How to Really Enjoy Daily Life
About a year ago, I went for a walk with a group of friends on a Sunday afternoon. I arrived for the walk tired and frazzled from the long car journey and preoccupied by my own thoughts. A friend had brought her young daughter with her to the walk, and this child transformed my day in lasting ways.
She was curious about everything, stopping every few steps to examine leaves, stones, small plants, and insects. She made stories out of what she was observing, speculating about why things were as they were. She had boundless energy and enthusiasm for new things, even when they were very similar to things she’d seen a moment before.
This wonderful, childish delight got me thinking about how easy it is to take things for granted. As adults, we tend to be very busy thinking about things. We hold imaginary conversations in our heads, and wander through life thinking about what we’ll be doing next rather than noticing where we are – even if it’s exactly like where we just were. When we do this, we miss out on the pleasures of daily life that are all around us.
I was reminded of this today because we’ve recently moved, and there is a lot to get used to in our new area. We live in the New Forest, which has ponies, cows, and donkeys roaming on common land outside our front door. On one of the first days here, I was utterly delighted by a group of Shetland ponies, with babies, who walked past my kitchen window. I stopped what I was doing and enjoyed watching the animals, thinking how lucky I was. Yet today I drove past them and hardly noticed they were there.
Our minds are so adaptive that they quickly get used to ‘the norm’, even when ‘the norm’ changes. I’d like to keep my pleasure in living next to these wonderful animals. So, I’m resolved to be more like my friend’s child: inquisitive, delighted, and enchanted by every day life.
Tags: appreciation of life, being present, happiness, Love your work, Restoration of self, self improvement, stimulation and motivation, taking things for granted
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About Kate Warren
Kate Warren is the founder of Brightlife. She is a leader in the field of personal and professional development, and is a sought-after speaker, teacher, and coach. Kate is passionate about helping people to unlock their personal and professional potential. She is an NLP Master Practitioner, a Certified NLP Coach, a Master of Group Leadership Dynamics, and the U.K.'s first certified WealthyMind™ trainer. In 2008 her business success was recognised when she was invited to join ‘Courvoisier the Future 500’, an elite group of the 500 rising stars of British business.
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Courvoisier The Future 500 is an exclusive member's network of the country's most innovative business brains and creative talent. Being awarded a place shows dedication and commercial success.