When I was writing my New Year’s Resolutions series, I went on the lookout for simple and inexpensive ways we might live better in 2010. And it struck me how much we might be able to improve our lives by making just one small change.
For instance what if someone committed to a daily walk? That alone could bring better health, relaxation, improved sleep, connection with neighbors, and more quality time with family. And if the walk replaced a car trip, it could even save some money. Every small change I thought of had a similar snowball effect.
Recently I heard an interview with William Wittman, a life coach in Seattle. He talked about an easy daily exercise that he recommends to his clients and insists he’s seen it bring huge changes to people’s lives. He calls it “Owl Ears and Owl Eyes”. The idea is to go outside first thing in the morning, stand still, and look up, down, and side to side without moving your head while listening closely to the sounds around you, first the loud ones, then the quieter ones.
Wittman says that by connecting with nature like this first thing in the morning, we connect with what’s meaningful in the world. And by focusing on looking and listening, we can’t help but quiet our mental chatter and relax. He says he’s seen this one small change motivate people to get healthy, find fulfilling work, reach out to friends, and on and on.
I think Wittman might be on to something. Awhile ago my neighbor put down black plastic over the garden in his backyard, which attracted ducks – sometimes sixty of them at a time. And now each night the ducks circle over our neighborhood in groups of four or five, flying lower and lower until they’re just overhead. (I wrote about it before here; my neighbor has since built a pond for the ducks.)
I’ve been shocked at how much this random, natural (and free) event has improved my family’s quality of life. Most nights we go outside to watch the ducks, and we chat with our neighbors, connect with nature, and enjoy each other’s company. Just one small change really has added up to so much more.
(This post is for Steady Mom’s Thirty Minute Blog Challenge.)
What do you think? Has one small change ever made a big difference in your life?
One change can definitely make a difference in more than your own life. One of my examples is moving to a community where everyone has to go to the clubhouse to get their mail. I know so many more people because of this. If you get there and the mail is in the process of being boxed you sit down to wait and you talk. You may not know the people to begin with but after you do this a few times you can’t help but get to know them. I always wondered why anyone would design a community with the mailboxes located like this. Now I know. It’s because they wanted the community to actually become a community.
This is so interesting, Deb. Thanks for sharing.
I didn’t know ducks were attracted to black. What’s the science behind that?
I can’t wait for summer so we can be outside more and just enjoy what the outdoors offer.
Hi Kelly, My neighbor thinks maybe the ducks mistook the black plastic for a pond. It feels like a strange fluke that our neighborhood is suddenly teeming with ducks. That’s why I’ve been amazing that it’s made such a difference in our lives.
My small thing is walking my daughter to school every day. That way I have got to know my neighbors that live over 4 blocks away and also the parents of other kids in my daughters class.
I just wish I could find time to walk her home again too without having to take the car every day as I have seen that there are more people walking home from school than to school.
Walking so early in the morning also means that I get to walk my dog, my baby takes an earlier nap so that we can do more fun stuff later and there seems to be less pollution to trigger my asthma at that time of the day.
This is great, Marianne. I bet it makes a big difference for your daughter too to have a walk with her mom every morning.
For many many years, I would wake up at 5am and the moment my eyes opened, I’d put on my sneakers and head out the door – no matter the weather. I’d go for a walk, jog, or run and practice walking meditation. I can’t tell you how right you are in saying that it impacts all areas of your life. There is definitely something to it. I was a better mother & wife, a happier person, and it set the tone for the whole day.
Admittedly, I have been struggling to make this “hour of power” a priority in my life, but this article may give me the impetus to do so. Logically I know I should invest time in myself, so thank you for this reminder.
Sofia
The “hour of power” – that’s great! I’ve noticed that the earlier I get outside every day, the better the day goes. If only it weren’t so hard to get motivated in the morning.
I wish I could take credit, but “Hour of Power” belongs to Anthony Robbins. 🙂 I can get motivated, I get motivated every other day! But keeping up the momentum – that’s where I struggle the most.
I”ve been thinking lots lately about one small change. And making little ones in my life each month. But your post has me thinking…since spending more time in the mountains and woods each weekend with my family I find the urban neighborhood I live in to be less than refreshing first thing in the morning. The sound of trucks and all the concrete.
I’m trying to be positive about it but going outdoors first thing to breathe in and look up sounds more lovely where I don’t see the burned out house next door (our neighbors had a house fire before christmas and their house still stands abandoned, a mere 12 feet from from front door). Sorry, I’m in a bit of mood this morning – can you tell?
I think I need to change my mindset. The hardest change perhaps to make.
I know what you mean, Renee. I can hear traffic noises in our backyard, and sometimes I can really fixate on them and get annoyed. That’s partly why I liked what Wittman had to say. He explained how to listen to the loud city noises first, then the quieter sounds, then try to listen to the silence. I’ve actually found that I enjoy my backyard more since I heard this. But I can definitely see how a burned-down house might be a bigger obstacle to overcome.
This is great. I appreciate hearing/reading more about people slowing down and living a higher quality of life. Thanks for the post. I have to get outside and just smell the air and look around. Nice!
Thanks Tracie.
thanks for another good post! i have a huge tendency to think i have to overhaul my whole life. i can be very black & white in my thinking at times. and this was a good reminder to remember the wisdom in taking small steps towards a healthier, more calm & centered lifestyle.