“There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.”
Recently, I was playing tennis with a friend. It was not going well. I was losing. And not just normal losing, but the type of losing where you hope no one else is watching.
As is typically the case when I don’t win, I was getting frustrated. And when I get frustrated, I look for someone or something to blame (I know, it’s a character flaw). I tried blaming the racket, the balls, staying up too late, and the weather.
Unfortunately, the racket was the same as always, the balls were brand new, the night before ended at 10pm, and the weather was 75 and sunny (thanks Phoenix).
While I was looking for something else to blame (shoes, maybe), a loud roar suddenly emerged from the skies above. I looked up to notice a helicopter overhead. It was big. It was close. And it was loud.
As the helicopter flew directly over me, a passing thought entered my otherwise frustrated mind, “Wow, look at that big helicopter. That machine is one amazing accomplishment.”
Immediately, my mind found permission to stop thinking about tennis. And I began to look around at my surroundings—even if for only a moment.
I noticed a beautiful bird perched high above in a palm tree. I noticed flowers blooming along the fence and green grass all around. I felt a drop of sweat on my eyebrow, warm sunshine on my face, and just enough breeze to make it all perfect.
I looked down and noticed the healthy body allowing me to play. I felt comfortable shoes on my feet and a lightweight racquet in my hand. I looked across the net and saw a good friend, a valued relationship, and someone I would trust through any trial. Amazing things all around me.
The frustration and negativity in my mind began to melt away.
And I was reminded that life often works like this.
Granted, one bad tennis match is a trivial problem to overcome. Some of us are struggling through far more significant problems: illness, loneliness, failure, addiction, or loss (and that’s just a short list).
But sometimes, all we need to change our outlook and attitude is to just look around—to take our eyes off our problems, our frustrations, and our struggle. And instead, notice something amazing.
When we do, even for just a moment, we begin to notice we are surrounded by countless blessings every single day:
- Beautiful flowers & singing birds
- Blue skies & countless stars
- Warm shelter & dry clothing
- Food to eat & coffee to drink
- Amazing art & passionate music
- Trusted friends & loving families
- Laughter & hope & faith
- Or something as beautiful as your next breath
If you feel like you can’t go on, look around and notice the wonder of the world around you. Because when you do, you give your mind permission to stop dwelling on your problems and start finding beauty instead.
Oh sure, stopping to look around probably won’t fix your problem. But it may just give you the strength and hope you need to survive another day.
Related: On Gratitude | The Most Important Two Minutes of Your Life
Your post reminded me of Ann Voskamp…her book “one thousand gifts” focuses on the same…counting the gifts b I g and small around us changes our attitudes immediately! I ♥ tennis and winning also…but there are more important things.
I agree and highly recommend Ann, her blog and her books!
That makes two of us, Keith.
Make that three.
Gratitude shifts perspective. It has changed my life and my ability to move forward through hard times. I pause by habit now and note the goodness in my life. I have taught my children to make lists in not only trying times, but ordinary times as well.
Gratitude evaporites the victim mode and humbles. Thank you Joshua for a great post.
Thank you for reminding us of how amazing this universe we live in is. How focusing on the negative is counterproductive. I am always pleasantly surprised how ones attitude can be adjusted by a single comment, in either direction. It is a choice we make to follow the best and to give the best. Remember, love means nothing in tennis, but in everything else, it means everything. Pass it on.
Dotti
Thanks Dotti. You summed up my thoughts quite well—wherever we choose to invest your thoughts dictates the people we become.
I “strongly” suggest to those who are in the midst of loss and trial to find a way and a place to volunteer at least once a week.
The physical act of “looking up and out” + the giving of time and talents can have the spiritual result of transforming your mind, heart and soul.
That’s golden and so very true, regardless of our stage in life.
Yes! When I am struggling I am least likely to want to volunteer, but it never fails to lift the fog and bring hope.
So glad to find this post in my inbox this morning. I am *that* kind of person who is always looking for the bright side and for some reason I can yet identify, I’ve been finding myself looking the “other way” more than I wished. Time to reset! Thank you for your message and beautiful blog.
You are welcome Helena. Find joy and spread joy.
What a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing a love & appreciation for the simple things in life – the things that are in plain sight every single day, but we often do not even notice them. I have found life to be so much more fulfilling when I take time to search for beauty, instead of just letting my emotions be swayed by the situation that I am in.
The sweetest joys are often the simplest.
Thank you for this reminder that life is beautiful. I feel that a lot of my negativity would be solved if I started paying attention to all that I have and being grateful. It involves as you said looking around at all that you have in abundance and so much more to come.
You’ve spread nothing but good cheer and encouragement here for so long. Thank you for it.
Isn’t it incredible that though we know all this, we need to be reminded of it again and again ? Thanks for the vivid picture; suddenly, I found myself in sunny Phoenix instead of in very grey Paris. But glad to be alive anyway ….
