The Little Things

The little things in life are what makes life that much more colorful and vibrant. Sure, big things are all fine and dandy, but we all know that huge things and grand gestures are few and far in between. This is why you have to look at everything. You have to look for the little things.

What are the little things you ask? Well you might not but I'll tell you anyway.

The answer I have is vague but it is what I have. It is different for everyone. The little things in life differs from person to person but it is also the same. It may sound weird now, but hear me out. 

The way your loved ones talk to you. The little things they do for you. The way the person you love holds your hand or looks into your eyes. The light hitting grass at the right angle to make it glow a little. The movement of the clouds. The sea breeze hitting your face. The feeling of wonder when you experience something for the first time. Looking at the stars and realizing for the thousandth time just how big this universe is. 

These are just some of the few things that can be little things for some people. certainly for me. Some people are too cynical to enjoy these kinds of things. Some people don't want to. I used to be super cynical. It was okay for a while. I told myself I was a realist, but I guess I was only fooling myself. I found out how to appreciate the beauty of life when I allowed myself to see beyond the surface. 

Do I sound like a hippie? I can assure you I'm not and that I shower multiple times a day. Hear me out a bit longer.

I am a videographer. That means I look at things through the lens of a camera most of the time. I have to see things in real life and devise a way to make that thing look good on camera. Because, as you all know, seeing something and capturing something on camera is not the same thing. Try taking a picture of the moon from your phone and let me know how that goes. I started looking at things differently. I had to allow myself to see what was and what could be at the same time. 

I started seeing landscapes that were always there, but now I could see and appreciate it more, somehow. I could see a tree and see the fine details of how the light and its immediate vicinity affected it. I could see the hope in the eyes of a person. I saw this because I let go of the cynicism. I let go of the surface level materialism. At first I did it because it was my job, but then I realized this is great. I didn't have to be a cynic all the time. Sure, I could be in appropriate circumstances. I still had that side of me. It's not like I changed overnight. So I thought about this, and I have come to this conclusion. 

Do something creative.

Write. Sketch. Paint. Take pictures. Shoot videos. Play music. Just do something creative and let the world be your inspiration. I guarantee that you'll find beauty all around you. 

Write about things, describe them, explore them in words. Make up worlds in your mind and put them into words. Paint real things, paint fantastical things. Take pictures of things and places. Think about how light affect things. There's beauty to be found everywhere. 

I realize creative things are not everyone's cup of tea, but I genuinely think that everyone should at least explore that side of themselves. This is a time when people are filled with distrust and hate and all things negative. We need some things that make us happy. We have to look at the world and see at least some beauty in it. We need that to keep our souls and be human. We need humanity now more than any other time.

I don't know if this post sounds pretentious or not. It certainly wasn't my intention to sound that way, but it turned out how it turned out. Just think about it. Feed your soul. You'll come out from the other side a happier person. Don't trust me if you want but try it out. What's the harm? Take a look at the little things in life through your eyes and see. Take just a little time to ponder. Don't get lost in the machine of day to day life, spiraling down into obscurity and lose what makes you human. Stop, look, listen and ponder.