“Happiness, not in another place but this place…
not for another hour, but this hour.”
?Walt Whitman
All around the world, the present moment is filled with beauty.
If you are attentive, you will see it. If you are willing, you will help create it.
Let’s take a moment to think about the beautiful things happening around us.
Right now, at this exact moment…
- A newborn infant just took her first breath.
- Two teenage romantics just received their very first kiss, from each other.
- Someone is driving their car with the windows down and singing to their favorite song at the top of their lungs.
- Volunteers in different cities are actively assisting and standing up for the powerless, the homeless, and the neglected who need someone to speak up for them.
- Someone is in the middle of complimenting a stranger who desperately needed a reason to smile.
- Two coworkers are cracking each other up and laughing so hard they aren’t even making any noise.
- A high school guidance counselor is contributing her time, encouragement, and a listening ear to help a student realize his passion and ability.
- People near and far are holding hands with the person they love.
- A husband and wife who were drowning in debt ten years ago proudly hold a balance of zero on all their lines of credit.
- Someone is going above and beyond and doing a little extra work to make someone else’s life a little easier.
- People from all over the world are online at crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe pledging online donations to help strangers in need.
- Responsible designated drivers are getting their friends home safely.
- A student tutor is volunteering her time to help a fellow student learn.
- Someone who has struggled with their weight for years is looking down at the scale, smiling.
- A long-term alcoholic just celebrated exactly one full year of sobriety.
- Somewhere someone is admiring a breathtaking sunrise, and somewhere else a surreal sunset.
- A friend is helping a friend rise above feelings of depression and suicide.
- Someone is holding the door open for the person behind them.
- A Good Samaritan is pulled over on the side of the road assisting a stranger who’s having car trouble.
- Someone is celebrating the fact that they just broke their own personal best record.
- An active duty military member stationed overseas just received an email from a loved one.
- Hundreds of people are spending a few clicks of their time online at Free Rice.
- Someone just accidentally overheard someone else say something nice about them.
- An emergency room surgeon just saved her patient’s life.
- Two best friends are hugging each other after being apart for a while.
- Honest people are working tirelessly at various government agencies to help protect the basic human rights and civil liberties of their fellow citizens.
- Someone who suffered from a severe injury a while back is back on their feet.
- Several of the world’s next great inventors, artists and entrepreneurs are working diligently on perfecting their breakthrough ideas and crafts.
- Someone is sitting quietly and smiling about the fact that there’s nowhere else in the world they would rather be right now.
- Somewhere on the Internet someone is writing an encouraging comment on a blog post that will make others smile. 🙂
There truly is beauty to be seen in every imaginable direction if you are willing to see it and help create it. (Read 1,000 Little Things.)
Your turn…
In your eyes, what makes this moment beautiful? Please let us know by leaving a comment below.
Photo by: Eduardo Amorim
Linda says
The sun is shining, the temperature is raising and my teenage daughters left for school this morning amid smiles and laughter. It is a beautiful day!
Thank you for the wonderful words, they always inspire me.
Daniela says
Right now I look down to see my heart on four legs, beagle, pressed up against me in bed and I realize nothing in my life is ever as bad as it seems. Life is good; thank you God.
Dinesh says
This is very nice to read. It makes me smile. I would like to say thanks to Angel for putting this together.
My moment is when I saw one Black Colored Butterfly slowly flying nearby in the air near road. A Volkswagen comes fast and suddenly and appears to hit this butterfly. I thought that butterfly is no more, but it turns out that the car’s air/wind force pushed the butterfly away and when I looked again after the car passed this butterfly was flying as usual. Little amazing moment, but cute…
SandraD says
Sitting in the quiet, remembering the giggles of the morning.
Snow Princess says
This moment is beautiful because I have a wonderful man in my life that loves me, his sons and daughter in law are great, I have 2 amazing sons of my own, my dad has outlived doctors predictions several times, my mom has outlived almost everyone else in her family, we have 2 crazy dogs, a silly cat and I have never been happier.
