As the end of the semester approaches, it’s very common for people to become overwhelmed by finals and projects that have yet to be done. As a result of this, many people begin to feel defeated, depressed, or, as many of us refer to it, a state of “burnout”. Especially as the winter extends its stay, the light at the end of the tunnel begins to appear dimmer as the work piles up and the days go on.
When I experience moments or days as such, I always go to my Notes app on my phone and open the note titled “Happy Little Things”. In case the title didn’t provide enough context, this note contains a list of happy little things that remind me just how beautiful life truly is. Although it may sound cheesy, it’s actually very effective. Since it works so well for me, I wanted to share this list, at least part of it, with others, in hope that it helps them as well.
- “Seeing the old couple in my rear view mirror singing their hearts out”
I was driving home from school one day and felt really defeated from the day I had just had. I looked into my rear view mirror and saw an elderly couple singing together. They shared little moments where they’d point at each other and make other motions that I assumed were indicative of the lyrics of the song. Just as I thought it couldn’t get better, the husband started dancing in a very childish manner, which made the wife swap out the lyrics leaving her mouth for laughter. She acted all embarrassed about it, but you could tell how much she genuinely loved it.
- “Watching kid get off the bus and running to parents”
As luck would have it, I was running late for an event and ended up getting stuck behind a school bus. I was very frustrated with having to constantly stop for the bus to drop off kids. But one bus stop in particular resonated with me. I watched as a mom and dad stood in their driveway when a child came running down the stairs of the bus. As the parents assumed a crouched position with their arms wide open, the child jumped into them, and they shared a hug. This one reminded me of my days as a bus kid and made me realize how quickly life goes by.
- “Market workers exchanging gifts”
I was sitting at a table near a market that wasn’t quite open yet and was watching the vendors all set up their stands. I watched as a baker walked a few stands over to a florist and brought them a beautifully decorated cupcake. This must’ve been a routine event since the florist was ready with a few flowers for the baker. They both seemed so excited to be able to share what they loved to do with someone else who would understand. Neither of them cared about the price value the items had, nor did they expect anything in return.
This list makes me remember how precious the little moments are, especially when I think about how every decision I made led up to each moment. If I had left class earlier, I would’ve missed the elderly couple; if my alarm actually went off, I would’ve missed the kid running off the bus, and every other incident always relates back to a sort of butterfly effect. I’m personally a very strong believer that everything happens for a reason, so perhaps that’s why I find myself finding a deeper appreciation for the little moments while “people-watching.” Regardless of whether you agree with me or not, I highly recommend for everyone to make a habit of taking a step back to appreciate those moments, and maybe while you’re at it, write them down. This way the dim light at the end of the tunnel won’t seem so dim.