The other day I was preparing something and I came across this fantastic little 'object lesson'......
Play along with me for a second..........
Look around the room where you are and in about 30 seconds or so count as many blue things as you can SEE.
Once you've done that, close your eyes and say how many yellow things you saw in the room. (unless you have some sort of photographic memory or you are a multi-tasking genius, it would be unlikely to know the answer to that :)
Ok so the point of this little exercise......
Sometimes it is easy to focus on the things in life that are hard. Things we can't control. Things that are a little crazy. Things we are hurt by. Maybe even things we can't let go (the blue things). When this happens. When we focus only on the 'blue', it is easy to not see the beauty (the yellow things) that completely surround us.
I was recently reading an article on POWER OF MOMS (you should totally check out this site if you haven't already seen it :) and there was an essay submitted called 'Realising Life". In it the author spoke of a play called Our Town, by Thornton Wilder.
One of the quotes she shared from it was this.....
“Oh, earth, you’re too wonderful for anybody to realize you! Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it - ever, every minute?”
As soon as I read this quote I felt impacted by it. And I vowed to myself right then in that moment that I would make sure I was realising my life, every minute. Appreciating the things I am blessed with. Noticing little things, that if I didn't look for, I might easily miss. Like how Rylan 'beams' when he accomplishes something by himself, and how much I adore the dimple that appears next to Zahn's mouth when he tries to whistle. Or when Jasmin closes her eyes when she cuddles me and rubs my back (melt my little heart :)
As I read this article written from a woman who knows about 'life's crazyness" (she has 5 kids under 4, including 2 sets of twins - aarrrrgggghh :) I thought about how this 'realisation' of life is a choice. We can choose which 'colour' we focus on, even though both 'colours' are most likely present in our lives.
Something we often say in this house of ours is Gratitude = happiness. I really do believe this wholeheartedly. And maybe that's a big part, maybe even the key to 'realising life'. Being grateful for, and recognising all the little things. (As if I don't need a little reminder like this.....especially when if i'm a tired cranky mumma :)
So if you notice an increase in 'little things' that make me happy over the next few posts, you'll understand why. Little things that my kids will one day grow out of. Little things that will one day be gone (such a sad thought) All those things that if I don't 'realise' in the moment could be missed and forgotten forever.
Little things just like that double chin smile you see here on Jazzy's gorgeous little face!!!
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4 comments:
wonderful thoughts.
I heard a similar thing on Oprah with those people doing 'the secret thing' about getting things to come to you when you do affirmations. Like if you say blue blue blue.. the blue things in the room stand out more to you.
Same with things you want to happen/ have come to you. IF you say them and visualize them they will come to you (they may have already even been there) but you just notice more.
anyways thought it interesting.
Our FHE lesson last night was about gratitude. I think I'm going to start a family/gratitude journal (like Eld Erying's talk and mentioned in this month's ensign)- I've been thinking about it a lot lately. I loved your post. I counted 33 blue things. Nice object lesson. I've been thinking lately that this is something I could work on. Reading this was very uplifting. :)
Very wise thoughts Felicity. Thank you for sharing. I have been feeling a need for more gratitude in our family lately, it becomes too easy to focus only on the challenges. You've left me with lots to think about!
What a fab post!
I love double chins too, great picture - very frameable!
xx
H
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