So, I started re-reading Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson Monday night.
The first technique is of course: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.
In the first chapter, Richard Carlson explains that we need to let go of all the little things that aren’t such a big deal. We have a tendency to magnify the small things and blow them out of proportion making them a big deal. At the end of this technique he explains, “So many people spend so much of their life energy ‘sweating the small stuff’ that they completely lose touch with the magic and beauty of life.”
This rang true more today than ever. The tragedy in Connecticut made me think about my three girls. Two of them are in elementary school and it made me think, “What if that happened at their school?” I couldn’t fathom it and what the parents of those children are feeling right now. My heart goes out to them.
The magnitude of what happened made me realize more that all the little problems in my life are nothing compared to what those parents are experiencing right now. I need to let the small things go and appreciate the magic and beauty of my life and appreciate my wife and kids.
I am not perfect. I have a tendency to get worked up over little things. I need to learn how to let the small things go and enjoy life more. I have to learn to let the person in the car in front of me enjoy driving 30 mph in a 50 mph zone. I have to not get upset when my daughter freaks out about misplacing her iPod. I have to not get frazzled when my oldest daughter wants me to warm her dinner in the microwave instead of doing it herself when she is standing right next to it. It is the little things that I have to let go.
Today reminded me that we truly don’t know how much time we have here on this ball of dirt.
I need to relax and enjoy it more.
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