When I look back, I see a trail of mostly ordinary days. In a year that seems so uncommon, the days pass in a blur of mostly unremarkable moments.

“With no special or distinctive features; normal.”

Dictionary, Google.com

Our lives are made up of ordinary days

We live and breathe. We work and play. And, if we’re lucky we do these activities in the company of people we adore.

We have goals and aspirations. We take a step forward, maybe a step back. And always, we’re searching for meaning and purpose in our days. Well, at least I think many of us are, I am!

What makes a day stand out?

Sometimes a day stands out because of the big moments: milestones, tragedy, celebration, welcoming or saying goodbye. These emotion-filled moments stand out in our memories and create a day that is out of the ordinary, uncommon.

Other times days stand out simply because of special little moments: a kind word from a stranger, a glimpse of beauty around us, an accomplishment. These moments can be subtle and fleeting.

This year, I’m marking ordinary days

I learned about the 1 Second Everyday app from Kendra Adachi, of The Lazy Genius Collective. Pictures help me remember my days and when I saw this video diary, it made my heart happy.

It’s truly genius for documenting both ordinary and extraordinary days. You simply select one photo for each day to upload to the app.

Now, I admit even though I take a LOT of pictures, I sometimes miss a day. But they let you cheat a little and if you don’t take a picture every day, you can fill in with other photos. And I’m learning to appreciate the beautiful moments that make up the days, that lead to marking another year on this earth.

The ordinary is actually quite extraordinary

Sometimes you just go with the flow, almost taking life for granted. But, if you slow down, you begin to see things differently.

On an ordinary day, I noticed how the birds began to chirp and the tops of the trees lit up as the sun peaked over the mountains. I heard the crunch of the snow under my boots as the thermometer dipped below zero. And I watched as the moose walked slowly across the lake, turned to look at me, and disappeared into the woods.

The ordinary is pretty extraordinary when I stop to think about it. And another year on this planet? I’m grateful for the days behind me and the beautiful, ordinary and extraordinary days ahead.

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