All the small things

We’ve all heard the old saying: “Appreciate the little things in life.” While it may seem cliché, there’s some merit behind it. According to a Time Magazine article titled “The Simple Thing That Makes the Happiest People in the World So Happy,” happiness is based upon an appreciation for the small things in life. Slowing down to savor the little joys in our lives can improve our lives overall.

For me, appreciating the small things has been particularly difficult during the pandemic. There are many days that I wake up and feel like there’s no reason to be happy. Reading the news or doom-scrolling through social media often strengthens my overwhelming exhaustion and depression. Especially during lockdowns and quarantines, my world seemed to shrink, and I lost so many of the things that made me happy pre-pandemic.

However, taking a moment to find joy in small things has always helped. Whether it’s reading a few pages of a good book, enjoying a particularly delicious cup of coffee or laughing for a good five minutes at a joke during a Dungeons and Dragons session, the moments parts of my life are now the things that give me the most happiness. Focusing on these little things has not only made me happier but also helped me feel more in control, no matter how bad the world around me gets.

In addition, there’s a good chance that the effects of appreciation could go beyond the span of the pandemic. According to a study titled “Appreciation uniquely predicts life satisfaction above demographics, the Big 5 personality factors, and gratitude” published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, appreciation is linked to higher life satisfaction than personality traits, gratitude and the Big Five personality traits. Appreciating the small things now could set the stage for an entire life filled with joy.

I’m not saying that you always have to look at the world through rose-colored glasses, and I understand the way that mental and physical health issues can affect joy. However, despite the incredibly painful and difficult period of history in which we’re all living, there are small moments of happiness that we can all seek out and treasure.

We can all agree that 2020 was a terrible year. Looking forward, let’s try to create as much joy as we can in 2021. Take a deep breath and look for the little things.