There is something about the smell of freshly brewed coffee.
I can't really explain it. Before I even take that first sip, the smell does something to me. It wakes me up, gives me a little push and somehow makes me feel like, Okay, let's go.
It's such a small thing.
But maybe that's the point.
We spend so much of our lives waiting for the big things. The vacation. The celebration. The accomplishment. The perfect moment when everything finally falls into place.
Meanwhile, life is happening in all the little moments in between.
A favorite song coming on in the car.
The sun shining through the window.
Putting something on and immediately feeling good in it.
Laughing so hard with someone that you forget what you were laughing about.
Fresh flowers on the kitchen table.
The dog doing something completely ridiculous.
Ten quiet minutes when nobody needs anything from you.
None of these things will make the evening news. But they can make a day.
Maybe We Don't Need Everyone's Approval
Somewhere along the way, many of us also get a little better at letting go of what everybody else thinks.
Wear the color you love.
Use the good dishes on a Tuesday.
Order dessert.
Go somewhere by yourself.
Turn the music up.
Stop saving the outfit for a "special occasion."
Say no when you really don't want to go.
And please — stop explaining why you like something.
You like it. That's enough.
There is something wonderful about realizing that we don't have to live our lives according to somebody else's idea of what they should look like.
We can care deeply about other people without letting their opinions decide what brings us joy.
We're Going for the Ups
Life will always have ups and downs. I've certainly had both.
I'm not suggesting we pretend the downs aren't there.
But maybe we can get a little better at looking for the ups, too.
And an up doesn't have to be enormous to count.
Sometimes it's coffee.
Sometimes it's a conversation.
Sometimes it's doing something kind for another person.
Sometimes it's simply waking up, putting your feet on the floor and realizing you've been given another day to see what happens.
The older I get, the more I understand that the size of a moment doesn't determine its value.
Something very small can mean everything.
Don't Wait for Someday
Maybe enjoying life isn't about waiting for more good things to happen.
Maybe it's about getting better at noticing the good things that already do.
Use the dishes.
Wear the shirt.
Buy yourself the flowers.
Take the picture even if everything isn't perfect.
Laugh loudly.
Try something you've always wanted to try.
Sit outside and drink your coffee while it's still hot.
Life isn't going to be perfect. It was never supposed to be.
But there are little pieces of good scattered everywhere.
And today, I'm going looking for them.
I hope you do, too.
