“One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats….” –Iris Murdoch
When I read this I was struck by the word “small”. We usually wait for things to get easier, simpler, bigger or better before we take action or appreciate them.
We tend to procrastinate, putting off action for “a better” time. We sacrifice small treats biding our time for bigger successes.
But we need to remember that success comes one day at a time with small wins.
How easily we lose sight of what we have before us. We slip from savoring the present moment filled with awe to merely surviving through another day.
While waiting for the bigger and better, we might be missing out on the best right before us.
Happiness builds on being attuned to the gifts of the present moment rather than looking backward or forward. Nostalgia for the way things used to be robs of us time. Mulling on things we once could do, or carefree days of youth only keep our heads turned backward.
Similarly, dreaming of what we can do in the future if only a few things would fall into place lures us away from the gift of the present moment – filled with opportunities, no matter how small.
Enjoy the small things in life, right now, because when you look back, they are really the big building blocks of our journeys.
At the end, our lives are made up of small moments, enjoying a lunch with a friend, a shared moment of laughter with family, or a morning walk watching the sunrise.
Don’t miss out waiting for the bigger and better. Focus your energy on the NOW, moment by moment, hour by hour. Enjoy the small treats. Be happy right here and now. Otherwise, you will run out of time.
“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
