In the midst of your daily routine it can be easy to forget the little things, but those little things may be pretty big after all. We could all benefit from no longer taking those things for granted and start living in the moment.
Nothing in life guaranteed, so we should all take the time and make the effort to appreciate what we have right now. Some things that are overlooked during the most hectic days are:
1. Nature.
Most of us understand the struggle of living in a cubicle for the better part of the day. This situation can be particularly sad during the summer, when Instagram is filled with pictures of sand and drinks garnished with pineapples.
Even though every day cannot be a beach day, or day-drinking fiesta, you can always spend a few minutes in the beauty of the outdoors! Take a walk during lunch hour, try out that new food truck down the block, or just sit on the porch and read a book (or scroll though Facebook) once you’re back home for the evening. Seeing those freshly blossomed flowers or feeling that summer breeze can instantly brighten your day, even when half of it is spent at a desk.
2. Our health.
Being healthy enough to commute to work, walk from that parking space in the back of the lot, or complete the other mundane tasks of the day are absolutely reasons to be thankful. Health can change at any given moment, so the ability to hear your favorite song or watch the sunset from the grass in your backyard should not be taken lightly, even though it seems like they will always be possible.
3. Our friends.
College is a magical place filled with people your age, grouped together by majors, organizations, and living spaces. Out in the real world, it can be hard to make new friends. Even more so if you recently moved, are the youngest one in your office, or are just shy and bad at creating a bond with the girl in front of you at Starbucks.
Never forget to be thankful for your friends’ support, love, and encouragement, even when they’re far away. While they’re still close, spend as much time together as possible, don’t take any of the shenanigans you get into for granted, and make some memories to smile at when you’re old and settled down.
4. Our creativity!
Our generation often gets looked down upon for our rampant use of social media. Personally, I think it’s pretty amazing that total strangers can “like” a poem I wrote for my blog, that picture of my dog on Instagram, or my incredibly clever tweets about current social issues.
Social media can be about comparison, or creating a life much more exciting than it is in actuality, but it also begets creativity. Seeing other people put together fierce outfits, writing witty commentaries, or artfully arranging the salad they ate for lunch always inspires me to be a little more fabulous.
Related: 5 Ways to Enhance Your Creativity
5. The progress we’ve made.
Twenty-somethings are constantly evolving-gleaning new skills on the job, developing our personal styles and brands, and cultivating relationships. Think about yourself a few years ago, and how far you’ve come since then. Maybe you’ve been promoted. Maybe you found “the one” and are making that Wedding board on Pinterest a reality. Maybe you’ve gotten more comfortable in your own skin, and feel like you finally love yourself after years of struggling.
Personal growth does not happen overnight, so it can be hard to recognize, but on tough days you can remember how far you’ve come and be proud of yourself.
I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason: to teach a lesson, or make us see something that we may have otherwise missed. Appreciating the things that may fade into the background is essential to our happiness and contentment with our situations. Bad days happen, but we have to remember the good and keep trying to get better.
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About the Author
Gina graduated from Rutgers University last year with her BS in Nutrition, and will be returning to school in the fall to pursue a Masters Degree in Public Health. She is passionate about making healthy choices easy and accessible, sneaking feminist ideology into almost any conversation, and finding shoes on clearance. Eventually, she would love to work for a cooperative extension, help build healthier communities, and keep on writing!