I think we all need to take a step back every so often and remind ourselves to notice things. I'm not talking about being observant, really. I'm just talking about how easy it is to get caught up in sadness and start taking careful note of every crappy thing that happens to us while ignoring all the amazing things that happen to us.
Not even big amazing things.
Insignificant amazing things, really.
Things like being at Home Depot and seeing a couple start slow dancing because it was their song that was playing over the loudspeakers. Things like being at Vons and hearing one half of what must be a hilarious conversation. Things like someone you don't know, anyone really, smiling at you. Things like that.
I'm not proclaiming rainbows and butterflies here. I know how awful life can be as well as anyone else does. I know what it's like to have a day so bad that when you get in the car to drive home you're actually half expecting to get into an accident. I know what it's like to think nobody ever notices you but if you slip up like all eyes are on you. I know what it's like to feel out of place, like your clothes aren't quite right and your smile is fake. I know what it's like to, instead of being glad for someone else when they're happy, to kindasorta resent them for it. Yeah. Sometimes life really sucks.
But there are always those little moments. Those laughs shared in a movie theater with complete strangers, the cashier who asks you how your day is and seems to genuinely brighten when you say it's a good one. And a lot of times I think it's not the huge moments in life that make it worth living, but all the little insignificant ones strung together. If we just notice, there's a lot to be happy about and thankful for no matter how awful your current situation is.