I think there are some things that are really pretty, and really small.

The typeface on a business card or a wedding invitation; a single flower in bloom centered in a patch of grass; a handmade ceramic plate with healthy, colourful food arranged. The details, small as they may be, carry so much weight.

Often, I find myself pulled away from them by the bigger picture, ironically narrowing my perspective. The big stuff overwhelms me, and becomes all that I can see; I'm blind to the small beauties.

It would be great to collect a bunch of these beautiful items, to build a repertoire of small beauty, to develop habits that permit and realise them.

Because of my (slight) obsession with early retirement, minimalism has been an interest of mine for a long time. I was interested in minimalism before I even thought of early retirement, but these two things overlap a lot in my mind. When I imagine my retirement, I see myself in a small home, surrounded by small things, small beauties, perfectly arranged. I think that's something I need, those small things, and I need the eyes to see them, the ears to hear them, the nose to smell them, and the mind to appreciate them. I need to keep myself healthy, sane of body and mind, so that, upon reaching my goal, I can enjoy it as I envision it.

What came first, the small beauties or the health? I don't think the answer is obvious. Enjoyment is necessary for a healthy life, and I really think these small things are what drives me most! I should find more of them, but I fear that I might find too many, and make them go from small beauties to clutter; they would go from a bunch of details to a big mess.

I write these posts in such a loose way, sometimes. I just barely tie my thoughts together... I hope you can spot the knots.

I wore shorts, today.