Why the “little things” aren’t little at all
When we think about what makes human life extraordinary, we often jump to the big things: love, art, achievement, purpose. These deserve their place, but sometimes we overlook the smaller treasures — the ones hiding in plain sight, woven into the fabric of daily life.
They may seem ordinary. Yet if we lost them, life would be unrecognizable. And if we died tomorrow, these would be among the experiences that contributed most to our once-in-eternity chance to live.
Language
Consider language. Words allow us to point beyond ourselves — to share stories, to name feelings, to pass down wisdom. A sentence can lift a mood, mend a rift, or ignite a revolution.
Without language, our inner world would remain mostly locked inside. With it, we can reach each other across distances of mind and time. The ability to speak, to write, to record, to read — this is actually not even a small gift (though we often take it for granted). It is one of the great miracles of being human.
Laughter
Then there is laughter. A reflex, yes, but also a window into joy. We laugh at jokes, at absurdity, at shared recognition of life’s quirks. Laughter relieves tension, binds groups, and sometimes arrives for no reason at all, spilling out like a gift we didn’t earn.
Imagine a world without laughter. It would be flatter, dimmer, heavier. Laughter is not trivial — it is one of the bright signatures of human life that make it so worth living.
Memory and Imagination
Memory ties us to who we’ve been. It gives continuity to our lives, allowing us to feel not just the present but the arc of our own story. Imagination, its partner, lets us leap forward into what could be — building worlds, solving problems, dreaming futures.
These faculties are not flashy, yet they animate everything: relationships, projects, art, even survival. They give us both roots and wings.
A Human Gathering
Think of a family gathered around a table. One person recalls a ridiculous story from childhood. Everyone bursts into laughter. The story is told through language, bound together by memory, amplified by imagination as people embellish details, and sealed with the joy of laughter.
None of this makes headlines. Yet this is life at its richest: the small gifts intertwining to make our hours sweet.
Mortality’s Reminder
One day, all these faculties will vanish for us. There will be no more words, no more laughter, no more memories or imagined tomorrows. That fact doesn’t diminish their worth — it heightens it.
When we realize our days are numbered, the small gifts no longer look small. They look like treasures. Each conversation, each chuckle, each remembered detail of a shared story becomes a pearl on the string of a finite existence.
Practices for Honoring the Small Gifts
- Notice language. Savor the beauty of a well-turned phrase or the simplicity of a thank you.
- Invite laughter. Watch a comedy, tell a joke, let yourself be silly.
- Preserve memory. Write down stories, or share them aloud so they live on in others.
- Feed imagination. Read, create, or simply daydream. Give your mind room to play.
These practices don’t require wealth or luck. They are available to nearly everyone, nearly every day.
Closing Thought
The small gifts of being human are not really small. They are the everyday jewels that fill our hours, polish our days, and make our brief life not just endurable but delightful.
If life were to end tomorrow, these would be among the treasures that filled it — the words spoken, the laughter shared, the memories carried, the dreams imagined.
Don’t dismiss them as trivial. Notice them, savor them, and give thanks for the miracle that they exist and that we get to appreciate them.