the little things

life-changing

i have become a firm believer that the little things are quite honestly the big things.  if you don't believe me, move to the other side of the world, right now.  that might be a little on the dramatic side.  it's not the obvios differences that alter my attitude so much (at least right now).  you can't ignore big things; you have to chose to be ok with it or not. but, honestly, it's the little things that i take for granted at home that i miss the most here.  for example, coffee.  i like coffee.  i drink it often.  as in, every day. multiple times. however, i am not an addict.  i will not drink bad coffee. and i have very specific opinions on what constitutes a good cup of coffee (insert coffee snob joke here).  but, seriously folks, life is too short to drink bad coffee. so today, some friends and i were walking around a local market.  after we stopped in a one store, we went to grab a cup of coffee at "the coffee bean & tea leaf."  we walk in the door and who is on the radio but justin timberlake.  this made me happy (judge me if you will; i don't care).  we sit down and are brought menus.  yes, they wait on you in coffeshops here.  it's awesome.  i completely copy one of my friends and get a piece of oreo cheesecake and a caramel latte.  if you know my taste in coffee, you know i normally go for just a plain old cup of joe (and by that i mean a cup of dark roast if i like what is being brewed that day).  so, this cup was a little out of my normal. life-changing.  i know that also sounds dramatic, but simply knowing that i can get a good cup of coffee is so awesome.  you see, it's often not the item that i miss but the option.  little things, like a good cup of coffee, can completely alter your day.  one of my friends who has also recently moved to europe mentioned this on her blog this week.  how little things often remind us of why we are where we are.  little things remind us that Dad cares.  that he loves us. passionately. he will spare no expense to show it.  now, as great as it is to have little things that brighten my day, i have to make sure that i don't let a bunch of little, annoying occurrences pile up and pester the heck out of me.  i have to laugh at how i know the big d better than my auto-walla.  i have to laugh when he tries to charge me 8 times the normal rate.  i have to laugh when the "line" resembles an amoeba attacking the counter at the concession stand.  i have to remember the little things that remind me that i am headed the right way.  i have to remember tennis with no net and no lines played with new friends.  i have to remember mexican food in south asia.  i have to remember seeing tennis on tv.  the thing is, the past few days have been chock full of great little things, and it has been awesome.  the annoying little things have rolled of my back, thanks to him. and if there is a day that pesky little things don't quite leave my mind as quickly as i'd like, i need to remember the attitude that my friend had when she wrote, "A whole week of sun in the land of fog and mist. It’s like a little smile from Him, sent to me for my first week here."

i need to remember caramel lattes.