The Little Things

Sometimes it really is the little things that make your day. I don’t know whether its because I have just finished a particularly stressful piece of academic writing and was craving something happy or it was the thought of not having much “me” time between now and Christmas that made me start noticing things a bit more.

Maybe it was the fact that my wonderful fiancé has been an absolute star whilst I have been procrastinating and swearing over my literature review, head down in concentration, barely noticing the time. He supplied me with cups of tea and even fed me and I’m not talking a pot noodle either. In fact on one particularly stressful evening with deadline looming he made me my favourite…mash potato (with other things). Now this might not seem like a big deal, but to me it was as if someone had just handed me a million pounds (not that I wouldn’t mind that either!). I didn’t even have to say anything, he just did it, even though he had been out at work himself all day and I admit it I think I fell even more in love with him (if that’s possible) that evening.

I have done a lot of writing this last week and none of it has been of the creative variety. I have to admit it wore me out a little, even taking me that little bit longer to write this blog, but my stubborn inner writer voice would not be sated until I sat down and wrote it.

This week I have found myself noticing the world around me, just that little bit more. Things that made me smile this week…

Autumn sunshine.. it is like a little gift after a dreary overcast day. When that sun pops up and the sky clears it is wonderful to see. To feel the warmth on my face, something that I thought was almost over until next year as winter starts to creep upon us, it was like a comforting hug.

The first leaves falling, I went through a country lane this week, the sun was shining and the autumn leaves just seemed to spiral down around the car like one of those car adverts. They danced and they swirled around like confetti at a wedding, catching the light they seemed to sparkle and shimmer as they heralded my arrival home.

Watching a couple of birds dancing in the air, swooping and gliding around as if they didn’t have a care in the world, it reminded me of the robin who is a regular visitor to our garden and how someone who I visit’s face lit up when she began talking about spying a robin in her garden that morning and how it made her feel all Christmassy.  My own robin I hadn’t seen for a few days, but suddenly there he was looking at me from the bird table almost accusatory as the food was a bit sparse and I hadn’t been out to refill it, so out I went suitably reprimanded and replaced it, smiling to myself that I had just been nagged by a bird (usually it is the cat…and I could just see his face if found out).

Driving to my current placement thinking how much I love what I am doing, how at home I feel and happy.

I may have a lot going on, there may be many challenges ahead and never enough hours in the day but for these few moments this week I noticed..I felt on top of the world. Now isn’t that worth looking up for?