Appreciating the little things
After months, I am finally getting back to this little blog of mine! This year has been a strange one for me, as I imagine it might have been for many of you. Many ups, many downs. To be honest, there were several spots where it was far more down than up. However, I can’t say that the year hasn’t had its amazing moments, its achievements.
The largest and most life changing event happened this summer. I traveled to Greece. The trip was full of firsts for me! My first time leaving the USA, my first time swimming in the ocean, my first time going on a trip that was just for me and had no family involved. I painted on the beach, met and befriended other amazing artists, ate Greek food, went to a Greek winery to paint and have a tasting, walked around Athens and Thessaloniki. I saw ancient architecture right next to streets and modern buildings. I got to meet people who had a culture much different to what I was used to (and in many ways it was refreshing).
The beautiful Greek Ocean
Even with all of those amazingly wonderful things, the moments I find myself looking back on most fondly are brief and tiny aspects of the journey. The feeling of impossibly soft sand under my toes. The way the mountain on a nearby island looked so different depending on the time of day. The color shifting in the crystal clear water. A quiet but giggly chat late at night with fellow artists. Rescuing a jewel beetle from the sink. A gentle word of encouragement and insight when talking about our hopes and dreams. Brief moments of connection to people I never would have met otherwise. Finding a baby praying mantis and setting him free again. Taking a picture of an old abandoned stairway that looks like it could lead to a different world altogether.
As a child I would have been convinced something magical would happen here
Capturing the beauty in small or unnoticed things is extremely important to me. It is why I love creating mini paintings, and why I love to paint insects, flowers, and other small natural things so much. However it dawned on me that reveling in the small things is not just about individual creatures or things. It is also an idea that can be applied to our daily lives. Perhaps you haven’t been able to take a wild trip this year (and given the state of the world, that would not be surprising). But there are likely small things in your normal lives that could bring a little extra inspiration or joy. A well brewed cup of coffee. The way the light glistens through the window. The laugh of a loved one. A hug in times of trial. Perhaps even just the quiet assurance that you’ve made it another day. It can take time and practice to begin noticing these moments. To not just ignore them or blast past them as you hurry about your day. However, seeing these small things and moments more often can help even dark times seem a touch brighter.
