Little Things Mean A Lot

Here we are, coming up on Valentine’s Day, and since the subject of gifts is already on our minds, it is a good setting for considering just how much little things mean. Of course, it’s cliché; so we’ve established that, let’s proceed. The older I get, the more the idea of the importance of little things is driven home. To appreciate little things predisposes that we first notice them. And that’s rather what I want to talk about. Are you a fan of Ralph Waldo Emerson?

“The days come and go like muffled and veiled figures

sent from a distant friendly party,

but they say nothing, and if we do not use the gifts they bring,

they carry them as silently away…”

I wonder how much we miss, how much I miss, by being out of tune with the gifts that float before us. These gifts come in many forms: the most complex and perhaps the most challenging to open oneself to are the serendipitous occurrences which take a great deal of concentrated attention to discern and a decided dedication to appreciate. But serendipity is a deep subject and there are many less demanding things that enter our lives, things simpler to grasp and easier to be conscious of.

For example, small deeds or words which might be dismissed as insignificant acts of kindness, but if given attention, are indeed things that can matter a great deal. How about waking to the smell of freshly brewing coffee or a pot of hot tea that someone has made happen for you? Take notice. There are scenes of exceptional beauty, nature around is filled with this. There has been so much snow around the country, but here in Arkansas it happens maybe every 10 years, so it is a source of delight. I share some snaps from in front of my house and in the back garden. It is pleasant to note the way in which the snow balances on tiny branches and poises on the head of the putto statue and the gate. It’s so beautiful and what a pity if in my rush to get or to go or to do I would miss it.

And stop a moment to notice this little thing: a purple pansy peeping through the white stuff!

If we ponder just a moment, it is not too difficult to find an endless number of “little things” which can add significantly to the quality of our lives…but we have to notice them! Yes, the challenge is to take note, to open oneself, to act if action is appropriate, and certainly, to appreciate.
Valentine’s Day is a good time to hone up these skills and recognize how many wonderful gifts surround us. Perhaps you have someone in your life who recognizes the importance of the little things; perhaps that person is me as I send you warm wishes, little hearts and roses.

         .....................little things mean a lot
 
                                    Happy Valentine’s Day