Small moments

I am a big fan of enjoying the small moments. Prior to the realisation that it is all the small moments that matter, I used to rely on future plans and ‘when I have this’ or ‘when I lose a few kgs’ to make me happy. Future planning for trips is fun of course, as is organising birthday celebrations and the like, however ‘entertainment’ is not the key to sustaining long-lasting joy. Once those events are over we are back to living life. I have realised that to make life, the day-to-day goings on, enjoyable, it is imperative to seek enjoyment over entertainment.

About eight years ago our family went through two very difficult events. During these two events my focus was my family, and I didn’t have thoughts too far outside of my family and was just trying to deal with the trauma that ensued. But once the sadness and feeling of loss had subsided and I had dealt with the pain, I started to find joy in the smallest of moments. Sitting with my son and just watching him talk, smiling at his expressions and his excitement when recalling a story. Sitting on the sand at the beach and just enjoying the smell of the air, the sound of the waves and the peacefulness of the moment. Sitting on the lounge on a Sunday afternoon and enjoying my surroundings, finding comfort in our home and the sound of our voices and laughter. I have realised through painful times that these are the things that matter the most. These are the moments. Yes the family vacations are also a time to relax and spend quality time together, but I find most comfort sitting in my humble home, surrounded by love.

As a 20 something I remember I had a permanent sense of anxiety, I was always on the look out for the next event to keep the excitement going. I was booking trips in advance to have something to look forward to. If I wasn’t out doing something I was looking for something to do. Or sleeping. I don’t recall just sitting at the dining table and enjoying a good cup of coffee, without an agenda. I didn’t like that feeling, I just didn’t know how to rid myself of it. So, to ensure the anxiety remained subdued I just searched for the next lot of entertainment to ensure I never got bored.  Looking back I feel sorry for the old me, how many of the small moments did I miss out on in my pursuit for entertainment I wonder. I’d say quite a lot.

A couple of days ago I was driving home from my brother’s house. I had my son and his three cousins in the car. They were chatting and laughing, making jokes and making me laugh. It dawned on me as I was driving, just how beautiful that very moment was. These kids were just enjoying the moment, they are quite simply loving life. And I was lucky enough to be a part of it. I know that being able to enjoy the moment comes with peace of mind and clarity, which I have actively searched for over the years, but I also feel it comes with the knowledge that life is in fact made up of small moments and that entertainment is only topping. At the heart of happiness is this very moment, the ‘now’. And the moment I grasped that I let go of expectations and disappointment and started truly living.

What are you loving about this very moment? What small joys make you smile?

{image source: Pinterest}