And in this, we get lost in the whole damn point; the whole damn beauty of the human experience.

It’s incredible, the human experience. We humans often forget this.

When Starbucks encapsulates “that first sip feeling” on the sides of their famous white cups, this is exactly what they’re hinting at! They’re pointing at it with neon flashing lights, in fact; the ticket to joy, the simplicity of that “first sip feeling”. It is smart marketing... yet how many of us completely miss it?

How many of us are missing much of what actually matters?

We neglect to notice the text on the cup or the pure joy of the first sip. Our elbows are busy reaching right over it in the car, because we are late.

We are yelling at ourselves or maybe at our children: we are late for the soccer game.

Life becomes a race, the parents turn into martyrs because they’re spreading themselves thin to make sure their children have every single thing they could want. The story becomes old. Bags under our eyes and waking up one day like a bedraggled soldier whom marvels that “They grew up so fast”.

Did they grow up so fast? This is funny to me. We all have the same hours handed to us in a day. Are some choosing to live fast, busy, barely able to breathe? Finding solace in the go, go, go and the materials accumulated? The smartphone that babysits not only your children, but yourself?

Living startled like this... it is a choice. Life is beautiful when you slow down to notice the way the sun hits your shoulder when you’re sitting on a patio, enjoying the company of someone you love.

Life is beautiful when you put your hands to your heart and feel whole. I literally mean that I want you to put your hands on your heart. Sit down and breathe and do it... it releases oxytocin into your body and reconnects you, grounds you...

Life is beautiful when you fully observe the way that your loved ones voices' sound when they are elated about something.

The moments of victory are beautiful in life too. These are often recognized only in that fleeting moment with a celebratory cake, some cards that will go into recycling later that week, and some delicious food. These are all lovely ways to celebrate, do not get me wrong… but are any of us really relishing in the moment anymore? Are we observing how it feels, how it looks, and taking a little snapshot in our mind... so we never forget how fortunate we are?

The world is fast paced, we all know that. But are we being conditioned to always be chasing something?

It is bold to slow things down. Be the outcast that takes it all in thru other means than Instagram feeds and overpriced Hallmark cards. Tell people you love them. Tell them their voice is beautiful. Why wait for the obituary to say all these wonderful things to someone?

Introduce yourself to the elderly lady on your street. Hell, introduce yourself to all the neighbours on your street so we can break this chronic symptom of loneliness that is prevalent in our society.

We already have “it”. We have it all. Fancy eye creams and new denim and all that shit aren't the answers. They’re nice but they aren’t joy. They’re tools, side bars.

Our souls know this.

And in all of this, we get lost in the whole damn point (if we do not become mindful). The whole damn beauty of the human experience will flash by us. We will sit dumbfounded at our child’s 50th birthday, wishing we had enjoyed more of that “first sip feeling”.