Just remember, people travel much farther to see Paris than they do to see Phoenix.
Beautiful! I do this on a daily basis & its funny how many people don’t or find it irritating! I relish in the small things: new socks, the elevator being there as soon as I press the button, sunshine pouring through my windows, finding a toonie in my pocket that I forgot about, or sharing a kind word with a stranger that I’ll never see again :) it’s all about perspective!
Toonie! That’s awesome. I haven’t heard that word since moving from Vermont 2+ years ago. Even the mention of it brings a smile to my face. Thank you.
This post actually made my normal frustration even worse. 75 degrees? When I am looking at high of 34 and 5-10″ of snow today. Thank you South Dakota…. But the point is the same either way, isn’t it? God has blessed in unspeakable ways and given minimalism to me as a catalyst to thankfulness. Keep up the good work and say hi to D and J next time you talk to them.
Where are you in South Dakota? I visit home in Aberdeen at least twice/year. Bummer about your long winter. Know that spring is sprouting—it always does. By D and J you must mean my aunt and uncle. If so, I’ll definitely mention to them that they got a shout-out on the website.
Excellent post. This is why I take regular time out to get outdoors and go hiking. Creation has a way of helping us put our problems into perspective.
Agreed.
I think even when you are in the midst of a terrible problem, taking the time to “notice something amazing” still helps. On one of the worst days of my life, I was amazed by how incredibly helpful complete strangers were. Not that noticing that resolved my problems or made me “happy,” but it made me less unhappy, and the lesson I learned about goodness is still with me, 15 years later.
I react the same way in racquetball and this is one reason why I am moving away from racquetball and into yoga – not to mention it’s better for your joints at 53. It amazes me beyond belief that someone can be on a beautiful golf course and be miserable because their golf game is a little off.
I love this post. I want to thank you and Leo. Since I joined the Minimalist movement, my life is calmer, more organized and I ponder life more. It is a miracle that I changed the radio station that day in February, and heard you two on the Angela Hill show in New Orleans. I just can’t thank you enough. My closets, pantry and even fridge are organized! I eagerly await your every email. And we are all so blessed in this country and don’t even realize it. Sometimes we need to be reminded.
Thank you so much.
I like the helicopter story. I’ve had many similar situations happen to me. I think the grace is the opening up that happens in a moment like that. I wasn’t thinking to notice positive things. Suddenly the idea entered my mind, just like it did with your thoughts about the helicopter. My experience was it was grace that granted me the insight and openness rather than my making a conscious choice. Otherwise I would do it all the time.
Thank you for writing this post, I was just telling some friends last night, we need to remember that life isn’t just about the mission we begin on each Monday, and accomplish by Friday. We need to stop and enjoy the journey of each week.
I was really refering to my attitude. I will try to remember.
Sorry for my english. It’s not my main language. Anyway:
My parents taught me to be thankful when somebody asked me for a favour, because they have choosed me (it’s in fact an honour to be chosen among so much people!)
I´m very thankful when I have the chance to give (whatever) to other people. And when I can´t give to others I try to give my best to my self ;-)
I agree! When we always focus on negativity, we become negative and oftentimes, we miss all these small but beautiful things that surround us.
So simple, but so powerful. I love to notice smiles, laughter, and joyful people. Reminds me that life is such a gift.
Although I know that only poor craftsman blames his tools, I still occasionally find myself blaming anything but myself whenever things go wrong. I wonder whether there is an easy way to stop this habit?
I try to remember this everyday. I have been working with special needs children as a profession for the last 8 years. (I wish I could do it for free). Every time there is a “perceived” hiccup in the day at home, it has been getting easier to remind myself of all the blessings. Wonderful marriage, healthy kids who enjoy the outdoors as much as I do, etc.
I agree that there is so much to be found in service to others. I have been involved in coaching paddle boarding to Special Olympic athletes with my wife and daughters over the last year.
To give is to receive.
Confirmation that the “little things” aren’t so little after all. Hope is born in the little things. Strength is found in the little things. The One who is bigger than it all shows himself in those little things every day. If I choose to look. nicely written, Joshua.
Great example of how everything is a matter of focus. Learning to pay attention to certain details and not others might be one of our most useful tools. :-)
I love this! I’m a little late, but this is exactly what I have been getting back to lately. I have been so focused on tomorrow and worried about my future that I have almost stopped appreciating what is already around me. It was only momentary, but it was enough to throw me off balance before I asked myself why. Thank you for sharing this. Made me smile
Wonderful,
. I was in Tuscany last spring and I visited Chianti, Siena, Florence and San Gimigano.
I slept in a farmhouse in Colle Val di Elsa with pool and a beautiful garden
The farmhouse’s name was Pieve di San Martino.The apartments are clean and well and tastefully furnished.From the garden you can enjoy a wonderful landscape in Chianti.