Simple Things That Make Life Better
Life is no longer simple these days. The recent financial crisis seems to have a life of its own and it seems that it is going to be quite some time before things get much better. Terrorists seem to be running rampant the world over and they seem to be better and stronger despite the world’s efforts to contain them. And we might be starting to see the effects of global warming in the form of more violent and unpredictable weather.
And when we feel that we are being overwhelmed, we can’t even rely on our usual ways to make us feel better. With good jobs getting harder to come by and money getting tighter, going shopping, having a night out on the town, or going on a short vacation, is no longer an option.
But there are simple things that we can do that can make life better for us and for those around us, that does not require a lot of money, or actually, no money at all. And besides, spending a lot of money is not guaranteed to make our life better, but is guaranteed to make us poorer.
Do Something Unexpected
The humdrum of everyday life gets really monotonous after a while. Every single day, you do the same things, you say the same things, you sit in the same chair, you eat the same food...you get the idea. The days pass by quickly, and then weeks, and then months, and if you are not careful, years might pass in the blink of an eye.
Once in a while, make it a point to do something different, or break our of your usual routine. It could be as simple as taking a different route home from work each day, or wearing an outfit that is totally uncharacteristic of you, or surprising somebody with a gift. The key is to break out of your routine and you may find that life suddenly takes on an extra dimension.
No Hidden Agenda
Have you ever had conversations in which the conversations went where it went? There was no preconceived notion as to what the conversation should be about, or intentions about what the conversation is supposed to achieve, or a hidden agenda behind the conversation. The conversation was simply 2 people sharing a moment in time together.
Conversations like these usually feature prominently in our lives when we were younger. I remember the times in camp when we would just talk the night away. Life got more complicated when we got older and the luxury of such conversations became too time consuming and we now talk not for the sake of talking, but for the sake of getting things done.
Try to enter into each conversation with an open mind, with no thought as to how it is going to go and how you are going to steer the conversation in the direction that you need. You will come across as open, forthright and a joy to converse with, and it will do wonders with how you interact with people and how they relate to you.
Don't Forget To Say You Are Sorry
All too often in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we get upset, and irritated, and a little short tempered. Our tone gets a little curt when it shouldn’t, or we snap at a colleague when she is just trying to be through, or we get impatient when we have to repeat our order to the waiter.
More often than not, the other party will let it slide. Sometimes, you might even get an apology from them for getting you upset. But, although they may not show it, the damage has been done. Their opinion of you has changed just that little bit. In time, after numerous incidents which you think they might not even have noticed, a person who regarded you as a “great friend and confidante” would have relegated you to “just another colleague”.
So, rein in that snappy remark, or that curt tone, whenever you can. And when you can’t help yourself and it slips out, a quick apology works wonders. And if you accompany that with a short explanation of why you snapped, you might actually win some sympathy.
Conclusion
It’s the little and simple things that really count and make life better. The loads of money, flashy cars, big houses and exotic vacations do grab the attention, but when all is said and done, you remember best what might seem to be the small and inconsequential details. In the final reckoning, a good life is not determined by the size of your fortune, but by the way that you have lived every single moment of that life.
