It's the Small Things

Lately, I have been thinking more and more about the inevitable regularity and rigidity of everyday life:

1. Wake up at 6:45AM
2. Leave for work at 8AM
3. Work from 9AM to 6PM
4. Arrive home at 6:30PM
5. Enjoy the evening
6. Repeat

Transitioning from university to full-time employment was a strange adjustment, but it didn't take long for a strict schedule to feel normal.

Throughout our teenage years and early adulthood, we experience a fast-paced race towards graduating high school (and for some, university/college). Throughout these key years, we acquire various experiences that largely pave a path towards our eventual careers – taking diverse courses, securing unique internships, embarking on exchanges, etc. And then poof, in due course we reach a point in life where we find ourselves working full-time in our respective careers, where we come face-to-face with regularity in the form of a fixed work schedule.

Granted, I am not here to criticize the typical 9-5 grind. Instead, I want to remind you that in adulthood – for the most of us – regularity takes over and becomes a prominent part of our lives.

While the typical 9-5 imposes rigidity, we must be mindful and aware of the small moments that interrupt our "normal" day; otherwise, our days begin to amalgamate into a linear blur. Noticing the small interruptions that occur throughout our day can give us a well needed break from the repeating patterns that we experience and can even serve as a hidden catalyst for inspiration and motivation.

For instance, during my daily commute to and from work – which I typically cover by bike or bus – I almost always listen to music. However, the other day I misplaced my headphones and was left music-less. Instead of sulking through my commute, I chose to savour my surroundings and focus on things that I don't typically notice during my "normal" day. To my surprise, this simple change inspired me to do something atypical: when walking home from the bus stop, I took a detour to a bench at the local park and just sat there in silence for 10 minutes; observing my environment and taking in the present moment. During these 10 minutes, I had no thoughts; my mind was still. Although the moment was brief, it filled me with an indescribable sense of joy and serenity.

Take a break from everyday rigidity and enjoy the small things

##

Amazing breakfast my girlfriend and I experienced while in Lake Como, Italy. We stayed at a lovely hostel. They made us homemade breakfast each morning :) We were quite fortunate, as this was definitely the best hostel we've ever experienced.