Innocence Lost

I read something today on Facebook that resonated with me deeply. It hit hard on a philosophy I used to live by. On the art interest page of Innocence Lost:

“you’ve gotta start romanticizing your life. you gotta start believing that your morning commute is cute and fun, that every cup of coffee is the best you’ve ever had, that even the smallest and most mundane things are exciting and new. because that’s when you truly start living.”

There are so many beautiful things in a twenty-four hour period – from before a sunrise to after a sunset. The sound of the wind through the grasses and trees. The kiss of the sunlight on the horizon. The laughter of children. The taste of your coffee. The interaction between people. The sound of an instrument. The hug of a friend.

So how do we lose sight of the beauty of these things?

Even though knowledge is power, ignorance is bliss. Although we learn through life by experiencing things, oftentimes these experiences crush our innocence. They take away the rose-colored glasses through which we may have viewed life. Although there is always a silver lining, every yin also has a yang. Every positive has a negative somewhere. The more we know doesn’t always mean the happier we are.

This negative outlook can infiltrate even the most positive person once life’s experiences become too much to handle mentally, physically, or emotionally. Cynicism can overtake one’s perspective like a slow-growing weed creeping into your vegetable garden. It can suck your energy for enjoying life away. Once life isn’t enjoyable, I call this survival mode. I notice I’m there when I’d rather sleep than do anything else. Once I realize I’m there, however, I have several strategies I use to take control of my mind and notice the beauty of my life again.

So how can we mindfully notice these wonderful things?

Keep a Gratitude Journal

Keeping a small journal with you where you can jot down the things you are grateful for as you notice you’re grateful for them helps cement that feeling within you. You can do this on your phone or in a physical paper journal. It can be prompted, or a scrawled down list, or a collection of random thoughts, sketches, or whatever. Writing or typing something physically helps you focus on these things.

Color a Mood Tracker

Noticing patterns within our emotions can help us recognize cues and either enhance or eliminate the triggers. If everyday during craft time, my emotions go haywire, I can understand that crafts stress me out and pass that task onto someone else. Coloring has also been proven to be relaxing. The mood tracker is just enough coloring to keep me relaxed, but not stress me out.

Write/Speak/Listen to Statements of Affirmation

Life is 90% mental and 10% physical. Whether you are spiritual or not, there are non-religious, positive affirmation resources everywhere. I use several on YouTube with my oldest daughter . Strengthening yourself mentally helps you put the negative in perspective and find the positive.

Take a Deep Breath, Slow Down, and Look Around

Noticing the details of the world around you can help you find your own place in it. Looking up at the sky as you walk to your car. Watching a sunset as you pause after dinner. Setting your phone down and really listening to what your spouse, children, friend, or whoever is really saying. Deep breathing strategies help me to slow down and realize all of the beauty surrounding me. Watch the video below to get some benefits and tips on deep breathing.

Vary your Routine

Switching up your routine can help you notice the small details you sometimes take for granted. Although routines help us manage stress, after too long, they become stale and boring. You just go through the motions of them. Small things like switching up the order you do your morning routine, or trying a new commute to work can make life more exciting and sometimes enjoyable.

“you’ve gotta start romanticizing your life. you gotta start believing that your morning commute is cute and fun, that every cup of coffee is the best you’ve ever had, that even the smallest and most mundane things are exciting and new. because that’s when you truly start living.”

Although the capitalization and punctuation errors in the initial quote make my English teacher heart bleed, they also make a point as deep as the words themselves. Don’t sweat the mistakes or the judgment of others. Don’t worry about the capitalization and punctuation. There is no guaranteed tomorrow, so make the most of today and enjoy the little things, the everyday things. Just make sure you dot your i’s and cross your t’s, and enjoy the ride.