Celebrate the little things

One glass, many meanings
London, ON
October 2014
Thematic's favorite photos of the year continues here.

Over the past year and a bit, I've learned the real value of appreciating the little things in life. I grew up with the whole "don't sweat the small stuff" ethos ringing in my head, repeated mantra-like by every authority figure virtually from the moment I could first understand the meaning of the phrase.

But I never fully agreed with it. Because small stuff is what makes life as vibrant and memorable as it is. When you watch a snail slowly cross the pathway with your kids, you're implanting a moment in their minds that will stay with them forever, and likely ripple through their lives in ways you can't even begin to understand right now. Sure, it's a stupid, slime-filled snail. But if it gives you the opportunity to stop time and create something real for those who matter to you, then you do yourself and them a disservice by blasting past it because you were so focused on making a big bang.

This wine glass - filled with water, alas - was another small moment in a life increasingly filled with them. And I can practically feel the warmth of the moment every time I look back at this otherwise ordinary picture. I was with my family, in the middle of a huge party, surrounded by friends and good vibes.

The simple wine glass is a reminder to me that seemingly simple things like this are anything but ordinary. And as the new year begins in earnest, I hope you'll look for the extraordinary moments in the nooks and crannies of your own everyday life that in the past you might have otherwise ignored. In 2015, I hope you'll stop ignoring them and start drinking them in no matter what anyone else might say. Because the story is yours to write, and I can't wait to see what you have to say.

Your turn: What will that first little thing be? Go ahead, let us know!