Saturday, July 20, 2013

Making mountains out of molehills

I like to make a big deal out of small things.

Now, I'm not talking about all the times I've imagined some hidden meaning in people's words and actions.  That's something I'm working on, I promise.

All summer long, I've been watching my friends post pictures of their vacations.  I've listened to their tales of warm sun, sand in between their toes, and relaxation.  I am happy for them.

We've never gone on a vacation like that.  Well, once we went to Washington, D.C. for 4 days.  But otherwise, our family has never gone a vacation where we slept in hotels and just rested.  I'm not entirely sure I know how to rest, now that I think about it.

An old pic of us in front of the Capitol building


Instead, we are champions of the day-trip, and exploring our hometown.  In the past few years, someone coined this the "staycation," which is a stupid word.  I've always just considered it living life.  Why sit at home day in and day out, especially as homeschoolers, when there's a world to explore?

As a result, I tend to celebrate the small things.

We're going to spend the day at the local state park swimming in the lake?  Yay, we're going to the beach and we'll build a giant sandcastle!

We've decided to go hiking in the woods?  Yay, let's be explorers and search for rare wildflowers!

I suppose this might sound silly, but if I can't find the pleasure and joy in the things I do every day, then I'm pretty sure I'm living life wrong.