Spring is in the air of Australia. It knocks on the door of winter with a hint of jasmine, a soft warmth and sunny rays that extend into the night. We can see it, feel it, smell it and even hear it in the early morning bird calls. Do we welcome her with enough celebration, enough attention, enough awareness, enough eagerness?
Spring doesn’t mind if we don’t notice her arrival. She doesn’t get annoyed if we don’t even care that she’s coming. She simply ‘IS’. Beautiful, perfumed, starry-skied bliss.
Yesterday, on waking up to the scent of jasmine in my room, Spring touched my soul. Said hello. Greeted me with a unique, crisp sky of blue that only Australia sees. I walked to the beach and met a man exercising in the park. We said, “hello,” I had a go on his exercise equipment because it looked like fun, we chatted a bit and we said goodbye. I went on to buy some groceries, make a vegetable soup, chat with some friends and work for the rest of the day. All the while, the jasmine continued to hit me with an undeniable sense of complete happiness. Contentment even. A feeling that, no matter what, everything is as it should be.
A very simple day, many would say. Yet, fundamentally intricate in the way bliss wove around me like a child’s blanket. We often refer to the little things in life as the ones that are free. It’s entirely true, but the statement almost undervalues the sheer power of such simplicity. The little things in life are so monumental, because we receive all the blessings of them, without the downfalls.
Cause and effect ensures that if we buy a new car, race up the career ladder, earn a lot of money, chase the perfect relationship or even strive to reach our goals, that we receive lessons in the process. We go through the ups and the downs, every time we immerse ourselves in the world of materialism, commercialism, society-driven ideals and the struggle to stay on top of it all.
But, what is ‘on top of it all’, when all is said and done? The mountains we continue to climb, while valuable on the journey to self-mastery, are illusionary. The second we reach the top the dirt loosens, the mountain dissolves and we set our sights on another summit. And we’ll continue to do so, until the final one.
In the midst of it all, the mighty power of the little things in life, if we choose to stand to attention when they call, remain. The sun, the ocean, the trees, the butterflies, the flowers, a hug, a smile, the way our eyes crinkle and sparkle when we’re on the brink of laughing. How can such phenomenal ‘things’ take a back seat, to what we perceive, are the ‘big’ things?
The truth is, they don’t. They’re always there, just waiting for our undivided attention. Waiting for us to realise that, when we set out sights on them, the ‘big’ things will fall into place anyway.
And that, to me, is the mighty power of the little things in life.