For over 100 weeks I’ve listed my favorite things throughout the weeks. They’re little moments, gifts in the normal, that deserve to be celebrated. Today, I’m sharing ten ways to start seeing these little things in life. For those of you linking your favorites the link up is below. ~rachel
1. Step back.
Our world is nonstop. The computer, phone, or tablet that you are reading this on is getting outdated by the second. There is information overload. Go onto Pandora – click the music- learn about the composer – learn about others similar – learn history — there is simply information constantly. It’s good, all good, but it can clutter our brains, this nonstop frenzy of information. The little moments in life are embedded within the busy, but in order to see them there is a conscious pause, a break, a breath, as you allow yourself to move away from the race and to instead see the simple. And that simple is often the most beautiful, but is often overlooked at the frenetic pace that life moves by.
2. Celebrate normal.
Have you ever thought about how lovely little moments in your life truly are? When Samuel was in the hospital earlier this month I would sit on my pull out bed and slowly watch the sun rise across the cold Minnesota horizon. It would start little, and gradually would fill the sky with such vibrance and light flooding the hospital room with dancing rays. When we came home I made a point of watching the sunrise from my own living room and simply being grateful for the gift of sitting on my couch, with my family, in my home. I had forgotten how important that moment was. Those moments are there – in putting books away, folding toddler clothes, and wiping up spills. Celebrate the normal days.
3. Watch your kids.
My kids are constantly teaching me to slow down and observe life. Have you watched them and how they don’t dwell on the huge things? They see the details in life. The marker stain on the table, the sunlight casting rainbows on the wall, the music in the background – things that we, in our rush, miss. Slow down. Watch them and let them bless you with the gift of seeing the little things. Turn on music and watch them spin and dance. Grab the markers and let them draw. Just watch them and in the watching of them you will see beautiful little things. The freckles on your seven year old’s cheeks, how the five year old always puts his hands in his pockets, and the drawings of your teenager. Don’t miss them – those are the little things that matter.
4. Think about what you will miss.
When you are in your older years and you think back to being a young mom what will you miss? Will it be the perfectly clean home? Or will it be, and I guess it will, be the moments with your kids that are unique to your family? The songs that are sung before bedtime, the silly jokes, the I love you’s, the clothes that don’t match, the drawings on the fridge, the brownies that are gone within moments. Those little things build up to become the most beautiful tapestry of life. Right now, you are blessed to be weaving the threads of your story. Don’t rush it.
5. Ask your kids.
Along with watching your children take some time and ask them to tell you what they see. Ask them what their favorite things are and what they enjoy and what they would love to do. I’ve found that often it is the things like playing a game, walking to the park, or even helping in my garden that matter. They will teach you to start to see the little things that matter to them. Make it normal to ask them what they are grateful for or what they loved to see right now or what music is there favorite. Then listen and be interested – they are blessing you with the gift of sharing their heart with you.
6. Be quiet and listen.
Along with racing through life there is the constant noise. Take a couple of seconds right now, close your eyes, and just listen. Right now I hear my furnace kick on, the fans blowing, the sounds of Sherlock Holmes from downstairs, my finger typing as I listen, the hum of the fridge, and the page of Grace’s book turning. It’s constant noise. But, let me tell you – I am grateful for those noises. The furnace means heat, the fridge means food, the tv sound is my family gathered and laughing, the fans mean electricity, and the typing is the freedom and awesome connectivity of this medium online. Those little things are often lost in the clutter of noise. Life is truly a magnificent soundtrack yet often we just don’t hear the crescendos until we are past them.
7. Remember.
Remember those days before you became a parent. The dreams, the hopes, the worries, the excitement, the looking forward. You are there now. And it may not look how you wanted and it may not be perfect, but my friends, this is your life. Right now. Today is a gift, it is a day that you are blessed to spend on this earth with your family and those you love. Choose today. Choose to look at them, at those you love, and remember.
8. Be intentional.
All of these words and attitudes require of you the discipline of being intentional. I know intentional is such a buzz word right now, but have you truly grasped what a gift it is to you and your family if you acted on it? To be intentional is to step back, to claim your time, to look for joy, and to continue on even when your worn and you don’t know how. You can do it. You’ve heard me say it. Be intentional, today. Do not wait till tomorrow for the things that you can do today. Take a risk, choose joy, in the midst. And I know it is hard at times, I remember. I can still see the monitors beeping late at night on those days in the hospital after Samuel was diagnosed with tears. My heart ached more than I knew it could. And as the tears flowed down my face I made myself count 20 things in the room I was grateful for – the monitors, the iv, the nurses, that boy sleeping – it was an intentional moment in the midst. you can do this. I believe it. Look for the beauty in the ordinary.
9. Practice gratitude.
Part of my intentional posture of my heart is to constantly seek ways to be grateful for the day. Teach this to your children. Teach them to look for the moments, the little things, the treasures in the day. Imagine. Just imagine the power of raising a generation of children who begin to treasure the little gifts tucked within the dreams and the goals? Practice gratitude. Just as you wouldn’t expect to sit at the piano and be able to play Beethoven without learning scales and theory and putting years of practice in – gratitude and seeing the little things is the same. It takes discipline, work, and repetitiveness.
