Loving Life

After spending most of this beautiful weekend outdoors, I have renewed my love for God's wonders, and have really taken the time to enjoy it and experience it all over with my children.  But the beauty we experienced is a far cry from what others have had to deal with lately - hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes, tornadoes and wild fires.  Mother Nature seems to be quite pissed off. 

Photo by Evgeni Dinev/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Maybe there is a connection between it all, or maybe it's just chance.  I don't know, and I am not searching for a big explanation. But with so many major bad events occurring around the country, maybe it's time we went back to enjoying the little things in life. Maybe it's time to stop complaining about the economy and what the politicians are doing or not doing, placing blame, and predicting even worse times to come.  Maybe it's time to wake up in the morning and be happy first of all that we have another day to enjoy, and then go on to make the most of it. 

I don't mean to undermine the effects of any major events lately, and understand that if you have lost your job due to the economy, your home, or worse, a loved one due to extreme weather, it is hard to appreciate little things. But for the rest of us who were lucky enough to escape it, or at least most of it, I think it's time to change. 

Photo by Prozak1/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When you have to crawl out of bed in the wee hours of the morning to get to work or get the kids ready for school, look outside and enjoy the fact you got up early enough to see the first rays of sun hit the sky.  When your kid brings in an "amazing" bug just so you can see it, enjoy the fact that you did, and that you have a little one who is brave enough to touch them, should one ever wander back in on its own.  When your friend calls for advice on something you may not care about at all, enjoy the fact that she values your opinion enough to ask you. When your neighbor stops by with homemade pie that tastes awful, appreciate that you were the one she wanted to share with.  When you have to walk from the back  corner of the parking lot to the store, because that is the only open spot you could find, be happy that you are still able not only to walk the distance, but also that you have the money to go shopping.  

Photo by Digitalart/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Get the idea?  It is easy to enjoy big events, parties, gifts, promotions, pay-raises, recognition etc. etc.  But we fail to see the good in all the little things we encounter throughout our days. Being happy with what we have, appreciating the little "annoyances" in life, and seeing the good (or at least trying to) in every situation, does not stop us from growing or keep us from reaching our goals and dreams.  It simply makes the journey there much more enjoyable!