I make a large effort to appreciate the little things in life. It's an ongoing work in progress and even over this past year I've had to realign, so focused on the big picture I was missing out on the tiny tidbits that make life special.
It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day stuff and not see what's RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF OUR EYES. That I'm a destination and not a journey person makes it even more difficult. Some days I'm like a plow horse with blinders, needing to complete the tasks at hand and not be distracted by silly things like coffee that has been mixed with the perfect amounts of cream and sugar or the automatic toilet flushing after I have stood up instead of mid-pee or finding $10 in the pocket of my winter jacket left there from last year
Last Wednesday it snowed. It's been a bare winter around here and the kids were super excited to see the field in front of our house covered in white. I was worried about driving in the bad weather to get them to their doctor's appointment on time. While they ran around the backyard making trails, I barked at them to get in the van..."we're going to be late!"
It's no wonder my kids occasionally see me as a complete AssHat.
There's this boy, A., in Son No. 2's class. He moved here last year—I'm not sure from where but when he arrived he spoke no English. Son No. 2 took to him right away, playing soccer with him at recess and helping to teach him new words. For some reason it was important to Son No. 2 that A. learned hot dog.
Last Wednesday when I went to pick up the boys at school, Son No. 2 ran over to me yelling "It's the first time A. has seen snow, Mom! He's never seen snow before!" and he ran off to play with a group of boys, A. included. They were running around throwing snow at each other, cheeks flushed from the cold —A. didn't stop smiling the entire time. Then I heard someone call A.'s name...it was his dad. He had brought a camera and was filming his son playing in the snow for the first time ever.
I stood there in that field surrounded by after-school chaos and yet the only thing I saw was wonderment in the face of a little boy experiencing snow for the first time as his dad looked on smiling.
It was a gift given to me, not wrapped in paper, but in flushed cheeks and smiles.
What little thing have you appreciated today?
Printer-friendly version