I recently learned about Neil Pasricha and his blog 1000 Awesome Things, rated as the best blog in the world for two years in a row. As a way to try to cheer himself up after his wife left him and his best friend took his own life, Pasricha blogged about one awesome thing for 1000 straight weekdays.
He wrote about the small joys in life, like taking your shoes off on a long car ride, when a stranger walks by and offers to take a photo of you and the person you’re with, and getting your ID checked when you’re way over the legal age.
I love the idea of being in awe of the things that are part of our everyday lives, so I watched his TedTalk on the "3 A's of Awesome." In the 17 minute video he explains the background of his blog and book, and goes over the three A's.
Attitude: You get to decide how you react to what happens in life. When you experience loss or a challenge, you always have the choice to feel your grief and decide to move forward.
Awareness: Embrace your inner three-year old, and view everything as though you're seeing it for the first time. By moving through life like this, you appreciate the small things.
Authenticity: When you're true to yourself, you follow your heart, and put yourself in places and situations that you love and enjoy.
Pasricha reminds us to appreciate the tiny joys that make life wonderful, to keep a positive outlook, and to be ourselves. All great messages.
If you need some reminders of the great moments we encounter daily, purchase his NY Times Bestseller, Book of Awesome. Maybe it will inspire you to start your own list.
I've been tracking the things that I'm thankful for using my wellness journal that I got for my birthday last year. I can't help but smile each time I write down something simple that was a light in my day.