10. Make it a habit.
Originally I wrote, make it a culture. And by that I mean making practicing gratitude and looking for joy and being intentional your culture, your normal. This can be done. You can begin to embrace living life empowered, motivated, and knowing that this journey right now, in whatever stage of motherhood that you may find yourself in, truly does matter and make a tremendous difference. The little things that you are doing every day – the laundry, the dishes, folding clothes, helping with math facts, reading stories, brushing teeth, combing hair, picking up toys, sweeping floors, driving to classes, cooking, praying – and all of that – all of those normal little things are in fact extraordinary things.
Little things become extraordinary.
Find joy.
Week 99 of my Friday Faves.
18 comments
Since finding your blog, I have really tried to be more intentional, especially when my children are involved. I’d like to share an example of my progress 🙂
The other night, my 3 kids and I had gone to the high school to watch a basketball game. My 7th grade son is a student at that jr high/hs, so there were many people he knew. At first, my son was leaning on me and shoving his leg against mine. My very first reaction (inside my head, thank goodness) was, “Dude! Back off and stop touching me!” Then I realized the big picture. Not only did my son WANT to go to the game with ME, he chose to sit NEXT TO ME, and then sat so close he was TOUCHING me…something that everyone could have seen!
I was so grateful for his love for me and comfortable attitude with me! It turned out to be one of the best moments I’ve had in a long time!
Thank you, Rachel, for your continual words of wisdom. I can’t help but think that you’ve helped me grow in ways that made that moment possible!
KatieJ
I am totally copying this list into my journal – what great reminders. I think my favorite (and one I try to practice often) is to celebrate the normal. It helps me be thankful for the miracles that happen every day like the sunrise 🙂 Happy Friday!
I recently stumbled upon your site. I am a new mom to a beautiful 8 month old baby girl and I live in a town where friends have moved on to larger towns and my family doesn’t live really close. I’m a stay-at-home mom during the week and I was having a very down day. I was becoming overwhelmed with being my idea of a great mother and wife. I was stressing over not being able to check off everything on my To Do list along with playing and caring for my little one. Then, your site came up with the post you did about mothers who feel they are failures and it spoke to me beyond words. I needed that post on that day at that exact time I stumbled on it. I want to thank you for your beautiful words and encouragement. Your blog is the conversation I need when I am feeling overwhelmed with life. I step back and just enjoy the moment. Thank you.
100 weeks of Friday Favs? That is a wonderful accomplishment. I love this post too!
May I please Print this out rachel? WOW .. you have such a way with words… this touched my heart this morning.. such an important reminder for all mommies! 😀 thank you
Beautiful words. Thank you for this reminder.
Rachel, Yesterday was not my best parenting day. I got tired of the battle at the dinner table with my 15 month old, and after the third food choice was thrown on the floor, I picked him up cleaned him off put him in time out and walked away. I was so frustrated by his refusal to eat anything I gave him, and then later I realized I was giving him what he “should eat” prepared Organic dinners, filled with vitamins & good food. But he just wanted veggies & yogurt…which is fine, and he’s one…I need to remember to just be thankful that he can eat real food, that we can afford good things for him to eat, and be thankful for him in general. Your words always help me find my center. And for that I can not thank you enough. <3 K
Even ordinary days are special, you’re right.
I love the pic of your son, busy reading the book, crumbs on his lips. So cute!
Beautiful! So often those little things are the big things x
Before I got married, my aunt told me that it was the little things that mattered. great advice, & great post! Thanks for hosting & God bless!
Last night I was babysitting two of my grands. I was giving Max (he’s 3 months old now) a bottle. I was watching TV but my eyes kept going back to Max. He was looking at me…the TV faded into the background as I sat there staring into the eyes of my grand son. It was a precious gift that I don’t ever take for granted!
The Lord will be with you always! I’ll be here praying!
Colossians 3:15-16 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
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Beautiful again. 🙂
My favorite is also your son reading, with crumbs on his lips. Precious!
Blessings,
Beautiful again. 🙂
My favorite is also your son reading, with crumbs on his lips. Precious!
Blessings,
Continuing to pray so very hard!
Ephesians 3:14-21 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
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Awesome post Rachel. I am in the hospital with Gavin now…we are on day 5 and he is having several surgeries tomorrow, then a 3 day scan to look for tumors the rest of next week, so we have about a week more to go as inpatient. Last night, with tears, I too looked around the room and intentionally listed graces, gifts, in the room and through what has been going on with us. It helped my perspective so much, so to read that you did it too made me smile. 🙂 It’s hard to be thankful when we are sad, but intentionally choosing to give thanks for the blessings always brings joy…it’s such an important factor in finding it. Thanks for the encouragement!
Lifting up prayers right now!
Psalms 34:15, 17-19 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry…The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
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Nice blog here! Also your web site loads up fast! What
web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host?
I wish my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Here is my page insomnia stephen king
My weblog – insomnia meme
Really loved your ideas of acknowledging the things in life. That way we can celebrate life even there is nothing special or happening in life. We really need to step back sometimes to actually realize the value of those little important moments. It’s all these moments that remind us life can be beautiful even in the worst phases of our lives.