Learning to See Again

Finding Joy in the Little Things

Lately, I’ve been very intentional about how I see the world around me. Not because the world changed — but because I did. Because somewhere along the way, many of us didn’t stop seeing — we simply stopped noticing.

Not scroll.

Not rush.

Not multitask.

But truly look and notice.

And in forgetting how to look, we started missing life itself.

I’m realizing that most times, we get so busy — with work, responsibilities, and our own thoughts — that we miss moments meant to be treasured.

Moments we should live in.

Moments we should relive.

Moments that quietly hold joy.

Because the truth is simple:

Life isn’t only happening in big milestones. Life is happening in small moments.

At the beginning of the year, I had the opportunity to visit a friend and her family. I needed an escape from the constant noise and buzz of my environment.

Thankfully, my friend lives in a place where mornings begin with birds singing and air that actually feels fresh.

And if you live in Lagos, Nigeria, you already know that “fresh air” can feel like a rare luxury.

One of my favorite things about her home is her garden. Every morning, she wakes up and tends to her plants. Gently. Patiently. Intentionally.

There’s a certain joy on her face when she does it. A quiet happiness that made me curious.

She spoke to me about the plants, their meanings, and their value. As I looked closely, I began to see what she saw too.

Beauty.

Not loud beauty.

Not performative beauty.

Just simple, steady beauty.

We also eat dinner together as a family, and afterward, we take walks. Nothing fancy. Nothing complicated.

Yet, at some point during my short stay, I realized I was genuinely looking forward to dinner time and the walks after. Not because we were doing anything extraordinary, but because we were present.

We talked.

We laughed.

We bonded.

Sometimes, the most meaningful moments are the simplest ones.

One morning, while my friend was in the garden, I started taking pictures of her and some of the plants. Later, while scrolling through my gallery, I saw a photo of a Butterfly Pea flower I had taken — a small, deep blue bloom, delicate and velvety, resting quietly on the vine. And in that moment, something settled in my heart.

I paused.

I really looked at it.

And in that moment, it hit me:

There is joy in the little things, if only we pay attention.

So How Do We Begin to Appreciate the Little Things? 

Appreciating life doesn’t require a drastic change. It starts with small, intentional shifts.

Here are a few tips that can help. 

1. Take a Pause 

Let’s be honest — adulthood is a lot.

Work.

Bills.

Kids.

Responsibilities.

There will always be something to do. The world will always be busy.

But in the middle of all that chaos, give yourself permission to pause.

Not to scroll.

Not to check notifications.

But to look around.

Notice a tiny detail.

A color.

A sound.

A smile.

A soft breeze.

If something stands out, take a picture. Not for social media. Not for aesthetics. But so you can remember how it made you feel.

Sometimes, pausing is an act of self-respect.

2. Live in Real Time 

Many of us live more online than offline.

We scroll for hours, yet feel disconnected. We sit in the same room with people, yet barely speak.

Sometimes you plan a hangout, and everyone ends up on their phones.

Snap out of it.

Sometimes, I put my phone on focus mode. I freeze distracting apps. I choose to be present with myself and my time.

Before social media existed, we still knew how to live.

We still laughed.

We still played.

We still connected.

There’s a popular saying now: Go outside and touch grass.

Funny, but deeply true.

The world didn’t stop being beautiful. We just stopped paying attention.

3. Find What You Love 

My friend loves tending to her plants, and it shows.

What do you love to do?

Not what looks impressive.

Not what trends online.

Not what gets applause.

What quietly fills you with joy?

Find it.

Do it.

Protect it.

You don’t need a new life to feel alive. You need new eyes.

4. Look for One Small Detail Each Day 

Just one.

One tiny thing that makes you smile.

One small moment that makes you grateful.

That tiny detail might stay with you all day. Or all week. Or even longer.

Don’t stop searching for the blessing inside each day.

Joy doesn’t always shout. Sometimes, it whispers.

5. Breathe 

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Slow down.

Look around again.

There is something — right where you are — worth being thankful for.

Sometimes, the miracle is simply being alive to notice.

There are so many wonders on this earth that we naturally overlook. No wonder the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 8:

“O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth… When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him?”

I imagine David intentionally looking around. Observing creation. Soaking in beauty. And being so overwhelmed that praise poured out of him.

Just like David, I am choosing to see again.

To notice again.

To find beauty, gift, and joy in the little things — no matter how busy life gets.

Because there is absolute joy in the little things.

And I choose to appreciate them.

Would you join me? 😊

Ok bye!