Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how busy I deem my life to be. It’s really just not. I tend to “need” to make time for unnecessary activities, such as watching TV, exercising, catching up on reading blogs, and you’re going to laugh at this one, but doing my hair. I spend a lot of time doing things that don’t need to be done, when I could use that time wisely towards activities that actually matter. I also tend to rush through what I really do have to do in order to move on to the next time. In this process, I end up missing out on all the little things that are so beautiful in life. For example, the 4 year old I nanny for made all these pictures at school today and was so excited to show them to me. They’re obviously the work of a child and nothing super special, but to her, they’re just absolutely amazing. She is so proud of her work and obviously took a long time on them. It’s amazing to see her face light up when she talks about the simple snowman that she made on her paper. Also, the other day I was with the 2 year old at an outdoor mall. There were little seashells engraved into the sidewalk that she was absolutely fascinated with. I would never have noticed these if I was on my own, since I’m usually power-walking through the mall to get my shopping done as quickly as possible. In the words of some quote I heard forever ago that I’m sure you did too, “Take time to stop and smell the flowers.”
I actually took that picture when I was in Italy!
Here are some of the unusual places that I have found beauty or love lately:
I think it’s really important to step back and think about all the beautiful things in your life, rather than what brings you down. What you focus on multiplies, so why not think about the good stuff? Seems like a good idea to me.
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Here’s some food pictures for you today! I don’t take and/or post these as often as I would like, so I’ll try to get back into it more.
Breakfast: mango Naked juice, whole wheat sandwich thin toasted with butter, and a pear
Snack: fruit salad
Lunch: grilled cheese (yes, with ketchup) and an un-pictures salad with romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, orange peppers, celery, and broccoli
Snack: vanilla bean frozen yogurt with dark chocolate m&m’s
Don’t know what dinner is going to be yet. I’m heading to the gym after work to train a client and get in a workout of my own in the form of a jazzercise class. I have lots of client training plans to work on tonight, since I have 5 sessions with new people coming up in the next week! Whew. I’m making good progress on the Spice Up Your Life challenge. Last night I went through my books and found the ones I want to donate to our local library, and the night before that I worked on getting my recipes and workouts in order which feels GREAT. Tonight the goal is to throw out stuff from my bathroom cabinets that I don’t use anymore. That will be quite a task.
What is something beautiful from your day today?
I think stopping to take in the little things is a great thing to do. It’s easy to forget how wonderful the simplest things are when we are rushing around
Perfectly said. It’s easy to say, but tough to do unfortunately. At least for me.
Today I was glad to be back in my own bed. After being on a trip all last week it’s nice to be home.
That’s a great feeling!! I hate spending the night away from home. I feel so comfortable in my own house.
Oh, how I can relate to you. I am “so busy” all the time too. With what? Who knows! i work a part time job and blog, and other than that, I don’t have a lot of crazy responsibilities. I too feel myself doing so much that doesn’t truly need to be done. Stepping back and not doing those things is hard, though.
I also eat my grilled cheese with ketchup! So yummy!
EXACTLY. I say I’m so busy, but then when I step back and actually think about it, I’m like, what am I actually busy with?? How can we fix this? haha Glad I found another fellow ketchup lover. I actually don’t like it, except with grilled cheese and french fries. But the only french fries I’ll it are ones with tons of seasoning. I’m such a picky eater. I need to get over that.
It’s beyond amazing what kids and puppies can teach us. They are so fascinated with every “little” thing they see, may it be a piece of paper or fireworks. I hope you have a great evening.
Yes! I agree perfectly. I need to slow down my life and set my priorities straight.
I LOVE posts like these. I usually write something similar on Thursdays because it helps me to focus on the little things that are so precious in life and make it so special. I feel the same way about my kiddos that you do about yours…nice to find a kindred spirit…and something beautiful from my day was Big Kid following me around the kitchen “helping me” make lunch and then demanding to eat it on my lap…I loved every minute
AW. That is so sweet! Isn’t it so rewarding when they do stuff like that? Because when kids do something, you know they’re doing it from their heart.
beautifully put, I do the same thing. I tend to gloss over a lot of those things, almost taking them for granted. what a great reminder
Thanks Alex! I need the reminder myself, too.
Love this post. I’m glad babysitting the nuggets helps you to see the light. Somehow they bring out a different side of us I think!
They really do. Kids tend to bring out the wonderful, little things in life.
What a great post and an awesome reminder to focus on the little things in life that we can so often take for granted
Thanks! I take way too much for granted in my life. I really need to get out of that habit.
SO GLAD YOU EAT YOUR GRILLED CHEESE WITH KETCHUP TOO. We can proceed to be best friends now.
WOO! So excited. Can we get best friend necklaces with the heart that fits into each part?! Haha…I actually just bought those for the girls I nanny for, except they’re “sister” ones. Too cute!
WOO! So excited. Can we get best friend necklaces with the heart that fits into each part?! Haha…I actually just bought those for the girls I nanny for, except they’re “sister” ones. Too cute!
Ketchup along side grilled cheese is just a must. People do the whole tomato soup thing, but nahh not this girl. Bring on the ketchup!!!
I’m with you all the way on that one
I did see a recipe once on Pinterest though for tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons…man I wish I had pinned that one.
Allison, you MUST find this recipe again.
Love this post! I agree that sometimes our lives seem busier than they actually are. Focusing on the little things that bring happiness is great.
Yup, exactly!
I love what you said about what you focus on multiplies. So true!
And I could eat a grilled cheese everyday of my life. lol
I would, too. But I probably shouldn’t. It’s tough not to since I’m with kids all day!