THE LITTLE THINGS — maddy marie

Three little words, with four little syllables. The little things. Somehow, the littlest things mean so much. It's CRAZY how the littlest things can create the biggest and most meaningful impact in your life. Well, for me at least. I've always been a lover of the small, yet vibrant and glowing things. The unknown, more unpractical things to fall for seem to always draw an attraction for me. So I've realized that maybe we just have to live for the small things. Like someone picking up the pen you dropped, being called pretty, or even laughing so hard your stomach hurts. From the gentle touching of hands, all the way to the freshly gardened flowers on your window sill. The smell of mom cooking breakfast in the morning as it seeps through the house. The nightmare you had at 1:23 in the morning that awoke you with fright. Maybe that's all that really matters at the end of the day. Sometimes all it takes is a little thing to spark something so big. Because guess what, LIFE'S ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS! Like honestly, look around you. All the little things, moments, objects around you make up the overall picture. Without them, nothing would be whole. Growing up, I've always noticed and payed attention to them. The hidden, not what everyone talks and thinks about type of little things. So I want to share all of the little things that have helped me and meant the most to me along the way, with you. The things that without knowing, realizing, and learning, make me wonder where I would be today. Let's fall in love with the little things together.

STOP APOLOGIZING.

Stop. Your existing is not a privilege, but a right. Treat it as such, and have the courage to stop apologizing for it. Never be sorry for who you are or being a part of something that you wanted to be in. Sadly, people and even your "FRIENDS" love to make you feel low, suppressed, and bad about yourself or something revolving you leading you naturally to apologize. You're helpless. But you have no right to do so when you have the right to keep doing what you're doing. Trust me, I easily feel apologetic towards too many things. I am a victim of forgiveness. Yet if you sit back and think about it, are you truly sorry for all of the things you said "Oh I'm sorry!" too? So why do we do it? It's just the easier way out. As soon as I let the habit of sorriness fade, I feel nothing but stronger and taller (not literally). It's never too late to start living up to the characters we create and unravel a lifetime worth of new and radiant decisions. This simply allows us to realize how easily 1 little word can affect our everyday actions. I'm not sorry.

PERFECT IS OVERRATED.

In our day of age, it is so easy to develop into the images we feel we must portray. The feeling that if you don't look like an Instagram model, you are ugly. If you aren't vegan, you are fat. If you don't dress a certain way, or wear a particular brand of shoes, you have bad style. The list goes on and on. Being mixed up within the midst of photographs and a drastic changing culture, we feel stuck. Stuck in a pit of "Perfect". But is being everything a society forms you to be truly perfect? No. Why do we always try so hard to be perfect? In a sense, I believe we have all felt this way at one time or another. When I was younger, all I wanted to be was perfect. All these girls and boys around me were living up to these standards and expectations that made me feel as if I needed to be doing so also. Fantasizing about the perfect body, perfect hair, perfect face. Yet... how pathetic. HOW PATHETIC. Reading those words back nauseates me knowing I once looked in the mirror having those things as a stress and worry. And sadly, most people still do. But to me, now I could care less. The little things about a person is what makes them so "perfect". But I won't use that word anymore because there is no such thing. Perfect is outdated, perfect is overrated. Take a step back and look at yourself, and other people, for the values and inner beauty that makes them, them. And that makes you, you. There are so many things that are so much better than beauty. I won't ever understand why not everyone can understand this. I won't ever understand why we tear ourselves up, and make ourselves sad and mad from a world of falsity and media. Don't ever let the world try to convince you that your worth is tied to your false appearance. Don't ever let someone tell you to change yourself. We all deserve to be so happy and so joyful within our own skin, not a painted shell someone created and sculpted for you. Be strong. Be forgiving. Be passionate. Be confident and so kind. Be the best you that you could ever imagine yourself to be. Love yourself to the deepest depths, and the highest altitudes. Radiate a sunset from your glowing happiness. 'Be everything great and magnificent in the world. But most importantly, always be unapologetically you.' Perfect, go screw yourself. Focus on the little things about our world, and where you fit in it best for your own self.

FINDING A FOCUS.

