Do you ever notice a fluttering feeling of fear that arises for no apparent reason? It’s like for a brief moment, life and existence feel utterly terrifying and impossible. Sometimes it comes out of nowhere, bringing intense self-doubt and hopelessness.

The older I get, the more I realize just how difficult life and going through the motions of it can feel. When you truly sit with the fact that every moment, every second, passes by and dissipates into the abyss of what was, it can bring about that sensation of sitting atop a roller coaster – the tightness in your chest, the difficulty getting a full breath, the inside-out, upside-down feeling in the pit of your stomach, the flash of despair and death that flutters behind your eyes. It can all feel like too much sometimes…and yet somehow that existential crisis passes, and you’re suddenly back on autopilot.

Maybe these brief moments of horrific clarity are a necessary part of what it means to be human. A reminder of just how fragile we are. We continue on despite that fact. Sometimes it even provides a sense of gratitude and comfort in the smallest of pleasures once we drop back down from the coaster hill. It’s almost like being a child again, grasping onto your favorite stuffed animal or watching your favorite movie for the 6,000th time. The simple things ground us in the present and allow us to step off the coaster into safety and a warm embrace.

Let’s not forget to embrace the little things in our day-to-day lives. What are the little things that bring you a momentary piece of bliss?