I met my friend Lauren in downtown Lewisville for coffee a few weekends back. Downtown Lewisville is a charming, rustic town square in one of the many North Texas suburbs (side note–I would love to do a tour of all the main streets/downtowns/town squares of smaller towns. I’m fascinated by them. Anyone want to join me?!).

Lauren arrived early to snag us a table before the Saturday morning bustle overtook the coffee shop. I walked through the back door and stumbled upon an enchanting sight.

Lauren sat at a tucked-away table reading a bright blue book. She was engrossed in the story, turning a page as I strolled over to the table, almost not wanting to interrupt her. This scene might sound simple, but that’s because it was. It was almost a novel concept in our technology-driven world. It would have been just as easy for her to scroll on her phone, check in, keep up, and pass the time mindlessly. We have the world at our fingertips at every waking moment. To see someone choosing a paperback book in a digitally blessed and cursed world brought a smile to my face.

How many of us say we love reading and “can never find the time?” Walking up to this sweet analog moment reminded me that I do, in fact, have the time. I have lots of time, in fact. To read. To write. To craft and move my body and cook dinner. It’s just a matter of how I spend my valuable, allotted moments of each day. 

I noticed through my goal of writing 50 blog posts this summer that there are many in-between moments I can capitalize on throughout my days and fill my time with things that truly add to my life, inspire me, etc. I wrote one blog post sitting in an auto shop lobby, waiting for my car’s oil to get some attention. Another one started taking shape in the Whole Foods parking lot before a grocery run. There is time for the art and prayer we desire, we just have to give it–and God–our attention. 

My coffee date with Lauren reminded me of the power of carrying my journal, book, or Bible with me, waiting for one of those fleeting yet available in-between moments to present itself. It also reminded me of the beauty of taking a beat when I sit down somewhere instead of immediately pulling out my phone. I don’t need to be on the internet at all times. My life is happening right in front of me, wherever I may be, at that exact moment. I don’t want to miss the person or scenario across the restaurant that may inspire a novel character, essay, or observation that leads to deeper thought, prayer, reflection, or creative output. 

I believe these in-between moments are how we tend to our mental health, connect with God, and fill our minds + spirits with grand words and work from other artists. These moments–these little treasures–are ground zero for delight (and you already know how I feel about delight impacting our health). The small moments, the minuscule choices, are really the big ones. These are the spaces that determine our reality, our mental health, and our wellness–or at the very least the direction they’re heading in. 

So let’s take a page from Lauren’s book and seize the precious seconds available to us every single day. They’re a gift from above. What will you do with them?

P.S. If you’re curious like I was, Lauren was reading A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah Maas.