Everyone runs after big things, a house, a car, a promotion, a performance award, victory in an argument and so on and so forth. Everyone is chasing something big. In the process, many of us actually speed through the day. Sometimes that goal becomes so overwhelming, we just don't see and appreciate the small things around us.
I started thinking about this after a chance meeting with a friend for a cup of tea at a thela. I actually felt nice, when I realized I was in the same area as him, when I called him and he was available to have some tea at a tea stall.
Nothing remarkable, old friend, small tea stall, a normal cup of tea with the taste being nothing to write about, but it made me feel nice. Meeting after some time, talking, enjoying the tea.
Then I started thinking a little more and found that when I try to remember all the so called big things I achieved, I don't feel much now. Small things though, if I when I remember them, I tend to still feel nice when I relive those moments.
Mundane things like,
When
A person who is normally rude to me spoke in a pleasant manner
I got a window seat in a crowded bus, by chance after a couple of stops
The fast local train I boarded actually sped past stations
I got a side lower berth or a lower berth without expecting to be allotted one
A person or a service provider actually spoke nicely to me and did my work efficiently
I got some green chilly free when I purchased vegetables
I saw a movie without expecting much and it turned out to be very good
I switched on the FM radio and one of my favorite songs started playing on some channel
A person driving a rickshaw didn't refuse and speed away spewing dust in my face
I got change for Rs 100 at a shop for purchasing a packet of biscuits
I got dry coconut chutney with my plate of Idli without actually asking for it
I find that the coffee filter has some decoction in it, so that I don't have to boil water to prepare it
I get an offer which lets me order two pizza's for the price of one
The ready made garments I purchase for myself do not require alteration and fit me perfectly
And many more such small things in life....
Whenever I remember such things, and they make me feel good, I sometimes wonder how happy life would be if we focused on these small things one at a time rather than rush behind that one big goal.
Not saying that we shouldn't have goals or aims in life, but what if we appreciated these moments as and when we came across them and enjoy them? What if we paid more attention whenever we have an opportunity to enjoy such moments. Like when I used to walk across Parsi Dairy farm everyday and one fine day I went inside and purchased some milk cake and savored it. When I actually spoke to someone I was longing to speak to and enjoyed the conversation. When I made up with a friend I had a quarrel with..so on and so forth.
I am sure there would be many such opportunities and moments to look forward to. Instead of being burdened with excelling, performing, achieving, winning all the time, I could also look forward to enjoying, relishing, blushing, thinking, listening.....
Food for thought....
I started thinking about this after a chance meeting with a friend for a cup of tea at a thela. I actually felt nice, when I realized I was in the same area as him, when I called him and he was available to have some tea at a tea stall.
Nothing remarkable, old friend, small tea stall, a normal cup of tea with the taste being nothing to write about, but it made me feel nice. Meeting after some time, talking, enjoying the tea.
Then I started thinking a little more and found that when I try to remember all the so called big things I achieved, I don't feel much now. Small things though, if I when I remember them, I tend to still feel nice when I relive those moments.
Mundane things like,
When
A person who is normally rude to me spoke in a pleasant manner
I got a window seat in a crowded bus, by chance after a couple of stops
The fast local train I boarded actually sped past stations
I got a side lower berth or a lower berth without expecting to be allotted one
A person or a service provider actually spoke nicely to me and did my work efficiently
I got some green chilly free when I purchased vegetables
I saw a movie without expecting much and it turned out to be very good
I switched on the FM radio and one of my favorite songs started playing on some channel
A person driving a rickshaw didn't refuse and speed away spewing dust in my face
I got change for Rs 100 at a shop for purchasing a packet of biscuits
I got dry coconut chutney with my plate of Idli without actually asking for it
I find that the coffee filter has some decoction in it, so that I don't have to boil water to prepare it
I get an offer which lets me order two pizza's for the price of one
The ready made garments I purchase for myself do not require alteration and fit me perfectly
And many more such small things in life....
Whenever I remember such things, and they make me feel good, I sometimes wonder how happy life would be if we focused on these small things one at a time rather than rush behind that one big goal.
Not saying that we shouldn't have goals or aims in life, but what if we appreciated these moments as and when we came across them and enjoy them? What if we paid more attention whenever we have an opportunity to enjoy such moments. Like when I used to walk across Parsi Dairy farm everyday and one fine day I went inside and purchased some milk cake and savored it. When I actually spoke to someone I was longing to speak to and enjoyed the conversation. When I made up with a friend I had a quarrel with..so on and so forth.
I am sure there would be many such opportunities and moments to look forward to. Instead of being burdened with excelling, performing, achieving, winning all the time, I could also look forward to enjoying, relishing, blushing, thinking, listening.....
Food for thought....
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