The Little Things

The death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the others from the helicopter crash had me more shocked than ever. I was never a huge basketball fan, but I was always familiar by Bryant because of his success in basketball and influence on society. The reactions to his death show that he wasn't just a legendary basketball player, but also a loving husband/father and a positive influence around the world.

Life is a blessing. When we get trapped into our everyday routines of work/school, we can sometimes forget what we have been blessed with around us. I believe that everyone has those "little things" that keep them going, and sometimes we can forget to reflect on them. I have come across a few changes to make me appreciate what I have been given, and work towards creating a more positive and purposeful life.

Religion: Growing up in a religious family, I felt like I was forced to take part in it which is what drifted me away. The past few months I started reading more into Islam on my own and learning about it myself. I have stopped listening to what others say about those "gray" areas and started doing my own research. I created my own connection, and this has led me to become more spiritual than I ever thought I would be. I don't want to just label myself as a Muslim, I want to be one who keeps learning and growing from the religion.

Fitness: Putting my headphones in and starting a 1 hour session at the gym is one of the best feelings for me. As I have mentioned before, I am a huge foodie so I don't think I will ever be able to give up buffalo chicken pizza or wings...but even just snacking on fruits/veggies or eating a salad once every day or two makes me feel refreshed. I want to appreciate my body more by treating it well and taking care of my health.

Relationships: Whether it's a friend, family member. or significant other...it's always important to show appreciation and not leave in the middle of a fight. You never know when will be the last time you speak to someone, so make the most out of every moment with the people you care for. My goal is to try and go out of my way to show appreciation for those I care for and to remind them how important they are to me. A simple coffee run with someone makes me happy, no expensive dinner needed.

Strangers: I recently started working part time at a bakery, and it is allowing me to experience customer service one last time before my corporate career begins. At my graduation, the speaker said the quote, "If someone is nice to you but rude to the waiter, they are not a nice person". This is such an important quote we all need to be reminded about. It does upsets me when a customer is rude to me for no reason, or if outside of work I encounter something similar. I have learned to be very cautious of how I interact with people - asking someone how they are doing or just giving them a smile can make their day, even if they are just a stranger.

Explore: I have always loved traveling. I love exploring new places and experience a whole new environment. I want to explore anywhere that I can, whether it be a small city around my hometown or going to a new country. This world has so much to offer and I want to see as many hidden gems as I am able to.

These things could feel so small and generic, but the little things are really what can make us happy and content with ourselves. Working on smaller aspects of our lives can only help us achieve the big goals we create for ourselves.

One of my favorite quotes comes from the Harry Potter series:

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”
- Albus Dumbledore

This quote speaks to me because we can easily daydream about our goals, but forget about the little things that make our lives special. Aside from the big company we want to work for, or what school we want to get accepted to - there are other important things in life that will keep us motivated to be the best versions of ourselves.

Always,
Ainy