Tony@WeOnlyDoThisOnce says
So beautifully thought-out. Love the image of two coworkers enjoying life!
Babs says
I am siting on the couch with a cup of coffee in my hand and my best friend, my dog, warming my feet. Doesn’t get better.
Tracy says
Somewhere out there someone had given up some of their hope that life could ever return to some sense of “normal.” Then they read this and hope was restored…
Thank you Marc and Angel!
DanielB says
Coffee!
Even though the first K-cup exploded and leaked all over the machine… After cleaning it and the mess it created… Sitting here now peacefully enjoying a cup of coffee and reading your inspirational blog to start my 12 hour shift is my moment.
Joe says
This has made so many people stop and think; and so easily find something to celebrate. I will keep my bitter-sweet moment private, it is better that way but it has made me appreciate something I may have let slip by.
Thank you.
Kate Steinbeck says
Thank you for always making a beautiful difference in my day.
Nicole J. says
I saw a beautiful moment today. Two 6-year-olds read to a class of 5th and 6th graders. Watching these new readers blossom into confident young people is amazing. One of those readers was my son. My heart smiled.
crumgirl says
My son walked into the kitchen and at the exact same moment we both realized he has grown taller than me!
Sherron says
A little puppy just found her meal location (:-)
Nathan Young says
Great post! I appreciate some of these 30 things whenever I see them happen. Just yesterday I talked with someone who is struggling and I told him to get away from a bad relationship with someone he knows. I hope this person can rebuild his life.
Susan says
Numbers 27 and 14 have hit me personally. I thank God every day for the ability to walk again without crutches and be able to step on the scales and smile as the numbers continue to drop! Thank you for such a wonderful and uplifting list. I want to be able to do more of them.
JoAnna Vann says
What makes this moment beautiful is realizing that I have finally fallen in love with myself. 🙂
Janice says
Learning natural remedies to help heal my sons sinus infection and not be so dependent on doctors. It’s amazing all the blessings our Creator put in this world for us.
Stuart says
My dog just came looking for me.
Marlena says
Thank you for this post! I am a high school guidance counselor, and I appreciate being mentioned for the painstaking work we do each day! I LOVED this blog… I smiled at each mentioned moment 🙂
Mariana says
Angel, this made me smile a lot. Thank you.
sameera says
Thank you so very much for this wonderful blog which I read almost every day. It speaks directly to me and it is so inspiring.
I just returned home after spending some time with two of my very close friends… friends for over 30 years. We talked, we joked, and now I am at home still smiling about it. I also returned home from a trip abroad and it too makes my this time special as i realize that there is no place like home… how wonderful it is to be home with my family. Thank you once again
christy says
I was having a really crappy day and this made me smile.
Thank you!
Bob says
Yesterday I was told I had months – not years, left.
Today I saw the most wonderful rainbow of my life.
tonya says
A wonderful way to look at the world. Most people find my way of thinking (always positive and happy) like I’m delusional. But there is so much to be thankful for, no matter what your situation someone has it worse somewhere. Be thankful and gracious for what you already have and stop dwelling on all the negative. Accept that everything happens for a reason. We are not in full control of our lives there is a higher being no matter what your beliefs are. Illness, death, heartache all these things WILL happen it’s called LIFE! Be happy enough to start everyday with a smile… but don’t be delusional that’s all. Blessings.
Ansel says
And also, a married couple that has been trying to have a kid for years just realized they’re pregnant. 🙂
Rachel says
Loved these! Thank you Angel and all who have shared their moment. And to add…
As I read this and catch up on more emails, my baby girl is sleeping peacefully on my shoulder as I enjoy our first full day of sunshine in a long time.
Roger C. Parker says
Discovering yet another pianist’s interpretation of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, and hearing it fresh — once again — for the first time.
