'Find joy in the simple things and life will always be fulfilling'
I am someone who used to have a very future-oriented mind. I would spend (and waste) so much time thinking about what was ahead of me. This could mean fun, exciting things (think vacations, days off work, holidays), or more stressful things (deadlines, future to-do lists, upcoming projects). I used to put pressure on myself to push as hard as I could during the week with these future events in mind, in hopes of being able to "relax and enjoy myself" when the fun, exciting thing came or the stressful thing was over. Inevitably, this resulted in only feeling a sense of fulfillment and true joy on select days. I was moving so fast that I missed the very day I was living.
Over the past couple years, I have become very aware of this behavior. I have started to realize that this way of thinking is not sustainable or enjoyable. "Saving up" feelings of fulfillment and enjoyment for the future is not worth missing out on the in-between. I began to understand that the most important moments of our lives are not the ones spent on vacation, during a day off, or over a holiday. Rather, they are the small, everyday moments - how we spend our mornings, the small self-care habits, evenings snuggled up on couch with family, the list goes on.
Although so simple, I think we can all benefit from this reminder. Looking forward to monumental life events or deadlines will always keep life exciting, but it is truly the small, daily moments that add up and ultimately make up our lives. These are the moments that matter most.
This month, I challenge you to notice a few things in your day-to-day life that you truly enjoy. Is it making your favorite coffee in the morning and sipping it next to the Christmas tree? Is it picking up your child from school? Or maybe the few minutes you have at the end of the day to relax, either with yourself or your family. Enjoy these moments fully, without your phone, without distractions. December is the perfect time to start this practice - there is so much going on with the holidays and soaking in the daily moments is of upmost importance.
Cheers to celebrating any random day!
-Delaney