I believe one of the most important parts of being human is finding the divine balance between selflessness and selfishness. This is a theory that I am so so passionate about. "Selfish". Everyone is always saying 'don't be selfish', 'always put others before you', etc etc. I've heard it all. And yes, they are right...well, in a sense. We should always be caring and giving and passionate about helping others and doing anything for them, of course. If someone calls you at midnight with an emergency, you should always be the friend that will drop everything and anything to help them and support them. But at other times, we need to put ourselves first. If something isn't benefitting you, and supplementing your own happiness and health, then what's the point? Why waste so much time on doing something for and with something/someone else if it is out of obligation and to not be "selfish"? That is sad. Yet, I don't want to be sorry for you, you are doing that to yourself. Be selfish. Do things for yourself that will make you scream and sing with pure joy and greatness. It's about finding the perfect median between doing things for yourself and others. Just know, it's okay, and actually pretty awesome if you put yourself first sometimes. I admire you for that. Within this all, it's about finding a focus that will allow you to continuously keep developing your own happiness. When I finally started to do things for myself, and focus on new things that I truly wanted to do, an entire new window of opportunities and achievements opened up for me. I have never been so happy. And I want nothing but the same for you. As crazy as it may seem, the things you may have never dared to enjoy, could result in being a overwhelming new joy for you. It's become such an exciting adventure finding so many new things to fall in love with. It's like running down a pathway with so many turns that leave you moving even faster with new fascinations and curiosity within every notion. Complete wanderlust. Happiness is a choice. Choose it. And do anything you can to endlessly fulfill it. Go to the zoo and learn about your favorite animals, stay home and cook a homemade dinner with your parents falling into ease with how to boil the most amazing pasta, or pick up a pen and let the words flow onto the paper dancing along the margins as the ink dries. The littlest things like that, could change your whole world.

It's crazy to realize that everyday, something little happens that starts something new. We focus on the starts. And when we reach them, we see the way reaching them is what made it so grand, so significant. Instead of waiting around for something "BIG" to happen, it's important to focus on the things that are so visible in life. If we look at life in the panoramic perspective, the little things form the big things. Take importance to that. Maybe you think I'm crazy for always loving the things like this. Maybe you think my theories and beliefs are completely bizarre. Go ahead, don't believe me. But I guarantee, you've already thought about the simplest things that have occurred in your life, or maybe even just a few minutes ago, that have made you smile and realize an emotion of happiness and sincerity. See? The littlest things really do mean so much- they always have, and always will. Realize it. None of this means to escape from the bigger things that may be happening as well, but in the midst of it all, to know and realize what made it all possible, the significance, matters too. It's important that we appreciate and recognize every moment that brings us joy, and to remember them and savor them. And it's weird because honestly, sometimes it takes awhile to absorb it all. But our own happiness is what guides out our everyday functioning and what can alter you and your mindset at any moment. Fill it with so much GOOD. Its our life! We are living and learning everyday. Don't take any of these little moments for granted. So here's a few of my favorite little moments and memories that have meant the world to me (Just a glimpse, this list could be endless):

Drives to school with my little sister, Kiki, always finding the best new music.
Good morning texts from my mom every morning with a daily quote and heartfelt message.
Cold watermelon on a hot summer day.
Auditioning for Broadway.
The relationships that have made me the brightest, most strongest me.
Successful shopping trips with my mom and sister.
Seeing old couples still and so in love.
The scent of fresh candles burning, leaving the most precious fragrance lingering.
Capturing every moment possible through photographs and laughter.
Finishing 5 books in one week.
Finding the opal that have become my everyday rings.
Laughing at my own humor. (I'm just that funny. just kidding. maybe.)
Late night talks about life and love and the depths of our world.
The moment you submit an essay and slowly close out the research tabs. (seriously, this feeling though.)
Seeing your favorite artists live. 16 concerts and counting.
Freshly painted nails and curled hair.
Christmas morning.
Finishing a movie with a spectacular soundtrack.
Smiling.
Random acts of kindness.
Streets filled with blooming flowers, greens, and palm trees.
The scent of campfire, with the warmth and love that comes with the family around it.
Seeing the city lights glow so bright as they're swarmed in the darkness of night.
Accomplishing the things you never thought you could ever accomplish.
Adventures.
Learning my heart, learning how to love.

Life is too short. Anything could happen at any day, at any time. Savor everything, and enjoy the little things to the fullest. Because guess what! It could end up being your next big thing. And I am so, so excited for you. Little things matter. 'As big things in life are difficult to achieve, it is better to focus on the little things in life.'

To the moon & back, Maddy.