Life is full of curve balls.
When life throws you a lemon, make lemonade.
Don’t stress about life too much, you’ll never make it out alive.
Life sucks. Then you die.
There are hundreds — if not thousands — of sayings about life. A lot of them try to give you a good grip on what life really is about and how one should take a look at the bigger picture. If you’re a regular reader of this blog — or just have been stopping because of this challenge — you likely know my current status and how I’ve been trying to dig myself out.
I don’t want to repeat everything, so if you don’t know and are curious, see this post I wrote earlier in this challenge.
Anyway…
When you look at the bigger picture about life and how things can go up and down, you really need to focus, as well, on the little things. Because, in all reality, it’s the little things that make life truly bearable.

Life is full of little things to enjoy — such as going out for a pint of the black stuff with family or friends.
The big things — making a major purchase, going on a big vacation, other huge life events — are great. And they take part in shaping who you are. But at the same time, they are often one-time happenings (or rare if done more than once). So as nice as it is to have these situations, the reality is they are things to look forward or backward on.
It’s the little things, however, that really make life worth living.
I was truly reminded of this during a Saturday night photo outing in the Albany area.
After spending a while at the Empire State Plaza, we went to a local Dunkin’ Donuts for a quick bite. We decided to check one more place out as I had hoped it would give us a good place for some shots. The area is a waterfront park on the Hudson River. They’ve built it up nicely with some walkways, some nice views and a small building. I believe the building houses a few bathrooms and an office for summer tours.
When we pulled up, I saw a homeless person sleeping in one of the doorways. All bundled up and with a stroller of sorts, filled with some of her items. We backed away and took a different sidewalk in, so as not to disturb the person. It was, after all, about 10 p.m. or so and we didn’t want to scare her or anything like that.
It made me reflect on things. Despite having no job, no income and having to raid what I have left of a retirement account to pay bills, I reminded myself of a few things: I have a roof over my head, the ability to eat, the technology to keep looking for work and family and friends who have gone beyond what they should have to do to help me out at times.
I’ve stayed current with bills so my credit number doesn’t take a full nosedive and, for the most part, I’ve remained as positive as possible in this situation.
There are many people in this country who have it way worse than I do. In a day and age when politicians make oodles of money to make awful decisions, professional athletes make more in a year than many people will make in a lifetime, and countless amounts of money is dumped into worrying about things in other countries more than our own, I realize — for now — I’m actually OK in a way.
I remind myself of the little things, such as the following:
- Being able to have a beer with a friend
- Being able to brew my own beer!
- Going out and finding a geocache
- Going for a walk or a bike ride
- Taking a photograph
- Playing a round of disc golf
- Reading a good book
These are all little things in life. Everyday occurrences that can make one smile or be happy to be alive.
And, unfortunately, some people aren’t in the situation to be able to enjoy the little things. It’s my hope, one day, when I get back on my feet that I can find a way to help people who have it worse than me. And as much as I would love to help people in other countries, I’d really like to give back to my country because I am proud of who I am and where I’m from.
Everybody should have the ability to enjoy the little things. I realize that isn’t always going to be possible, and that’s a shame.
But it makes me reflect. And it makes me appreciate what I do have. And it makes me continue to fight to get ahead again, so one day I can hopefully give back.
Maybe then, the little things will make others happy, too.
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