For as long as I can remember I have been a planner who didn’t want to fall behind. Even in my childhood school days, I remember getting my assignments done ahead of time, usually doing them as fast as I could. I am sure the quality of my work would have improved significantly if I took just a little more time and enjoyed the process more.
I am not sure why I was in such a hurry. Maybe part of the reason is that our culture often celebrates speediness and the spectacular. Still today, it is easy for me to focus on the end results instead of slowing down and enjoying the process along the way. We often picture good things in life arriving in dramatic fashion, like life-changing opportunities, or mountaintop experiences. Yet, in my experience, the good things in life often come more through ordinary moments that quietly sustain our bodies, minds, and souls.
I recently read a book that reminded me how when we feel like life has become too difficult, we often just need to slow down and experience a little comfort to keep going. Taking a break to eat a healthy meal, getting an extra hour or two of sleep, taking a walk outside in the woods, finding a quiet place to think and journal, or having a good conversation with a friend or family member…these are some of the small comforts that can sustain us to continue on with our journey. Our circumstances probably haven’t changed, but our perspective and ability to continue on often does.
As a professional counselor, I appreciate the opportunity to give the “small comfort” of listening when someone is experiencing one of life’s challenges. Sometimes these conversations are insightful or life changing. However, sometimes they are simply comforting, which can be just as valuable. They are enough to help us “keep on keeping on” until the load gets a little lighter.
So it is my perspective that life is not only sustained by extraordinary moments. It is nourished by countless small moments that are waiting for us when we slow down enough to enjoy them. My hope is to recognize these small, daily gifts more often. To let them be enough for today and trust there will be some more tomorrow.
