Introduction
They say to appreciate the little things in life. But why should the little things matter? Aren’t the big things more important?
People spend their days worrying and thinking about the big things: acing that big test, getting that big salaried job, going on that big date. They fail to notice the sweet little things that make life so special. The bird that is warbling in the tree branch outside of your office window is a call to enjoy the prettiness of Nature rather than the stress of work, yet you probably do not take the time to notice it because you just have to get your proposal done for your demanding boss. The smell of baked bread can awaken pleasant memories of your childhood visiting Gramma, yet you are too busy thinking about what you will make for dinner to enjoy the nostalgic loveliness. Life is full of small, beautiful things but you fail to notice them because you are so focused on the future. As a result, you feel harried and depressed. The world seems dark. Where did all the beauty that you remember from your childhood go?
The world is not actually dark and the beauty that you saw as a kid did not go anywhere. You have simply stopped seeing the world’s subtle beauty. Noticing a million little things that make you feel joyful can sum up to one big joyful mood in your heart. The little things really do matter. You should open your eyes and ears and take in the little things in life. When you appreciate the little things, you begin to appreciate life as a whole. You become happier. Throughout the day, you receive little tidbits of happiness to even out the stress and depression that your job and other worries poisons your heart with.
I found out the hard way how important the little things are. When I lost my child and my husband in the same year, I thought that I might break. All I could focus on was the huge, intense tragedy that had blown a hole through my world. Life would never be the same, that much I knew. I felt that the world was evil and that I did not want to be a
part of it anymore. It can be hard to enjoy life after a trauma or tragedy shows you that the worst that you can imagine is indeed possible.
After my loss, I had little to live for. But I needed some sort of relief. I remember one day, while crying, I noticed how the crystal charm in my windows was breaking the sunlight into a million rainbow flecks across my room. It was so beautiful. For just a second, I began absorbed in that prism light, and I did not feel sad for the duration of my absorption. When I returned to focusing on my grief, I was slightly less sad because I had had a chance to feel happy for at least just a moment.
That taught me to appreciate the little things in life. Just a moment of happy observation could do wonders in lifting my mood. The little things in life gained a certain importance to me. I am frequently surprised at how blind others are to the most special moments in life. People make the mistake of thinking that these little things are not important, but they are.
The first rule of happiness is to appreciate the little things. The little things really do matter. A thousand little things add up into one big thing. So be sure to appreciate the little things in life and let the brief moments of happiness that the little things give you lead to a great deal of happiness.
With this book, I hope to teach you how to appreciate the little things. I hope to reawaken your interest in life and your appreciation of it. I hope to help you find happiness in what you already have. Just a few moments of happiness throughout the day is better than no happiness at all. Take a few moments to reflect on the beauty of the world around you, and you will begin to fall in love with life.