Time to enjoy the little things

Happiness.

Isn't that all anyone's ever looking for in life?

We try to find love because it makes us happy. We buy things because they make us happy. We have children because they occasionally make us happy.

But even when we get what we want, we're not always satisfied.

It's always the little things.

With me, if you look at the big  picture, things are great. Things are pretty much amazing.

My daughter is amazing. She's semi healthy. She plays, she learns, she cries. But she also likes to try to get up too early sometimes. She's cranky a lot. And she barely eats. And too much I forcus on the buts, instead of the wonderful things.

I've also got an amazing boyfriend. Some of the things he does still catches me off-guard. Like the day he got off work before I did and had dinner ready, the dishes done, and laundry in the dryer by the time I got home. He picks up the toys when the girls are in bed without being asked. He'll change and dress Chloe sometimes without being asked. But when I get up in the morning with a baby and he gets to sleep in, sometimes I want to punch him in the face.

Okay, bad example because that has more to do with jealousy and not being a morning person. And I kid. I don't want to punch him. I just want to beat him with pillows and make him feel my pain.

But he's not perfect either. And more often than I'd like, I find myself annoyed with the little things when I shouldn't be. The good outweighs the bad times a million.

I am grateful for all the good things in my life, but too often I find myself focusing on those little annoyances, and forgetting the big picture. I want to enjoy the good, instead of alway noticing the bad.

When my daughter got up at 6:30am this morning, 40 minutes before our alarm was due to go off, I was annoyed. But she was in a great mood and it meant that we got to play for awhile. Usually we only play in the evenings, and she's tired and cranky.

In the end, are we trying so hard to be happy that really we're the ones messing it up by not appreciating the little moments?

My new goal is to do exactly that - appreciate the little moments.

And I want you to do it too. Think of a few times today that something bothered you, even just the slightest, and think of something good about it.

If you're feeling really ambitious, blog about it. But if you do, please send me the link.