Finding Joy in the Little Things
It amazes me how quickly people can get so wrapped up in themselves that they stop noticing the world around them. A turtle slowly crossing the road. A butterfly fluttering past. A patch of mushrooms that weren’t there yesterday, now sprinkled across the ground after a rain. Most people rush past without ever seeing them.
But here’s the truth: joy isn’t found in rushing, stressing, or squeezing every ounce out of the clock. Joy shows up in the details. It’s in the little things most people walk right past.
I’ll admit, I’m probably the worst person to go on a walk with because I’ll stop a hundred times. A mark on a tree that looks like a heart. A snail crossing the path, inching along like it has all the time in the world. The colors of sunlight filtering through the trees. Those tiny details are easy to miss—but that’s where joy lives.
Life is not just about the big wins, the big trips, or the big milestones. If we’re too busy waiting for those, we’ll miss out on what’s right in front of us. Joy doesn’t always come in fireworks; sometimes it shows up as whispers—quiet little reminders that we are alive, connected, and surrounded by wonder.
The world would be a better place if we all slowed down enough to notice. Not just for ourselves, but for each other. Because when we’re present, we see more. And when we see more, we care more.
A Few Ways to Notice the Little Things
If you’re ready to shift gears and find more joy in the everyday, here are a few simple ways to start:
Take a “slow walk.” Leave your phone behind, walk without rushing, and look closely at the details—tree bark, flowers, clouds, even sidewalk cracks.
Practice the pause. At least once a day, stop what you’re doing and take three slow breaths. Ask yourself: What’s beautiful around me right now?
Notice the unnoticed. Smile at a stranger, move a turtle safely across the road, or pause to watch a bird fly. Small gestures create ripple effects.
Keep a “tiny joys” journal. Jot down one small thing that made you smile each day—a smell, a sound, a sight.
Trade distraction for presence. Next time you’re tempted to scroll while waiting in line, look up. Watch the people, listen to the sounds, be fully there.
Because joy isn’t hiding—it’s waiting. All it takes is slowing down, noticing more, and realizing the little things weren’t so little after all.
