All the Small Things

 I was reminded of an idea today that resonated with me - the knowledge that every action we take either moves us towards something or away from something.  As simplistic as this may seem on the surface, the more I mulled it over, the more depth I felt. 

Perhaps it is the time of year - new year, fresh start - that caused me to consider this gem.  Perhaps it is simply because I am ready to listen.  I will be the first to admit that I tend to look at the big picture when planning a goal or change in my life.  I like to take time to apply logic and determine all of the necessary steps required to meet the target I have set.  Even as I type this I can start to feel the sense of overwhelm that this causes.  After all, it is virtually impossible to accurately plan out each and every move required to navigate the path toward a goal.  Often it is the unforeseen obstacles encountered along the way that provide new opportunities to learn and grow and end up becoming more meaningful than the original goal ever was.  

It is with this idea in mind that I am starting to reframe how I approach this new year.  I am going to rebalance my priorities and focus more on the small things instead of the intended outcomes.  I am going to celebrate the daily choices I make, knowing that each one is pivotal in my overall journey.  Each time I choose to lace up my runners for a cold morning run, each time I slip into the pool to do so some laps before the sun has started to replace the moon in the sky, each time I sit down to write even a few words in my journal, each time I choose to sit and let my breath guide my thoughts - each and every one of these choices will be celebrated for the achievements that they are.  Because I know that with each one of these choices I am establishing that I am worth the effort and that I am taking the steps required to end up closer to where I want to be, and further away from a current state that is not in alignment with who I am.  

And some days the choices I make might be almost impossible to notice.  And that is okay, too.  We don't notice the earth turning, and yet day turns to night.  Even the smallest choices that put our well-being first are important and add up over time.  I get tired just like everyone else does, and I think that putting more emphasis on the small things will help alleviate some of the burnout that comes after a few months of focusing only on big outcomes.  

As we enter this new season of reinvention and imagination, maybe we also need to take a moment to dial in the lens and allow ourselves to take a closer look at all of the smaller things we are gifting ourselves with every day.  


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