The Little Things.

I think many of us have become so accustomed to the hustle & bustle of life, that we forget to take a moment for ourselves; we're so busy within routines, playing puppets to the manic society of today that we don't consider the little things in life, the beauty & tranquility it can bring if we were to put our daily drama on hold for a second.

Having had a bit of spare time on my hands over the last couple of days; I took it upon myself to stop for a moment in order to consider...

What is it that makes me happy?

From a young age I've always been passionate about anything creative & I loved art at school but once the school years drew to a close the reality kicked in & I didn't really make much time for that particular field anymore. 

 As a New Years resolution, I have tried to get back into the things that I love, one of which is painting. Now, I was never overly good at art, don't get me wrong - I've always been more like a toddler with a handful of crayons but it's always been something that I can find myself getting lost in. 
So, over this last week I decided to get stuck in & obviously the first thing that occurred to me that I thought would make sense to paint was indeed, naked ladies...

Going back into education was also something that I think has benefited me. Not only has it helped me mentally & I've been lucky enough to have met the most amazing people, it has helped me redevelop my passion for art, making me want to go back & explore my more creative side and that in itself, has been one of the things that I've found that does make me happy.

Another thing that I have discovered about myself recently is that like most, I live in my own little bubble, running around completing my every day tasks, wondering about what it is that I could possibly stress about next. 
(Those of you that know me, know that stressing is often my forte!) 
For the last few years I have been blessed to live in an area surrounded by beautiful scenery & I'm ashamed to say that I have never really taken much notice of it.. so over my time off I got off my lazy arse & took myself for a little wander. My nana, being the wonderful, wise lady that she is always tells me: 'go outside, get some air in your lungs, the fresh air will do you good!' & as always, she was right.

I managed to get some pretty good snaps out on my little adventure & it made me think about how people often say 'The best things in life are free'.. how right they are - often the things that can bring us that moment of peace & ease are the things that don't cost a fortune, they don't need countless efforts & planning. They're just there; be it a nice walk around a park, a good book, a hobby or even spending time with a loved one. Life doesn't have to be so hectic really; it's just what we all know it to be. If you're like me, you have one of those 'now, what did I even come in here for?!' moments more often then you'd like and as humans we're all used to racing to the finish line trying to reach those ever daunting deadlines; so much so that when we do get the time to stand still for a second, our minds are already filling with what we must accomplish next. How blissful it would be if we just took that time to focus on the things that bring us joy in life, the little things that bring us out of our minds.

It could be anything as minor as picking up a paintbrush or taking yourself out for a walk. It could even be something little like a slice of your favourite cake and a good cuppa... 
 It doesn't have to be miraculous & life changing but, if it brings you a moment of calm then make more time for it. Life is a wonderful thing, but it's short. Give yourself some 'you' time, think about those little things that make you relaxed.

To summarize, ladies & gents;

Find whatever it is that makes you happy & then do more of it.