Many of us are on a quest for the extraordinary. We want to do significant things that will leave memories for a lifetime. We want an expensive vacation or the grandest gestures of love. We want to experience something that takes our breath away. We want to remember the extraordinary things we did with the people in our lives.

Too often, we miss the ordinary in our quest for the extraordinary. While the other things might seem grand, they usually let us down.

When I preach a funeral, I ask the family to tell me what they will miss about this person. The response always fascinates me. They will talk about some quirky habit or way they handled things. They will share stories of how they spoke and the phrases they repeated. They will tell me about quiet moments of conversation that impacted their soul. They will speak of game nights, hugs, walks, and moments around a campfire. The things that touch our souls are often the most ordinary.

One way to live an amazing life is not to have or do more. Instead, it is to focus on what you have and enjoy the ordinary moments.

Take time with the people you love, put the phone down, and listen. Lean in, and don’t worry about how you will respond. Walk and chat about your day, even if it is raining. Sit quietly over a meal and ask your kids about their lives without comment or judgment. Write notes to one another or send heartfelt texts. Sit quietly on the porch and watch the sun rise or set. 

Everyone thinks that life is composed of these grand moments that make it worth living when I believe it is made up of a thousand ordinary moments that are the source of joy greater than money can buy.