The Little Things

This post is a response to Lauren's post about the happiness that comes with the little things in life. http://simplesongwriter.blogspot.com/2012/07/little-things-vbs.html#comment-form

The last post I drafted was one in which I was feeling angsty about my life and problems (Diabetes, other various health issues, being cut off from friends and being stuck at my house). I just felt trapped, like a caged bird.

I have since got over this angst, and though sometimes I just think having Diabetes sucks, I know that this caged bird can still sing, in spite of it's circumstances. Now, I don't have it bad, I am so blessed with many wonderful and huge blessings. I know that I am better off than most even with my challenges. But I don't want to talk about the big things, because sometimes the little blessings mean the most in the moment. Although, in the absence of the big blessings, I'm not sure we would notice the small ones as much.

Little joys: The soft fur of a cat as you give her attention. Her contented purrs and kisses when she's happy. The smell of a hot breakfast in the morning. The smell of my mother's cooking at night. Painting cross-legged, on the cool grass in the backyard with one eye on the canvas and the other on the gorgeous clouds. Seeing Brave for the first time. Finding a song that perfectly describes your feelings. Skypeing with friends. Talking on the phone with friends. Getting a text from a friend. Seeing a comment on your story from friends. Hugs from those you love. A Mickey Mouse Tumbler full of cool water. The Disney Store employee remembering you. When a cat jumps up to be on the bed you are blogging from. Playing Just Dance until you are worn out. Cleaning while rocking out to music. Memories of friends from college. Getting appreciation for your artwork. Completing a painting or drawing. Laughing with someone about the past. Laughing till it hurts. The smell of Old Spice on my dad. Finding my mom's red head in a crowd. Closing all the curtains of my canopy bed. Falling into bed ready to sleep. Finding the perfect item of clothing at the store. Seeing friends so in love. The anticipation of a wedding. Ghirradelli 60% coco chocolate squares. Seeing pictures of the ones I love on facebook. Hearing about friend's plans changing for the better. Writing a new piece of fiction. Getting a new creative idea and doing something with it. Getting a comment from a dear friend unexpectedly. Freshly painted fingernails. Finding someone who understands and shares your nerdiness. Finding a lot of these someones and feeling like you finally found where you belong.

All these things add up to make a girl very happy. These are things that I am surrounded with and experiencing right now. How can I fail to be grateful when I see all the joys God has showered on me. Counting my blessings truly makes me thankful for everything. God is so good. He does not promise me a happy life, but a full one (john 10:10) so I will count my blessings while I have them and look ahead toward whatever God has planned for me next.

So, I'll challenge you to do the same thing, what are you thankful for? What are the small things in life that add up to meaning a whole lot? Once you start, you'll find you can come up with more than you have room to write. :)