In Praise of the Small Stuff

WRITTEN BY CHANDLER JOINER

The winter holidays are often considered a time for immense gratitude. Beyond Thanksgiving, many families work hard to reflect on and acknowledge what they’re thankful for throughout the season. There are the classics: gratitude for family gathered around the table, the ability to give gifts to loved ones, warm home-cooked meals and cozy beds on cold nights. These are important and meaningful moments of gratitude.

Yet, somewhere in the midst of these big, sentimental reflections, the smaller, everyday gratitude often gets lost.

It’s impossible to put a scale on gratitude, no one can say what is more or less important. But there is something refreshing about shifting our focus away from the expected “biggies,” such as family, home and food, and instead taking a moment to appreciate the tiny, often-overlooked joys of daily life.

As the Director of Rockhaven Camp, I make a practice of this during summer. Each day, I take a moment to feel grateful for open-toed shoes. Whether it’s Chacos, Tevas or flip-flops, I love the ease of slipping them on and not having to think about snow, wet socks or frozen toes. Opentoe shoes could be considered a little thing, but they bring me immense joy.

Practicing gratitude for small things like this throughout the holiday season helps cut through the stress and commercialism of the holidays. Life is made up of little moments, and appreciating them helps us stay grounded and present in daily moments of joy.

So, in that spirit, let’s celebrate the everyday. Here are a few worth appreciating this season:

• A travel mug that keeps your coffee warm all day

• The new season of The Great British Bake Off

• A library card

• A pair of jeans that fit just right

• Seeing an especially cute dog while out on a walk

• The smell of a campfire on a chilly evening

• Finding the perfect playlist for a morning run

• A pen that writes like a dream

• Heated car seats

• Unrolling the perfect tie dye spiral

• A text from an old friend out of the blue

• A really good cup of tea in a cute mug

• The feeling of fresh sheets after a long day of cleaning

• When the stoplight turns green just as you approach

• A moment of unexpected laughter

• A perfectly ripe Montana plum

Gratitude doesn’t have to be grand to be meaningful. The more we notice and name the little things, the more abundant our days begin to feel.

Chandler Joiner is the Director at Rockhaven Camp and Retreat Center, located on Gallatin Gateway between Bozeman and Big Sky. Chandler is passionate about the transformative power of spending time outdoors.