I was on a walk with a friend the other day and I took some time to really look around at my surroundings. We strolled around a little lake and just talked. I started to notice the trees around us and the little animals in the water. There were birds literally just vibing and I was thinking that wow I love life. Sometimes I will remember that I have the power to romanticize anything in my life. Remind myself to be mindful and present.
For those of you that are unsure what it means to “romanticize” life, here’s what google says. “Romanticizing life” means finding joy and self-love in everyday moments, appreciating the small things, and infusing your life with mindfulness, intentionality, and a sense of beauty and gratitude. Everyone has the power to do this. We just get so caught up in everything and we forget to take a breath. We’re always one step ahead of ourselves and rarely enjoy the moment for what it is. Taking a second to remind yourself to enjoy where you are in the moment really does wonders for the brain.
I have a palm tree tattoo on my forearm. It was an impulse tattoo. I was driving to therapy with my windows down on my day off, and noticed how beautiful the trees were against the sky backdrop. I got the tattoo a few hours later. It’s a reminder of how happy I was in that moment. That I live in a place with beautiful weather, the palm trees are pretty, I’m alive and breathing. A really present moment for me that now I can carry wherever I go. The tattoo reminds me to slow down and enjoy the little things.
A few years ago I was sitting in the Dunkin drive thru and watched a Blue Jay living its life unbothered. I watched it for a long time. Then I noticed the trees and the sky and the air around me. Brought my attention to how happy I was and how I want to feel like this all the time. I find that reminding myself to just take a second and be present helps a lot. Take a few moments to be grateful for even the small things around you. Anyone can romanticize their life. It’s especially important to do it on a bad day. A few bad things that happen to you don’t make your day bad. That’s not to say people can’t have shitty days. Because we all have them every once in a while. But, if you don’t want these shitty moments to consume you, I find it helpful to start with focusing on my breathing.
I believe the world is covered in beautiful things. We’re all just so go go go that we forget to live. The world has so much to offer. We just have to open our eyes. Being positive never hurt anybody. Of course being cynical is easier. You’re just protecting yourself from being hurt. But you have no idea what your life could be unless you find peace and beauty in the every day things.
Savor the taste of your coffee. Think about the temperature warming your skin. The wind in your hair. The way your pet cuddles up to you when you get home. Little things. Make it a goal this week to point out the small things you’re grateful for. Romanticize it all. You’ll thank yourself.
