I experienced a lightbulb moment last night. It was one of those moments where a newfound realization suddenly stares me in the face as I ponder why I never thought of it before. I wasn't doing anything remarkable, nor was I thinking any profound thoughts. I was merely taking a break after midterms week by fishing at a local pond (the one pictured above) with a friend, something I do frequently if time permits.

As I threw my line out into the water and heard the satisfying gentle thwack as my bait broke the quiet surface of the pond before sinking down into the blue deep, I realized suddenly that I had never noticed that sound before, much less appreciated it. I heard the laughter of my friend beside me as she reeled in a catfish, one large enough to keep, and realized I had never really noticed the sound of her laughter before and the joy contained within it. I looked around me and saw with new eyes just how blue the water was, how green the grass was, and the way the leaves on the trees were starting to reveal their beautiful fall colors, hinting at vibrant reds and oranges and yellows. I looked up and saw the sky painted with brilliant gold and purple as the sun began to drop below the horizon, realizing just how incredible the setting sun was as it gradually turned the surface of the lake into a spatter of glittering diamonds.

I realized that I had never truly enjoyed fishing before. While I had undoubtedly always liked fishing, I had never bothered to really appreciate all the fine nuances of fishing; my goal was merely to catch fish, and that was what I focused on. I never bothered to take the time to really listen to the sounds around me--birdsong, fish jumping, my own line skimming across the water, the laughter of friends fishing alongside. I never bothered to appreciate the incredibly beautiful environments I fish in. I never bothered to admire the intricate designs found on each scale of the fish I caught.; instead, I only measured them to see if they were large enough to keep before throwing them back in the water in hopes of catching a larger fish next. I never bothered to simply relax and enjoy living in the moment, taking in all the moment had to offer.

I wondered then what other things in life I hadn't bothered to fully appreciate because I let myself be too preoccupied with other things. When had I allowed my stress, events in life I was powerless to change, or even my goals get in the way of living in the moment and fully appreciating the beauty in my days? I realized I had missed so many incredible things worth marveling at in my haste to always get on to the next thing in life.

I realized too that I am likely not alone in this. How many of my peers forget to stop and take a minute to really enjoy life? How often do my fellow students, friends, or family allow themselves to slow down long enough to notice and appreciate the little things that make life wonderful, such as the joyful notes in the laughter of a friend or the birds singing amid the brilliant fall foliage? Releasing all the stress, goals, and anxiety that pushes so many people to rush to the next item on their list of things to do and simply enjoying all aspects of the current moment inspires newfound appreciation for daily life. Even mundane occurrences such as classwork, a job, or chores can be appreciated if one takes a moment to try and do so. After all, there will always be something in which one can find good in if he tries hard enough to do so; for example, even in classes, I can still take a moment to realize how lucky I am to have the opportunity to learn and be grateful for that, if not the people around me, and in turn find joy there.

I titled this post "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee--and Take Time to Smell the Roses Too" because I find that life can be enjoyed more fully even in the appreciation of those simple things--the smell of coffee brewing in the morning or a beautiful, fragrant flower. Yet it's the little things like that which seem to be forgotten in the haste of everyday life. So, reader, take a moment to relax and simply take life in. I think you too will find that you appreciate life a little bit more, whether you're doing something you enjoy or something mundane you do every day if you only take a moment to truly live.