The Little Things in Life

Tiffany Griffith

Ever have those days when you feel like there's nothing to be happy about? Then this post is for you.

There will be days where everything goes wrong—that's life. But if you constantly focus on everything going wrong, you will have a really hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. You may be thinking that I am just one person who may not even understand what you're going through—but hear me out.

There was a time in my life where I was sick, and I mean sick! Infection after infection. Going from 110lbs to 86lbs. I couldn't bowl, I couldn't leave my house, I couldn't eat, I couldn't even leave my bed. Why am I telling you this?

My anxiety, panic disorder, and fear was SO BAD, I didn't think it was going to get any better. I finally said enough was enough. I decided that something needed to be done. I couldn't spend every day like this. I wanted to talk to someone—my Grandma in particular. So, I picked up my phone to call her, forgetting that she had passed away a couple weeks previous (hope you're still resting in paradise my angel). Losing someone who would talk to me and make the bad things better and the great things greater was tough, but I knew she wouldn't want me to be this way.

And this brings me to the title of this post. I started to look for the little things in life to make me happy.

I would watch my favourite movie over and over again. Soul Surfer—the movie about Bethany Hamilton. She lost her arm in a shark attack and still went on to be a professional surfer.

This movie taught me what it means to have hope. And—not to preach as it's not my intent—but it reminded me of my faith in God. It reminded me of how powerful his love is!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” Declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope, and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11

This verse spoke to me, and still does to this day. I didn't believe staying in bed was in his plans for me. So every day from that day forth, I looked for the little things and I thanked him when I could find them. Day by day I would count my wins— something I had accomplished that pushed me and made me stronger and better than the day before.

When I got out of bed, I won. When I was able to eat, I won. Every tiny win grew and grew and gave me more and more hope. Y'know what they say is true: even on your weakest days, you get stronger.

My hopes for you? I want you to know that YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK! Count your wins. Even if you don't think something as simple as getting up out of bed is a win—trust me it is. Little gains go a long way, and it's the little things in life that can make a world of difference.