Duh. This Small Life. I may have gotten the idea of living a small life from “You’ve Got Mail,” but ever since I first heard the term, I felt like it really described me. I already explained all about the significance of this title.
My small life is mainly centered in this cozy cocoon I’ve made for my introvert self. Thankfully, it really doesn’t take much to make me happy. I don’t need luxury items at all. Not that I wouldn’t appreciate owning them. I just don’t set out to acquire them. I’m a cheapskate. Any luxury item I own was given to me or scored for a ridiculous price, preloved.
I don’t need big adventures either. I already find many everyday things in my vicinity very exciting. People sometimes scorn cheap thrills, but it’s actually a boon to feel delight from trivial sources. The key to feeling contentment in a small life is mainly knowing how to savor the small things. In my case, they consist of the following:
- Sharing my home with a multitude of adorable cats and being amused by their antics.
- Watching the murder of crows that roosts in a nearby cell tower.
- Hanging out with my cats while birding (we’re indoors; don’t worry – when I hear one of them go, ngaaa-a-ah, I know there are birds nearby).
- Chancing upon mushrooms in my garden.
- Seeing buds in my plants – flowers or fruits soon!
- Snuggling under soft, fuzzy covers, especially during rainy evenings.
- Smelling coffee in the morning (even if I proceed to drink tea instead).
- Seeing my kids getting along.
- Getting to take a stroll when it’s nice out.
- Finding pollinators in my garden, doing their work.
- Hearing my kids’ laughter.
- Shooting the breeze with my mom and my sister.
- Catching up with friends, even if only online (even better when it’s in person).
- Eating a late meal with my husband (he has several businesses and his work days are very long) and remarking, “Hey, this is like a date!”
- Accidentally harmonizing with somebody, anybody (because my voice doesn’t usually blend with others when it’s intentional 😀 ).
- Having lots of free hours just when there’s a new book to read (it’s actually rare when these two instances coincide).
- Chancing upon a book I really want (from my fave authors, Newbery winners, promising cozy mysteries, etc.) at a secondhand bookshop.
- Receiving snail mail from a friend.
These are just some I came up with off the top of my head. I can easily keep on adding to this list. Many of those included are negligible, but when I realized just how much they make me feel good, I learned to relish them and experience them better. There’s really much value and treasure in life, no matter how small and ordinary it may seem.
This Small Life 