The small moments hold beauty. A surprise hug, a silly joke, a random, “Hey mom, watch this,” they add up. In the passing minutes, if you're not paying attention, it is easy to overlook the beauty held within. They carry details that only you get to determine and when I think about that it stops me in my tracks. It stirs me, fires me up. The best part– there is no format or definition the moments have to adhere to. The moments happen, they are lived, and you get to call the shots on capturing them. It’s these moments that shape and craft our core memories. They teach a lesson of slowing down, they add up, compounding. The power of the small moments is that life happens.
Mason started rock climbing, something I wasn't sure would be possible but he is doing it. It is not easy, there are so many parts that are involved for him to lift his body from one part of the rock to the next– vision, arms, legs, body, core– all having to work together. Learning where to place his hands and feet. He keeps going and each time he makes his way up, making it further up than the last time. He decides when he wants to repel back down and begin again. As I am watching this, it hits me– he didn’t feel the need to go all the way every time. He wants to work on the incremental portions, so after a portion of the rock was completed he went back down to start over again. Watching him, I reflect on my own tendencies to expect perfection from the start. His approach of progressing gradually and starting over as needed makes for a better vantage point. It's a reminder that success often emerges from perseverance and showing up, rather than a single flawless attempt. There is beauty and resilience in going a little ways and beginning again.
In our homeschool group’s nature study, we worked on observing something we found in nature and thinking through three promots– “I notice, I wonder, and it reminds me of” – In writing I notice that as the words come together on the page, a story is told, something in my life was noticed and then words are placed together to tell that story. In writing I wonder so often what it is that I am trying to say, where will this story take me, the thoughts unravel. Writing reminds me of the pace that is needed to keep in running– I don’t go full throttle right off the bat, you pace yourself when you run and you do the same when you're writing. It's a long game.
My eyes are open. I finished a three-week photography workshop1, which has sparked a new sense of joy and creativity. I’ve rediscovered my love for photography, picking up my camera again to capture the world around me. Through the lens, I’ve learned to be mindful of the details—the way light filters through the trees, the candid expressions of my children, and the beauty in everyday moments. Photography has become a way for me to pause and appreciate the world, to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. It’s a creative outlet that brings me joy and helps me connect with my surroundings. Capturing these moments allows me to hold onto memories and see life from a new perspective as I am living it. My eyes are open.
I really miss her. I wish I could pick up the phone and dial her number. Tell her about all kinds of random things, and catch up. There have been so many moments, I can’t even count the times I have been driving, cooking in the kitchen, or sitting at my desk and instinctually grabbing the phone to call her only to remember she won't be there to answer on the other line. Three years. There is so much to talk about, she has been gone for so long. To hear her voice, to laugh, to cry, I wish I could just call my Gram. She always wanted to hear about the small moments of my days and weeks. They brought her so much joy and it made her feel close. I learned to take note of the small moments from her.
There is power in the small moments. Take note of life happening around you.
So tell me, what are some small moments you have taken note of recently?!
Highly recommend the workshop, Curiosity As A Creative Practice with Ashlee Gadd and Jenny Floyd- whether you are a seasoned photographer or want to start today, your curiosity and creativity will soar— don’t miss the next one!