As Thanksgiving approaches, there is often a message to be grateful for all of the wonderful things that we have, such as our family and friends. While all of those major things are important, I think it is equally vital to remember the small things. This past week, I was reminded of this important message by an unexpected source. My friends and I were at a concert for our school chorale (they were amazing!) and prior to the concert starting the conductor gave us a brief message. He challenged the audience to put away their phones for the next 45 minutes and “simply be”. Far too often people are caught up in the maelstrom of daily life and forget to appreciate the little things. Sometimes, it is enough to simply be and enjoy the moment. I’m sure most people can think of at least a few examples, but in case you are stuck, here are a few samples.

• Feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin
• Hearing the wonderful sounds of a thunderstorm
• The peacefulness of nighttime
• Getting a hug from someone
• Smiles!
• Looking up at the moon and stars (and thinking about the vastness of the universe, maybe?)
• Doodling
• Having the wind blow through your hair (and thinking that it looks awesome)
• The slight crisp chill of autumn and falling leaves
• Warm, fresh cookies straight out of the oven (can’t you just smell them?)
• Reading a good book
• Silence
• Daydreaming (because it is good to escape reality sometimes)
• Being creative
• Taking a great nap
• The sound of flowing water
• Adorable animals (seriously, why are they so cute?)
• Holding someone’s hand
• Relaxing showers
• Music!!! (and all the feelings that come with it)
• Eating ice cream on a hot day
• Good. Food.
• Cuddling up with blankets and feeling all cozy
• Dancing (even if you are bad at it)
• Singing (previous statement still applies)
• Dreaming
• Enjoying time with the people you love
• Learning something new and interesting
• Sleeping
• And waking up feeling refreshed
• Accomplishing something (it really can be anything)
• Having a great conversation
• When you win an argument against yourself (don’t lie, we all have them)
• Having a good laugh
• When you feel good about yourself
• The fuzzy feeling you get when someone says “I love you”
• Binge-watching your favorite TV show
• Doing anything you love!
• And so much more!
• Comment and tell me about your favorite simple pleasures:)