction of time, when she smiled at me merely seconds after she took her first breath, that is the most memorable which I remember as it was seconds ago.
Until then, I never took time to cherish little moments or things in life. I didn’t see the value in them. Once I realised that little things are as valuable as big things, I have been selfishly seeking out for those little snippets and things that surround us. Whether it’s a passing comment from my wife or Annabelle’s quick “hi Daddy”, I take a minute to soak in and be present in that moment.
What now?
Look for little things with intention and purpose. Remember that little things matter.