Beautiful Moments

Since arriving in Ireland I have had a string of beautiful and wonderful moments. Like any good American in a foreign country, I am always armed with my pink 'point and shoot" camera so I have been snapping photos like a madwoman in an attempt to document them the second they happen. They often occur in one of the following places:

A) in public
B) in a public dining establishment
C) in a public restroom
D) in a generally awkward public place

Anyhow, I've been capturing all of these wonderful and memorable moments and have decided to share them in my blog. I call them my beautiful moments.

And in case you're interested, here is a little background:

Growing up around the dinner table, my dad would always ask my sister and I to share the best part of our day. This question was almost always the gateway into a string of dinnertime stories straight from the 1st grade playground or the 4th grade lunchroom. By the end of meal, the table would have erupted into a chorus of laughter, or a symphony of "awww's!" and "OH NO SHE DIDN'T's!". We lived crazy lives. You get the idea.

Unfortunately, once adolesence hit, the dinnertime ritual was often met (on my part) with a dramatic sigh or a roll of the eye (just one eye, since I can't manage to roll both). The conversations began to dwindle and the funny stories became few and far between.

Since college, however, I have noticed myself attempting to revive the tradition both at home and with my friends. In almost any conversation I find myself asking the other person "So what was the best part of your day?" or "What are the top three things that happened to you this morning?" Initially I am met with a confused look or a puzzled expression, but they soon break into a detailed explanation of what they did/who they saw throughout the course of their day. It's a great conversation starter, really, and I've learned so much about the people I ask.

Now I am always on the lookout for the best part of my day and will often make a note of these wonderful moments when they occur.

Such are my beautiful moments.

These are the little moments that are often overlooked, but when noticed are those that will make one appreciate the simple beauties in life. The kind that leave you feeling joyful and grateful at the same time.

In the coming months be on the lookout for my blogs with the title "Beautiful Moments" or "My favorite things" and you'll know exactly what I mean. I can't wait to share them with you.