Sometimes it seems to me that our whole life is a series of expectations. We wait for weekends, vacations, birthdays and holidays, thinking that this is when true happiness will come. But for several months now, I’ve been trying to do it differently — create a holiday without a reason, fill the days with light and warmth simply because I can.

This year, I didn’t even think about a cake and candles. I woke up and immediately felt that this day was special not because someone decided something, but because I decided so myself. I decided to give myself a mood — light, warm, filled with gratitude for everything that is around.

This state is like a light breeze that touches your face, making you smile for no reason. I realized that there is no point in waiting for approval or signs from the outside. I have so many little joys inside me: the smell of fresh coffee in the morning, quiet music in my headphones, the sounds of the street that I watch from the window.

Perhaps this is the art of living - to be able to find light in everyday life. I learned to notice details: how a ray of sunlight is reflected in drops on leaves, how birds sing when no one is listening, how the world outside the window changes depending on my mood.

Of course, sometimes you want more vivid impressions, adventures and surprises, but I realized that the most valuable thing is the ability to enjoy what you already have. My day has become a real holiday, and I am its host.

I wonder, have you ever caught yourself thinking that the most pleasant moments happen exactly when you stop looking for them? When you just live?

I am glad that I learned to let go of expectations and enjoy the present, because it is the only thing that truly belongs to us.