The simple things we miss everyday
How being aware of the small, everyday routines can make you a happier person.
What comes up might eventually go down.
Today, I was reading about a very inspiring yet delightful book by Michael Gates Gill, How to Save Your Own Life.
The author, a former executive with influential connections — he had it all — took a desperate leap of faith in life and landed a job as a Starbucks barista, after being fired from his position. Michael’s life was literally a mess; He lost his career, which led to him having an affair that resulted to a divorce from his wife and family and finally, found out that he was diagnosed with cancer.
In the book, his recount “from riches to rags” took a surprising turn of events and ironically, he found happiness through serving others.
I can’t help but to notice that there is a recurring pattern on this. That your life, no matter how comfortable it is shall one day come to pass. Some of us are fortunate to realise this, but some don’t.
Despite resigning from my corporate job to pursue my dreams, earning my bread can be tough and lonely, especially when you’re alone.
The small routines we take for granted are the ones that we should learn to be grateful for. Only if we keep tab on the simple pleasures in life do we realise that it is often the smallest of things that make us become appreciative of the blessings we have.
To keep this realisation in check, I thus begin to document these small moments:
- The satisfaction of cleaning my room by 8 am in the morning.
- I am grateful that I have nothing going on today, and cherish the time which slowly unfolds.
- The serendipity of a sunny day —weatherman forecasts a rainy week — which complement the lovely Monday; a perfect day to start the work week.
I learnt that by appreciating these experiences, I become aware that these thoughts are like the tendrils that cling on to you towards a positive outlook.
But why do we fail to realise this in the first place?
Perhaps, we are hardwired by the material trappings of our everyday lives. From the advertisements promoting products which you probably don’t need to the premium gadgets that promises a certain way of becoming — a celebrated lifestyle — we are constantly being bombarded left, right and center to achieve happiness by consumption instead of realisation.
Man. We are the product of our own thinking.
We only have ourselves to blame if we persist on a lifestyle of superfluous living, but live life as an empty husk.
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