Despite our petty problems and worries, the world still turns, ceaselessly shuttling us through space and time. Snow on distant mountains melts, wars in far-away lands are fought. Eyes blink for the first time as breaths are taken for the last time. Rain splatters on pavements, smoke pours through chimneys, and traffic rushes through city streets. The world is in constant motion and it stops for no one. It’s important for all of us to slow down and be present in the moment we are in. If we don’t look up from our cellphones, or our untied shoelaces, or the sidewalk under our feet, we will miss it all.
It’s the little moments, the ones we often overlook, that define us. It’s these simple moments that make me fall in love with life all over again. Something as ordinary as the steam rising from my coffee, finding a piece of beach glass by the lake, or hearing honest joy in a stranger’s laugh. I’m fascinated with the way champagne seems to dance and celebrate along with me, bubbles rising and twinkling with jubilance. I remember the familiar sounds of my dad coming home from work- keys jingling, dogs barking, blissful whistling. I love the smell of my skin, still warm, after a day at the beach.
I like the way my eyes turn a bright, jade green when I’m truly happy, dark blue when I’m sad, and stormy gray with serenity. I close my eyes and feel the gentle slant of the four o'clock sun shine through my window and I open them to see the sky bathe the trees in an eerie half-light before a summer storm. By allowing the peace of these moments to buoy me through life’s challenges, I have found the world to be far more tolerable. I would never have noticed these ordinary pleasures without simply paying attention to my surroundings.
A wonderful teacher from my high school days shared a story with me. What began as a normal day in Disney World became a pivotal moment when he encountered an elderly man as they exited a ride that featured clips from classic movies.The man sat alone crying, so my teacher approached him asking if he was alright. “He looked up at me with eyes that longed for younger days,” said my teacher. The old man explained that the ride brought back so many memories; it was as if he had been transported back in time. In his contemplation, he dwelled upon cheerful times, as well as the moments he wished he could relive, and do them differently. He thought about all the things he should have done, or could have done better, and how quickly life seemed to have passed him by. “When did I get old?” the old man wondered. My teacher listened and was so moved by his story that he held his hand and prayed with him. The old man told him something he will never forget, “Tomorrow, you will be me. Do not waste your time filling your life with resentment and hate. Live each day and love, always love.” They parted ways, my teacher having learned a lesson that stayed with him.
Beauty is all around us in the most unexpected forms, if only we open our eyes and our imagination. Strike up a conversation with the person next to you on the plane home. Ask that taxi driver what makes him happy, tell that girl you love her lipstick and watch her eyes light up. Water the flower and let it grow, don’t pick it. Jump into cold water and laugh out loud. Do anything that makes your blood pump and your soul feel alive. Be thankful for everything you have and never take a single day for granted. Don’t dwell on your mistakes, or look back and wish you had said or done things differently. Go after what you want, and say what you feel, without inhibition. Recognize the little moments for the gifts they are, and search for them every day. Take small chances, because they just might lead to big adventures.
