Ah! The Simple Things!

"If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive."

~Eleonora Duse~

How many people do you know who get upset when they don’t have (or get) the “big” things in life?  How many wish for more money, a bigger house, a better car, exotic vacations or more?  Have you noticed that even if those people get those things, they’re still not happy?

So, what’s the deal?  Don’t those things make a perfect and satisfying life?  How can you be unhappy with the ability to have and do anything you want?   Frankly, if you’re not happy without those things, you’re probably not going to be happy with them either.

I haven’t checked the world stats but more Americans than ever before are taking antidepressants.   By no stretch of the imagination am I an historian or a statistician but it seems to me that people were a lot happier when times were simpler.

Have you ever watched a baby at Christmas?  They are more excited by the wrappings and bows than by what’s inside the boxes.  Their little faces light up when someone plays peek-a-boo with them.  They are happy yet they have no concept of “things”.  They don’t care if they have the most expensive car seat, the fanciest toys or even designer clothes.  I think we could learn a lot from babies and toddlers.

When is the last time you looked up at the sky and thought “what a beautiful blue sky”?  What about a sunset or sunrise?  Do you take notice of the beautiful fall colors?  Have you ever been in a bad mood and had someone say something nice to you?  That usually brings a smile to my face.  I don’t know about you but I can’t be in a bad mood if I’m smiling.

One of my most favorite tangible things in the entire world is a rose.  Not only is it beautiful but the scent is wonderful.  I’m happy when I get roses as a bouquet whether it be one dozen or one hundred dozen but there’s just something so special about a single rose.

That bigger, better, more expensive car and house, those designer clothes and that enormous bank account is much like that dozen roses.  They’re so very nice to have and certainly will bring a smile to your face but they alone are not going to keep that smile for long nor will they produce happiness.

If you can’t find appreciation for the little things then you won’t find appreciation for the “big” things in the long run.  You’ll enjoy them at first then after awhile they won’t matter at all.  You’ll start searching for something bigger or better that you’re sure will make you happy – and they will for a very short time.

A hug from a child, a compliment from a stranger, a beautiful sunset or a walk with someone you love – these are the greatest treasures in the world.  If you can find yourself appreciating them, then you’re on the way to being happy.

It’s okay to have dreams and desires but when you place too much value on those things and desires, then you won’t be satisfied with what you have. True happiness comes from being satisfied with what you have and appreciating that you have so much more than so many others.  It’s true – one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Matthew 6:21