Embrace the Little Things
Happy Birthday, buddy!
This past weekend, we celebrated my son’s birthday with a variety of activities. The smile on his face was priceless. In those moments, life felt truly perfect.
Click, click, click…
Years ago, I learned a technique to live in the moment that I’ve since integrated into my life. I pause for a moment, fully immerse myself in what’s happening, and take a mental picture.
I found myself taking these mental pictures multiple times this past weekend, truly embracing the little things. My son’s birthday inspired me to stop and enjoy life in multiple moments. I hope some highlights of our weekend inspire you to stop and appreciate every moment.
Crepes for Breakfast: There’s nothing like starting the day strong, with something that will put you in a good mood and your see the day as an opportunity instead of a chore. Watching my son cherish every yummy bite shifted me into that mindset.
How can you start your day strong?
Ice Skating: My son plays ice hockey and loves it. Whether it’s the team camaraderie, striving to get better, or the competition, being on the ice is his ‘happy place’. What I loved about simply ice skating with him was watching the pure enjoyment on his face as his hair blew back, revealing an ear-to-ear smile.
How can you reframe one part of your life to go from competition to ‘everyone wins’?
Baseball Catch: We were killing time, just throwing the ball around in our front yard. Often, that’s when we have our best conversations. With so many distractions in our lives, doing something so simple where you can get away from the craziness becomes so much more meaningful.
What moments can you create that are simple and allow for you to connect with someone else (with minimal distraction)?
Yankees Game: There’s something about being part of a larger community that can both energize and drain you. Our family and thousands of strangers celebrated every hit and shared the disappointment of every strikeout together.
How can you create an environment around you where the community builds energy to empower one another?
Friends Over for Cookie Cake: There’s something about sharing milestones and accomplishments with friends. My son’s birthday weekend ended with presents, cake, and his birthday wish.
Think about what you would wish for each and every day. What can you do to bring yourself one step closer to seeing that wish come true?
Click, click, click…
I have to admit that I have a big, goofy grin on my face as I type this newsletter and play back those moments which I hope will last forever.
We all need to embrace life with childlike wonder and appreciate when others are doing that in their own lives. What simple pleasures will you find and take a mental picture of today? Take those pictures, create an album, and use them as a source of energy and empowerment in everything you do.
