It's the little things in life....

Last week after I published my blog I was thinking back about what I had written, and I felt like it was missing something. I didn’t really bring my thoughts full circle. It occurred to me that my content reflected the premise behind a book that I was introduced to years ago by a post on Facebook. The author, Katrina Keniston, was reading a chapter of her book called, “The Gift of an Ordinary Day.” The post coincided with our recent move to NH. And, although I was so excited to start the next chapter of our life here in NH it was still a stressful and somewhat sad time. I had left my entire support system and friends behind in Mass and I wasn’t sure that I was going to have that again. The reading brought me to tears, although it doesn't take much to do that. But, it made me realize that I needed to start looking at this new life we would be living differently. Looking forward to the big plans and things that were on the calendar in the coming year was not enough to get me through the day to day. Somehow I had to start appreciating each day for what it was.

I know I mentioned in last week’s blog that growing up my Mom had instilled in me from a young age to appreciate the beauty around me. But, I never really translated that to living in the moment until I listened to this excerpt from Katrina’s book. It was a Aha moment! And probably why one of my favorite sayings is, “Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the MOMENTS that take your breath away.” Those moments aren't always the big things in life. Those early days of living in NH with no commitments or friends at the time gave me a chance to re-connect with my children with no distractions. Our afternoons consisted of walking to the beach with the dog after school, making a fire in the wood stove and snacks at the table during homework. It sounds so mundane as I write this, but I cherish those moments and keep them close to my heart. Those simple afternoons with the kids were fleeting.

Our children are grown now and they live in another state, but I made the most of those moments and I am thankful for that. I am now in another stage of my life that has its own set of simple joys and moments that I am trying to embrace.

Life is so fluid. I never thought at this point in my life that there would be this much change. Change seems to be the one constant thing in life. But, if you can find a simple joy in the day to day little things, then the change is almost like an adventure!