The Little-Big Things

A year ago, when I was in tenth grade, I went with my biology class to a museum for a special exhibit called “A dialogue in the darkness”. We entered a completely dark set of rooms where we couldn’t see anything; the only way we could find the way out was by using our other senses—by hearing ,smelling, and touching—and by following the instructions of our blind tour guide.

After spending a few minutes in this dark labyrinth of rooms, and after a record setting number of complaints, it hit me like a lightning. There are people who feel this way every single second of every single day of their lives; there are people who are forced to live all their lives in the darkness; there are also people who are able to find their inner lights, and learn how to appreciate all the other things they have.

When in this dark room, I was able, probably for the first time ever, to truly open my eyes and see how fortunate I am. So I believe in the smallest things we have. I believe we should all stop for a few minutes to look closely at what we have in our lives, and discover that the most ordinary thing for us is the biggest dream of another.

I truly believe that real happiness is not in living in a 6 bedroom house with 7 restrooms, nor in having 4 cars in a family of 3, but in opening the window to see that the sun is shining, and the birds are singing, and as long as it is true, we have a great reason to believe that this day is going to be just awesome.

I believe that we should take a moment to absorb the fact we can see the ocean from our classroom, a moment to watch a little squirrel climbing a tree, a moment to look at the rainbow after the rain and feel that there is something somewhere for us, that there is a pot of gold at its other side. I believe that true happiness is in watching the pouring rain while sitting under a warm blanket, sipping hot chocolate. I believe it is in watching the red and orange and purple of the sunset and understanding how beautiful our lives are.

I believe that this is what life is about—the little things we often take for granted, that after a second thought, may not seem so little anymore. No matter how little we have, there will always be someone who has less. I believe in appreciating the smallest things we have.

So when you come from school or work today, wear your soft pajamas and your favorite pair of old socks, sit on the couch under a warm blanket with your cat or dog – any other pet will be perfectly fine—and watch a sitcom. And don’t forget the hot chocolate and marshmallows.