Appreciating the small moments in life is not a new concept. But it’s been revolutionary in helping me live a life that I love.
When we’re little, we spend so much time thinking about what life will be like when we become adults. Little versions of ourselves sit cross legged on the grass, daydreaming about what our one-day lives; they’d be so much better, happier, more exciting than we could ever imagine. We’d have no school and free rein to do as we please. We spend years painting this colourful, idealised picture in our head, glorifying becoming adults. And I regret wishing away my childhood days and not soaking up delicious feelings, like:
Snowball fights on my birthday and hearing the school bell at 3pm on a Friday. Taking your feet off the pedals cycling down a big hill. And Pick’n’Mix sweets. Laying your clothes out the night before your school trip. Finishing your favourite Enid Blyton book and seeing your Mum had bought you the sequel. Your pen license. Gold coin donations on mufti day and getting a party bag full of your favourite toys. The weightless joy jumping off the swings. Infectious energy on Christmas Eve and leaving a carrot out for Rudolph. Figuring out how to whistle after weeks of practicing and waking up for school, seeing you still have time to go back to sleep. Uncontainable pride when the dog chooses to sit with you. Seeing your teacher wheel their projector into the classroom, cancelling the lessons plans. Snow days and games of tag and being carried up to bed by your Dad.
And then, once childhood ends and adulthood rolls around, it’s not nearly as glamorous or consistently happy as we imagined it would be.
It’s a shock.
Adulthood can be hard; full of expensive purchases and scary decisions, mundane Tuesdays and never-ending afternoons stuck in a job you’re not passionate about.
But it’s also full of so much happiness, tranquility and LOVE. I am still so young, and have so much to learn, but as I’ve grown older, I’ve realised that true happiness is everywhere, all you have to do is look for it.
I’ve felt some of my all-time favourite feelings as an adult. And that’s worth growing up for in my books.
Like drunken dancing with the music too loud and sleep overs and elation as you close the open tabs on your computer after submitting an assignment. The smell of fresh air on a crisp July morning and waking up early to see the sun rise. Mr Blue Sky by The Electric Light Orchestra. Days that are longer than nights. Hearing your loved ones laugh and the perfect high five. Elation. Reconnecting with an old friend, but feeling like no time has passed. Dunking your head in the ocean, waves crashing around you. Going to sleep without setting your alarm clock. The smell of freshly ground coffee.
The sun on your skin and the wind in your hair. Staring out to sea and realising how small you are. Mojitos and the after-beach-day shower. Finally overcoming writers block. Making it to the top of the mountain and taking in the view. The cold side of your pillow. Opening your advent calendar. Slipping into fresh sheets on laundry day. Noah Kahn. Digging yourself out of the hole you had been spiralling into, knowing you’re strong enough to do it again. Comfortable silence and relief after a long cry and arriving in a new country for the first time. Lacing your hiking boots up in the morning, nothing on the agenda except a day moving your body. Looking at yourself in the changing room and loving what you see. Ticking off your to do list. Breakfast for dinner. Finding your wallet after turning the house upside down for twenty minutes. Delivery day.
Closure from someone or something you never thought you’d get and gossiping in the car with your best friend. People who ‘get’ you. The anticipation of Friday as you wait for the weekend to start and walking to dinner in a pretty dress on holiday. A long, hot shower after a day on the slopes. The good kind of unexpected surprises and having your heard cradled against someones chest and knowing they’ll never hurt you. Pay day. The first sip of weekend coffee. Slicing into freshly baked bread and lathering it with salted butter. Good WIFI connection, and also no WIFI connection.
Making dinner reservations at your favourite restaurant and perusing the menu online for weeks beforehand. Finding your new favourite song and listening to it on repeat. And, for that matter, the guitar solo in Free Bird. Endorphins after a workout you didn’t want to do. Finding money in your pockets and dancing in the kitchen and your parents telling you they’re proud.
But, above all else, my favourite feeling in the world is reminiscing about my childhood, knowing that it’s my hard work, determination and unwavering belief in my own abilities that makes it possible to live the life that little-me always wished for.
Maybe you’re reading this, about to leave adulthood, Or maybe, like I, you’re an adult that sometimes needs reminding of the little things in life.
Life is what you make of it. And you deserve to have one you love. As you move through the world, take with you boundless courage and bravery and pride in who you are. Give yourself grace when things get tough and dig deep and fight to make your life 1% better tomorrow than it is today. You’ve made it through 100% of your bad days. That in itself is worth celebrating!!!
Cherish the little moments in life; the ones you don’t expect are almost always the most special. Happiness so big it can’t be contained is out there – you just have to look for it ❤
Han x
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