Life is in the Details

There is so much going on in the world right now; it's nearly impossible to keep up. Every minute brings a piece of news that feels shocking—only to be followed by another that makes you think, "Where is the bottom?" You reach what feels like the bottom… and it sinks even lower. Like the world has its own excavation machine digging deeper and deeper. How do we get through this time in history?

One way I'm working through it is by focusing on the details.

"What?" you might say. "Details? That’s exactly what I don’t want to think about right now."

But I don’t mean the details of every jarring news story. Those are curated to grab us by the jugular—clickbait designed to unsettle.

I mean the little details of our own daily lives.

Step outside and breathe in the air.

Stop and listen to the sounds around you—what do you hear? Describe it to yourself.

What does the air smell like today?

If you’re sitting or walking, feel your body grounded—what part of you is connected to the earth below? What does it feel like?

Look around. Describe what you see.

I recently came across a quote from Chuck Palahniuk’s Lullaby (I haven’t read the book, just saw the quote):

"The trick to forgetting the big picture is to look at everything close up."

When I’m feeling overwhelmed by what I see and hear, I pause and look closely at what’s around me. I try to notice the beauty I can see—then ask myself: Do I have what I need, right now?

I understand that not everyone has what they need. I come from a place of great privilege: I don't live in a war zone, I’m not being starved, I’m not in danger just by stepping outside.

I can’t begin to imagine what it means to survive in such degrading conditions.

But for those of us who do have privilege—who have a home, food, even just one human connection—we have everything we need.

Let me know if you’d like to refine the closing message or tilt the tone further toward hope or urgency. It’s a beautiful start, Carmen. It holds space for both gratitude and awareness.