Thursday, July 10, 2014

Meaning and Happiness in the Small Things

It's funny how the small things in life can bring you happiness.

I found 3 ladybugs in my house. Some people may think, "EWW bugs! Get them out!" But,in my mind, Ladybugs equal good luck. Plus, I happen to think they are cute. So, instead of seeing them as gross bugs in my house, they brought a smile to my face and happiness to my heart. I carefully gathered them and let them free outside. Now, I admit, if I saw 3 spiders, they would NOT have brought a smile to my face! At that point, I would either be saying EWW or screaming depending on the size! :) But, it's all about how you look at things. I'm told that some people don't mind spiders...although I have yet to meet those brave individuals.

I was on a short family vacation a few weeks ago. We decided to go to the beach one evening in hopes of seeing dolphins. Now, I should preface this by saying that every other person in our family tree has seen dolphins at this beach. TONS of them in fact. But, not us. I love dolphins and would probably be more excited than any small child to see them. Yet, every summer, we went to this same beach and waited...and waited. Yet, no dolphins. We began to believe our family tree was even nuttier than we thought! Maybe these relatives were seeing small waves in the distance and thought they were dolphins. But, as the sun set this particular night, and the impending darkness crept over the water we so intently stared at...it happened. I saw a dolphin!!!! I screamed like a little girl, pointing to my husband and daughters, practically jumping up and down! "Dolphin!!! I saw a dolphin!!! There!!! Over there!!!" Now, of course the dolphin was gone when they looked, but soon a few more appeared in the darkness and we all watched with huge smiles on our faces. We finally saw them! And one dolphin even jumped out of the water! So beautiful. So amazing. To some people, dolphins are no big deal. But, to me, they have great meaning and truly make me happy. It's all how you look at things, isn't it?

Yesterday, our area received a rain shower. I sat in the living room with my youngest (almost a teen) daughter, watching the rain out our windows. A few minutes later, I noticed it was sunny out but still raining. My immediate thought? A rainbow! There has to be a rainbow! I opened our front door and went outside...nope. I ran to the back of the house, and there, high in the sky was a beautiful rainbow! I grabbed my phone, excited to take pictures. I told my pre-teen, twice I think, "There's a rainbow out back!". She didn't move. I clicked away, zooming in and out, enjoying the colors. Finally she came to see, half smiled as she looked on at nature's beauty, looked at me like she was slightly fearful that I had lost my mind and said...."Uh-huh." She then walked back to the living room to watch TV. Now, I know deep down, the child in her enjoyed the beauty of that rainbow, even if the teen in her told her not to show it. But, the child in me will always love rainbows...and dolphins...and ladybugs! When you keep that child in you alive, and you allow yourself to attach meaning, love, hope and beauty to even the small things, you give yourself even more reasons to enjoy life. Not only life, but living in the present moment, feeling the happiness and art in each day. It's all how you look at things.

Here's hoping you enjoy the small things today!

God Bless! xo

In Love and Light,

Lisa Marie

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