By Mary Boutieller
Remember to pause long enough to notice and be humbled by the million small gifts that make your world amazing.
Driving home the other day, I stopped behind a line of cars and wondered what was holding up the traffic. Then I saw an elderly man who had gotten out of his car to move a turtle out of the road—one that would surely have been hit by the next car that turned through the intersection.
This one act changed the course of my day. It made me slow down and think about all of the gifts bestowed each day that go by unnoticed. It opened my eyes to the magic of lives lived in small steps, sweet gestures, and little acts of kindness. It reminded me of the gift of small things.
When we pause to notice the amazing world around us, we realize that most of us are very fortunate. In one morning’s walk, I watched in awe at the bounding dance of two birds’ mating ritual, marveled as a pelican dove into the water for its lunch, and noticed the warmth of the sun’s rays on a chilly morning, and I thought, “This is just like the turtle encounter. These are gifts. Can I slow down enough to receive them?”
Even now, as I write this, the gift revealing itself is my husband playing the piano. As I hear him practice our wedding song, Pachelbel’s Canon in D, I am brought back to that hopeful day over 32 years ago, and to the many days which have followed, and it makes me smile. The small gift of great value is remembering the good, the brave, the amazing in the person standing right beside us.
And, although we are genetically wired to look for danger, the skills that kept our ancestors from harm now cause us to hone in on the less important things we think need fixing. There are no more saber-tooth tigers, just socks left on the bedroom floor. So, instead of seeing the light in a child’s eyes, we see the homework that hasn’t been done; instead of seeing the steadfastness of a partner, we see the trash that hasn’t been taken out.
The gift of small things—a child’s smile, a beautiful sunset, a turtle rescue—can be seen and felt everywhere in our lives. These are the important, necessary (and free) gifts being handed to us each and every day. We only have to pause long enough to notice.
Imagine if our first thought upon walking through the door of ANY place was, “What is amazing about this person, place or thing?” How would that change our view of everything from that point forward?
In truth, what we focus on becomes the sustenance of our lives.
Emerson said, “The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.”
I’ve realized that I don’t need to be wowed by big things. Instead, I want to be humbled by the million small gifts that make my world amazing.
Take some time today to notice the ordinary gifts of small things. Pause and let these gifts soak into your bones. Let this be a part of what nourishes your soul.
Mary Boutieller is a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance. She has been teaching yoga since 2005. Her work experience includes 22 years as a firefighter/paramedic and 10 years as a Licensed Massage Therapist. Mary’s knowledge and experience give her a well-rounded understanding of anatomy, alignment, health and movement in the body. She is passionate about the benefits of yoga and the ability to heal at all levels through awareness, compassion, and a willingness to explore. She can be reached at: SimplyogaOm@gmail.com.