‘Little things’ and ‘Details’ tend to mean the same in general. Here with a context they shall mean different things.
‘The devil is in the details,’ they say. What it means the details or the minor things or trivia (or the little things) matter the most to get the desired consequence in an investigation or a writing project or any such thing. Of course details here mean the bigger things too are included with the minor to get an elaborate inclusive view of the situation. The devil can mean a few things but I take it to mean the finer points or details are the trickiest as opposed to any negative connotation.
‘Happiness resides in the little things of life.’ Well a line by me though am sure there must be a similar well known line. Here it means only those trivia of life forgetting the bigger picture or other major things in life.
What exactly are these little things? They are of course myriad yet one analogy seems fine. It is anything like doing a homework… or not doing it. Yes, anything, for as long as it is a little thing it can either be good or bad and never evil.
Routine like brushing, bathing etc are little and though we never have to focus on them we must realise that when not done it tends to spoil our day.
I haven’t mentioned things like dew or a rainbow or a surprise rain or other natural beauty or man made magnificence as you can very well fill it up better with things that pop in your mind when you think of little things.
A child’s smile, yes of course, so the next time smile back and play with it, simple like doing homework. If you’re bored playing take leave, not bothering about the audience, simple like not doing homework.
The auditor has requested details of your shop, sales is dwindling yet nothing can be done till the accountant arrives. Important client mail to be sent at your office, a few meetings to be scheduled, prepare a vital presentation but nothing can be done without the secretary returning from lunch. There is the game on your mobile, jokes on your computer too but not now with these worries you think. But why not? Is there none to talk to while away time. The janitor is working and you’ve seen him pretty much like another office apparatus and can’t talk now. Why not? At home you not only carry the work woes but also face great family woes. You envy your wife and daughter watching a TV series as you go for your regular walk. You remember that you have a movie you’ve been meaning to watch or that unfinished book, but do they matter really now. Yet some view getting in to these little things as helping reduce the stress in the modern world. Maybe after the walk instead of hurrying to bath you can sit and watch the movie with your wife and daughter. It is a worthier investment of your time I say, but unfortunately won’t happen often. So instead of sulking or dominating just watch TV with them with the remote in their hands.
Take time to connect to people both inside and outside of our work, and keeping it healthy by our regular presence, in at least a couple of social groups live if possible and if not over the net. This is a healthy thing. Family, relatives, friends, colleagues, friends of friends, acquaintances are the overall break up of people in our lives. Yet only if we keep in touch with them regularly in today’s world with phone or the net can we make them part of our network where one can rely on each other.
Forget all. Little things like a smile, a handshake, a hug, a kiss on the cheek, a salute, verbal welcome, warmth go a big way to create heaven on earth. Why should couples monopolise holding hands as long as held in affection by others. Take time out for movies and books and then share it with friends and folks though they might not be in to it. The regular soft drink for an addict and a rare soft drink for a sugar patient, a blind catching a movie in theatre, Ice cream in the cold rain dancing with joy, parties frequently for no apparent reason but not just with regular crowd but maybe the old parents or younger siblings also invited. These and more little things and little exceptions are what makes our lives pleasurable and not the big money and big successes.
Solitary Wanderer 