You took care of what needed to be done. Answered the messages. Handled the responsibilities. Checked a few things off the list. Maybe even managed to squeeze in something you'd been putting off.
And yet, when you think back over the week, the moments that stand out aren't always the things you accomplished.
Maybe it was an unexpected conversation that made you laugh. A quiet morning when nobody needed anything from you. An afternoon spent with someone you love. Or one of those little adventures that wasn't particularly planned but turned out to be exactly what you needed.
I find myself thinking about this sometimes, especially when life gets busy. It's so easy to become focused on what needs our attention that we forget to notice what actually brings us happiness.
And there's a difference.
We spend a lot of time thinking about what we need less of.
Less stress. Less clutter. Less rushing. Less worrying. Fewer obligations. Fewer things pulling us in different directions.
There's certainly value in recognizing what isn't working. Sometimes we need to make changes, establish boundaries, or let go of things that no longer fit.
But lately, I've been thinking about the other side of that conversation.
What do we want more of?
Not necessarily more things. Not more commitments or another list of goals to accomplish.
More of the moments that make life feel good while we're actually living it.
Maybe you want more laughter in your home. More conversations that go beyond the usual exchange of how everyone's doing. More time outside, more creativity, more music, more spontaneous adventures.
Or maybe what you're craving is something quieter. More peaceful mornings. More time to read. More opportunities to sit with your thoughts without feeling like you should be doing something else.
And perhaps the things you want more of are already part of your life. They just don't always receive the same attention as everything else.
Think about that for a moment.
We can become so accustomed to prioritizing what needs to get done that the things we genuinely enjoy end up being what we do if there's time left over.
I've certainly been there.
And while responsibilities don't magically disappear, I wonder what might happen if we began treating some of those meaningful moments as part of living our lives, rather than something we have to earn after everything else is finished.
Last week, we talked about the possibilities that open up when we leave a little room for the unexpected.
But there's another side to that.
Sometimes we don't need to discover something new. We already know what makes us happy. We know which people leave us feeling lighter, which places help us unwind, and which experiences remind us that there's more to life than keeping up with everything.
Maybe we just need to give those things a little more attention.
And that doesn't have to mean making big changes.
If you enjoy talking with an old friend, perhaps you reach out instead of waiting until you both have more time. If being outdoors helps you feel grounded, maybe you spend a few extra minutes outside instead of immediately heading back to the next task. If laughter has been missing lately, perhaps you find a reason to bring a little more of it into your day. And if a sunset makes you smile... chase it!
Not because any of these things will make you more productive or help you become a better version of yourself.
Sometimes the most beautiful moments are the ones we allow ourselves to notice.
- Mary-Anne Schelb
Simply because you enjoy them.
I think sometimes we forget that's reason enough.
As we come to the end of October and our conversation about living intentionally, I hope that's something we can carry forward.
Living intentionally isn't always about changing direction, making difficult decisions, or figuring out what comes next.
Sometimes it's about recognizing the good that's already here and choosing to spend a little more of our lives enjoying it.
One Intentional Step
Think about something you've enjoyed recently. Something that made you laugh, feel connected, peaceful, or simply glad you were there.
What would it look like to experience a little more of that?
It doesn't have to be complicated, expensive, or even particularly memorable to anyone else.
Just something that matters to you.
And perhaps, sometime this week, you can make a little room for it.
Continue the Conversation
I'd love to hear from you.
What's something in your life you would love to experience more often? Maybe it's something simple that you've realized you miss, or something you've recently rediscovered.
Share your thoughts in the comments. Your story may be exactly what someone else needs to hear this week.
Until next time…
Grant yourself a little grace.
Trust yourself a little more.
And take one intentional step.
Be well,
Mary-Anne
