Appreciating the Everyday

Lately, I’ve been catching myself wishing that time would go by quicker. Although I do have some amazing things to look forward to in the future (one of them being my parents arriving in Germany Friday morning!), time is passing me by and I want to make sure I appreciate every moment of it.

I feel so incredibly blessed with my life right now. I’m living in what I feel is one of the greatest places on the planet, I’ve made some wonderful friends, and I’m healthier both physically and mentally than I have been in close to five years. Despite all of that, I still find myself getting impatient and wanting more good to come my way. Part of that attitude is human nature, but I don’t necessarily think it has to be that way. I really have been wanting to work on enjoying every moment possible.

I really have been wanting to work on enjoying every moment possible because I don’t want to look back and wonder why I’ve wasted all of this time in a gorgeous country surrounded by all these fascinating people. I guess mostly, I just want to make sure I don’t take this time for granted. There’s been this internet challenge floating around called 100 Happy Days. For 100 days, you take the time to notice the little things that happen every day that make you happy. I think this is the perfect way to slow down and really learn to appreciate all of the good things that happen during the day that people tend to overlook. Sometimes it’s just something small like a really good nap in the middle of the day or a stranger holding a door for you, but then other times it can be something monumental like having your first full conversation in a language you’ve been struggling with or checking a major experience off of a bucket list.

These 100 days will last until August 7, the day before my 25th birthday, and I’m so excited to see what each and every day will hold. I’ll mostly be posting my daily photos through Instagram (@kim_shipley) but I’ll try to do catch up posts on here when I get the chance. I know some days will still be rough, but that’s how life works. One of my biggest goals is to find a glimmer of happiness even in the stormiest of days. I think it’s going to be a fun ride.

“The trick is to enjoy life. Don’t wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead.”

– Marjorie Pay Hinckley

[ingrid michaelson]