It’s The Little Things – June

In this day and age, most of us are too busy to recognize the small things in life that bring us the most happiness. We are too quick to see the negative side of things as opposed to the positive.

This section is dedicated to bringing these otherwise insignificant daily happenings to the forefront with the intentions of encouraging humankind to stop and smell the roses. These little things should not be, but often are taken for granted. Sometimes it’s ok to see the world through slightly rose-tinted glasses. We’d probably all be a lot happier if we did.

Wow, I sent out an email and received over 100 responses for this June issue!  It's great to see so many of you appreciating the little things in life and sharing them!  Below are just a few of the amazing responses!  We'll save the others for the next few issues.  You job right now is to read and appreciate these the responses below

1.  Don't believe that lasting happiness comes from the big things in life. It comes from the ability to see happiness in the small things: a plate of cookies from someone who didn't even realize how much you needed the gesture, an unexpected thank you, the phone call from a friend you haven't seen recently, the beauty of a first snow or a first flower of spring. A smile, a thank you, every day gestures of kindness: all of these "little things" add up to happiness. My mother always said "There's a reason for everything." and its corollary "Everything always works out for the best." It really does. – Jo Ann

2. It's the little things my husband does around the house, like fix our bed, makes me pancakes, wakes up for our baby. My daugther's beautiful smile when she looks at me when I go pick her up! Those things come from the heart and I love the fact that he tries! – Evelyn

3. Trips to the grocery store, the local mall or a large department store make me very happy. The very activities that most people find cumbersome are a huge thrill for me! This may sound odd, but my perspective is quite unusual. For nine years, I was unable to drive a car, shop in most stores and live a normal life due to a debilitating, undiagnosed medical condition. I can't tell you how devastated I was by this loss of independence during my thirties and forties. I should have been enjoying the most productive years of my life, but instead I paid a driver to take me to smaller places and lead me around while I suffered from dizziness and disorientation. My driver had to do all my shopping for me in larger stores. I finally received the correct diagnosis of an autonomic disorder from the thirty-eighth physician I consulted. He prescribed a combination of medications that gradually gave me back my life. I now realize that errands and driving are not chores, they are privileges. – Lisa

4. He first time my seventeen week old son realized that he could reach the hang toy and pull it all by himself to hear the music. He is my fifth child and yet, this tiny act of independence both floored and delighted me. I can now watch him repeat the act for hours. – Laura

5. Motherhood is a blur. Who has time to keep a journal of first words and other milestones? Oddly enough, though, a few memories are seared on my brain and they are not necessarily the grand moments in my kids' lives.

1). The image of my younger son floating peacefully face up in the pool of his swim instructor while a shaft of light shone down like from heaven itself. I was returning from my Starbucks run and caught this moment of stillness and calm and I will never forget it.

2). Walking with my 7-year old and saying "Look, Ben — a hummingbird!" to which he said "Shhh, Mom. I want to hear him humming."

3). Coming home late from a work conference and ducking inside the darkened room of my 11-year old son to say goodnight. I was asking him questions about his day until he interrupted me and said, "So, tell me, how are things in Mom World?" – Kat

6. As a single mother I rarely get to sleep in in the morning. But occasionally on the weekends my daughter, who is 6, sleeps until 9 or on a cold winter day I make myself a big cup of tea, grab the newspaper and sneak back into bed for a couple of hours and just enjoy the silence and the warms of the duna down comforter, as I sip the tea and glance at the newspaper articles. Then a couple of hours later my daughter jumps into bed with me, and we just lie there and talk for ten minutes before we get up and get ready for the day. – Brit

7. My kids' laughter, my husband's smile, a great cup of coffee, lunch with a friend, an unexpected card through the mail, Facebook. And poppies. My Grandfather was a Marine, every time I see a poppy I think of all the men who go to war so that we can have peace. You are absolutely right to say, take a day at a time and find the good in the day. – Claire

8. Saturday mornings, I wake up with Max (not my husband, my dog)  and tell him we’re going to get a doughnut at Tim Horton’s.  He howls in delight.  So, in my sweat pants and t-shirt, we jump in the car.  Max is so excited, waiting patiently for his free Timbit doughnut hole.  I get my hot chocolate with low-fat muffin and the world is right. -Paula

9. I am honored to share the joy I experienced watching my father watch my sons, Kyle and Chris, play Lemmings on the computer. One might ask "What makes that such a joy filled experience?". First, no major capability feet of my sons, they were 11 and 9 years old respectively and as most children these days, computer whiz-kids. What did make this seemingly little thing so big was knowing that it was my father's favorite computer game and that he was no longer physically able to play the game himself. My Dad was diagnosed with PSP (Progressive Supra-Nuclear Palsy). A very progressively debilitating disease. As my father reached the point of spending most of his time in bed and the loss of hand-eye coordination, one of the highlights of his afternoons was watching and "cheerleading" Kyle and Chris as they played the game for him. In those moments, to witness the joy in my father's face as well as the pride I felt for my sons in their acknowledgment of what that time meant for their grandfather, was love, compassion and kindness out of a simple computer game. Anyone who has spent time with and cared for a loved one during their final months truly knows the value of the little things. That is one of the many gifts and legacies that my father left us.

Respectfully submitted and in loving memory of Frederick T. Grahe, Jr., – Virginia R.

10. I am a two-time Emmy award winning TV Producer who became widowed 4 yrs. 9 mos. ago following a great 21-year marriage. I've always felt like an appreciative person, but since widowhood struck, I am eternally grateful for the tiniest things. The first is a home-cooked meal. I'm very busy and cooking for one takes a lot of time. I often say, "I'm craving a real home-cooked meal where I can consume four food groups simultaneously." It sounds so basic and people look at me like I'm from another planet when I say that, but cooking is a luxury now and a highly appreciated and welcomed change from grazing (my main method of eating now). Just the mere smell of food being prepared tantalizes my taste buds like never before!! – Robin

11. When my boys come into the bedroom and give me kisses when they think I'm asleep. When the magnolia trees at work are blooming and I sneak up and pick off the flower (still waiting for security to say something); they smell so beautiful and my desk smells good all day. Same thing when my gardenia bushes bloom. I'll stick one behind my ear and wear it to work or the grocery store. These are the little things that bring me happiness and sometimes it's easy to take them for granted. These flowers only bloom in May, so you have to enjoy them in the moment. And someday, my boys won't want to kiss me, they'll think it's gross. -Amy

12. Could there be anything nicer than receiving a hand written thank-you note? They are a rare commodity in the fast-paced, electronic environment we live in today. Find 5 minutes in your schedule to write a note to thank someone for that introduction, referral, gift, cup of coffee, or for the 5 minutes they listened when you needed to talk. Say thanks and put it in writing, pen to paper. You'll make someone's day. – Nancy