Aimee P says
After knowing each other for 35 years, a good friend and I are finally realizing how wonderfully perfect we are for each other =)
Erick Rodz says
This moment is just perfect. I’m smiling and almost crying, so much beauty even though I’m just in front of my desk right now. I can see the beauty around me and feel the beauty through these stories all around the world.
Dave says
That’s a nice list of beautiful moments of what has or will happen. Makes me think differently.
Jin says
Someone out there in the world is sending this link to all her friends and family to share this little piece of joy
Helene Wilson says
Sitting in my lounger reading this inspirational post and simultaneously watching PBS News makes this moment beautiful for me. And knowing that there is someone out there at this moment writing another inspirational blog post. Thank you.
Angel says
@All:
Wow! You all are so inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful moments and thoughts with us. I’m absolutely blown away by every one of them. I think I may revisit all of your comments again soon for another quick fix of inspiration. =)
As Marc and I have said many times before, thank you for continuing to move us with your positivity and kindness.
Antonella says
Thank you so much for sharing all these postitive and happy vibes 🙂
Diana says
My husband made it back from the brink of death. He was severely sick all last year, but he recovered. Every day I tried to acknowledge the good, the positive and the beautiful all around me and it helped me get through the ordeal. Your posts were one of the things that helped me through it all. Thank you!
Carmie says
Its a glorious day and I’m in it!
Steve says
What makes me happy right now is the fact that I’m back with my wife after missing her so much after a long and endless week of work. To me, right now, it’s paradise… I love you Isabelle <3
sarath.. says
Somewhere two magnificent people enjoying their work, to put up an inspiring, feel good article upon their blog, to make people smile whom they don’t even know, or whom hey may never meet…
Shivam says
Someone somewhere is happy and smiling now… and so am I.
One of the best articles i ever come across…!!
Eva Chebet says
One of the best things that’s happened to me is stumbling upon your blog. Thank u so much Marc and Angel. You put smiles on people’s faces!! Always looking forward to your posts… you hit the nail on the head!
Connie says
What makes me happy right now:
– reading all 90 comments, that at times have brought tears to my eyes, laughter, joy and happiness
– my son, who was going to throw in the towel with university but decided to keep his head to the sky and keep going…he’s my heart
– my boss who is magnificent in everyway imagineable, she’s a blessing who saw the potential in me and picked me up when I was broken
– my apartment, which I never thought I would start to feel comfortable and be at peace with, it is now home.
– sending a thank you note to the management and staff at my apartment and the beautiful response from the owner.
– my life…I was at a point where I never thought the clouds would clear…they slowly are and life is becoming surreal
– realizing I’m going to pursue going back to school at 45 to become a Computer Programmer!!
– last but not least, Marc and Angel who have kept me strong and faithful througout the darkest periods of my life…THANK YOU!
Cate says
My body is tired from a hike in the springtime sun and I’m soaking some clams for dinner.
Joanna says
What makes this moment beautiful is that, as I was reading this post on my phone, I was able to look out at the sunset happening right now and know that many more people are experiencing the same. And it makes me smile.
Tara says
Today my husband saw a cat get hit on a very busy road. He stopped, rescued it called animal rescue and sat with it until animal rescue came.
Gary says
ah, so refreshing to read something positive. I love the way you have described what someone is DOING right this moment.
– Making me happy so far today was a lovely run on the beach with my wife and our dog Coco followed by play time (playing ball) early this morning
– The breathtaking views of the ocean and its sound of crashing waves on the beach and rocks
– All followed by lovely cup of coffee sitting outside on the deck taking in the beauty around us
Thank you for your inspiring and encouraging blog Marc and Angel. I think I have stumbled upon a gem of a site!
Åsa says
What makes this moment beautiful is to just 5 minutes ago receive a text message saying my friend is going to have a baby girl. And to read this amazing blog post. Makes you stop and think.
Mateusz says
Hey, you know what’s beautiful? We’re alive!
anonymous says
Someone who once had nothing, now has everything they ever needed, for that is all that is needed.
Abinaya says
WOW!!!
You made my day Angel. 🙂