I’ve always been all for adventures, hopping on planes, saying yes to new experiences, taking risks even when they scare me a little. I believe in living life fully and in not letting fear or hesitation hold me back.
But over time, I discovered another way to live out YOLO. It’s one that doesn’t always require going somewhere far, spending a lot, or chasing the next big thrill.
Redefining What YOLO is to Me
It’s the art of noticing is my kind of YOLO.
I still believe in the joy of adventure, but the truest form of YOLO comes to me when I’m able to be more present, to notice more.
Noticing how the morning light touches the curtain. How coffee smells different when you’re not rushing…How a conversation changes your mood…How a stray cat curls up nearby.
I realized that this, the gentle, ordinary act of being present, is also a way of saying “you only live once.” Because when I notice, I live twice…once in the moment itself and once again in the quiet joy of remembering it.
The Moment I Realized the Power of YOLO
One of the most grounding moments for me happens in the simplest of settings, our small garden at home. Every morning, I sweep the dried leaves scattered across the ground while our stray cat quietly lingers nearby, following me as if keeping me company.
There’s nothing grand about this scene. No deadlines. No noise. Just sunlight filtering through the leaves, the faint smell of earth, and the soft sound of the broom brushing the floor.
In these moments, time slows down a little. I get to just be. I think about how my life has unfolded over the past months…the changes, the growth, the lessons. I see how far I’ve come, even when I wasn’t keeping score.
And I’m reminded, in the most ordinary way, of how good God has been. That this peace, this quiet awareness, is also a kind of abundance.
How to Notice in Everyday Life
Noticing, for me, is deliberate. It’s something I choose to do, not because I have so much time, but because I’ve learned how much I lose when I don’t.
When I cook, for example, I slow down a little. I savor the smell of garlic sizzling in the pan. I notice the rhythm of chopping vegetables…the sound, the colors, the textures. It’s simple, almost ordinary, yet it brings me to the present moment in a way that feels deeply alive.
These tiny pauses don’t erase my worries or my to-do list…I still have them. But for a few minutes, they fade quietly into the background. What remains is calm, a sense of being anchored.
And that’s what I’ve come to love about this kind of noticing, it increases my gratitude. I begin to see how rich life already is, even when it’s not perfect. Even when I’m just doing everyday things and that’s my kind of YOLO.
Why This Kind of YOLO Matters
I’ve always been all for balance, for flow.
There are seasons when I’m out on adventures, exploring new places, traveling to another country, chasing new experiences. I’m also all for working on my goals, building something meaningful, following my ambitions with purpose and grit.
But more than ever, I’ve come to value this kind of YOLO… the quiet, grounded one. The kind that doesn’t need adrenaline to feel alive. A bit of thrill is good for me once in a while, but it’s in the stillness, in the everyday awareness, where I truly feel the essence of “you only live once.”
This realization didn’t come overnight. It was shaped by the world slowing down during the pandemic, and by living through the economic recession in Sri Lanka, moments that forced many of us to pause, rethink, and realign. Those seasons reminded me that life isn’t just about going places or achieving more. It’s also about being where you are, noticing what you have, and living fully in the ordinary.
How I Practice the Art of Noticing
I realized that I get to practice noticing most when I’m being mindful — when I intentionally slow down and pay attention to the small details that usually go unnoticed. It doesn’t have to be anything grand or time-consuming; sometimes, it’s as simple as grounding myself in the moment.
Here are a few mindfulness activities that help me cultivate this habit:
- Spending time in the garden. It’s one of my favorite mindfulness rituals, sweeping dried leaves, watching our stray cat wander nearby, and simply breathing in the quiet.
- Mindful cooking. I take time to notice the aroma of garlic, the texture of vegetables as I chop, and the rhythm of stirring. It becomes a small, sacred pause in my day.
- Reflective journaling. I write about what I noticed during the day, things I’m grateful for, lessons from small frustrations, moments that made me smile.
- Intentional pauses. Sometimes I just stop what I’m doing for a few seconds, take a deep breath, and look around, noticing the light, the sounds, or how my body feels.
These small, consistent acts of noticing keep me anchored in gratitude and presence.
I’ve written another blog post about these mindfulness activities and how you can start your own practice.
So today, I invite you to pause.
Notice one thing you often overlook, the sound of your footsteps, the warmth of your morning cup, the way sunlight hits your wall. Let that small moment remind you that you are here, you are alive, and that’s enough.
If this reflection speaks to you, you might also enjoy reading my post, What It Really Means to Live Intentionally.
(We write our content in the hope of making you, our readers, feel a little more inspired in a time when you’re probably feeling low. We hope you feel a little lighter after visiting our site. Then, we know we’ve served our purpose.⭐)
🍀 Let’s Stay Connected
If this post resonated with you, let’s keep in touch. I share more on:
- ✈️ Travel, cozy cafes, food discoveries, and freelance life on Instagram and Facebook
- 🧠 Mindful productivity, instructional design, and digital business on LinkedIn
- 💻 Plus, I regularly share digital products and courses to support freelancers, educators, and startups on all three platforms.
Let’s connect. I’d love to learn about your journey too!
