CARPE DIEM

"Little Things Mean a Lot..."

Did you all hear me laughing today? I was - hard! I had risked the local traffic maniacs to walk to a local store, and as I arrived safely on the sidewalk, I happened to look down. There, right in front of my feet, was a bumble bee doing head over heels. Honest! It was the most amazing thing. And this tiny, perfect, seemingly carefree bumble bee changed my whole outlook for this day. I have been hearing a lot of sorrow lately, a whole lot of people dealing with major issues. This week has also seen me face some watershed moments of my own. Nothing earth shattering, but annoying issues that had to be dealt with.

I haven't done much laughing this week, but as I looked at this fuzzy bumble bee, I was reminded that little things can change our whole perspective, if even just for one little minute. Of course, I don't speak bumble bee language, but I swear this little creature felt positively gleeful to me. I really did laugh out loud!

Then, as always, after I left that moment, I thought about it. As I write this, I realize I probably sound like a broken record, but it does hold true. A single smile, such a ''little' thing, can change a person's whole day. An email saying "hello - thinking about you", a phone call to ask "how you doing?". All 'little' things which have a huge impact.

It is this way for each of us. Watching your furbaby nose to nose with a snail, who is brave enough to emerge, momentarily, from his shell, can make the world look brighter for that instant.

Yes, I well know there are some lessons thrown at us that a small snail won't alleviate. I know there are times when a gymnastic bumble bee won't break through our agonies. But...but...I believe if we keep our eyes and hearts open, we may witness a 'little' moment. Those little moments are what get us all through the dark, long days we all have. I remember a particularly dark time not too long ago when everything about my life seemed 'stuck', dormant. It had been a long winter. The trees were bare, the sky was grey, and I wasn't finding much to smile about. As I often do, I took Lucy Joyful (the infamous bratdog) for a walk. And wonder of wonders, up ahead amidst the weeds and the overgrowth was one, bright yellow daffodil; one solitary, golden, blooming daffodil! I smiled, and was very thankful. Such a 'little' thing but with huge impact for me. It was a little nudge, a reminder of a Spring yet to come.

The world may look bleak, and our souls feel the chill of 'winter', but there is always, always a rebirth, a Spring ahead. Little by little, it is inevitable, it IS promised.... As long as we hang on, one breath at a time, one minute at a time.