Thirtyfor30: Find beauty in the mundane

I wake up, cook a meal good for lunch and dinner (I skip breakfast if I'm doing IF), travel to work, work for the next couple of hours, hit the road for a quick run, walk, yoga or strength training at home, sleep only to wake up to the same routine.

At times, it's taxing to see yourself fall into this vicious loop. The pressure of daily grind makes it almost impossible to slow down and pay attention to the little details that makes living truly worthwhile.

We are programmed to live for the moments that take our breaths away: a weekend trip to another city, an out of the country trip you've been saving up for, buying the trendiest electric car there is, marrying the love of your life, seeing a friend after years of living apart, receiving the grandest bouquet of flowers on Valentine's. I get it; these moments make our hearts flutter in excitement and remind us that life's good, life's worth every struggles we surpass.

But what about the uneventful days? How does one stay as vibrant, as positive, when things seem to go in a loop that never ends. You neither despise the loop, not love it; but it's necessary.

One lesson I learned is that small gestures that truly and ironically make me feel loved, like morning kisses, a pat on the back whenever I start to worry about something, remembering to hand me my morning medication at the same time every single day, the birds chirping as I open my eyes from a restful sleep, my mother handing over things before I even ask for them, my 80-year old father picking me up whenever I come how in the Province, the lazy Sunday vibe filled with the aroma of nilagang baka, slow afternoons best allocated for readings.

Every day will not be as fabulous, as happy and as remarkable as the best days in our lives; some days are boring but I hope you rediscover the small joy here and there.

_{Note: Cover photo from Canva with minor adjustments}