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| Photo courtesy of undergroundwellness.com |
Did you watch the sun rise this
morning?
How
about inhale a deep breath of fresh air?
When
did you last see a child’s eyes light up in awe?
Has
it been a while since you slowed down and noticed the little things?
It
has for me. I am probably the guiltiest of all when it comes to rushing through
life. I juggle way too many things at once, always saying yes and never
relaxing.
I
do not know if I am like this because I like being in control of everything
that affects me or because I do not want to waste one moment of my life.
Regardless,
I am working on slowing down.
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| Photo courtesy of queensu.ca |
And he also
inspired others who contributed to the over 45 million page views on his blog “1000 Awesome Things” in the last
four years.
On Thursday,
April 19, Pasricha posted his final awesome thing.
In honor of the
completion of a blog that changed the way I live my life, I have made my own
awesome list.
It took
Pasricha four years to complete his, and I only have a week, so instead of
1,000 awesome things, I have 10.
In
no specific order …
#10 – The smell of freshly mowed grass
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| Photo courtesy of home.howstuffworks.com |
I
crave this smell during winter, and I apologize to those with grass allergies
who cannot enjoy it.
Smelling
grass screams springtime to me. The fresh, lush smell fills my body and reminds
me how lucky I am to live where the landscape includes vast vegetation.
#9 – Sunrises and sunsets
I wake up with
the sun daily.
It can be a
rude awakening after a long night of doing homework, but the moment the sky
changes colors always amazes me.
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| Photo courtesy of octhebeach.com |
Watching the
sky change like a mood ring makes me wonder how a big star can make that
happen.
I don’t know
how it does it, but maybe not knowing makes it that much more amazing.
And the same
goes for sunsets.
They help me remember
how mysterious the world is.
#8 – Finishing a run and having absolutely
no energy left to untie your sneakers
I like to think
I put dedication and pride into the work I do. I think I work harder than most,
and I believe it shows in my work.
But when it
comes to running, as previously mentioned in a post, the
fear of injury overpowers any want to exert all my energy in a run.
When I do,
though, knowing I have accomplished something and have nothing more to give
feels satisfying.
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| Photo courtesy of zazzle.com |
#7 – Having someone thank you for doing something
simple
I think I have
made it clear I hope to inspire and help others.
Doing little
things for people brings me great pleasure.
I never know if
others might be having a bad day, and simply greeting them with a smile or chatting
with them for a bit might actually change their day.
I never expect
thanks, though, because I feel we all have an obligation to be kind and helpful
to others. I treat others the way I want to be treated.
When I do get
thanks for simple acts, I remember people’s goodness and my own impact on
others.
#6 – Watching a child in awe
Many of these
children have never seen animals such as horses or deer. They have never swum
in a lake or learned how to canoe.
I love getting
to know these children and seeing their excitement over the landscape and
activities we offer. They remind me how lucky I am to have all of this five
minutes from my home.
#5 – Having a strong support system
We all struggle.
But knowing you have people there for you whether they understand the situation
or not makes it easier.
There have been
numerous occasions when someone has been there for me during a tough time. Feeling
relief knowing I am not alone, having comfort that someone will console me and
love that someone cares reminds me what great people I am surrounded by.
#4 – Clean, fresh-smelling bed sheets
My mother believes
the only way to dry laundry in the spring and summer is on the line.
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| Photo courtesy of beingmrsroberts.com |
I love this
because the clothes and sheets pick up the breeze and fresh smells the Earth
produces.
I don’t know what
it is about laying my head down on a fresh-smelling pillow or surrounding my body
with crisp sheets, but it makes my sleep that much more enjoyable.
#3 – Going to bed every night knowing you
made the best effort you could
I am guilty of
not always doing a good job of this, but I am trying to get better at it.
I think we each
have a purpose. Some of us may have figured our purpose out while others still
search for theirs.
Regardless, I
try to make the best decisions each day to know I tried my hardest, have no
regrets and been the person I want to be.
#2 – Having one place you can call home
I have lived at
the same address, in the same house, in the same bedroom for my entire life.
I know that no
matter how long I have been absent, my family will be at home waiting for me.
Having a place of comfort helps me feel like I belong.
#1 – Finding out you made an unexpected
impact in someone’s life
Very similar to
#7, I want to make a difference in the world. I still do not know how I am going
to accomplish this, but for right now, living my life, being the best person I
can be suffices.
I do not
necessarily seek out or try to do anything specific or special to make a difference,
but I can’t help but feel worthy when I do something meaningful.
Knowing my
actions do not go unnoticed feels satisfying. Knowing people actually do see me
trying to make a difference, and actually succeeding at it, keeps me going.
Ten awesome
things.
What have they
taught me?
Slow down.
I would never
have come to these conclusions if I had not taken the time to think and reflect
on what brings awe and happiness into my life. I now see the little things can
be as impactful, maybe even more, than the big things.
And I am sure I
will find more awesome things the more I slow down.
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